# 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `885920` · 2011-10-17 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** JETTA
- **Year:** 2002
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 70
## Narrative
WE WERE TRAVELING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY IN OUR 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON (GLS 1.8T) WHEN, WITHOUT WARNING, AN LOUD "POOF" SOUND WAS HEARD, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, AND WE SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC.  THE CAR REGAINED POWER, THEN A SECOND "POOF" SOUND WAS HEARD, AND THE POWER FLICKERED IN THE CAR, AT WHICH POINT THE CAR BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE.  WE ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS, PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND EVACUATED THE VEHICLE.  WE PULLED OUT WHAT BELONGINGS WE COULD, BUT RETREATED FROM THE CAR ONCE FLAMES APPEARED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR.  APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE LATER, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS.  WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE ESCAPED WITH OUR LIVES.    HERE ARE THE SPECIFICS OF OUR VEHICLE:    MODEL:JETTA  TRIM:GLS  BODY STYLE:4 DOOR WAGON  ENGINE:1.8L I4 20V MPFI DOHC TURBO  TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*