general problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Passat

The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 20 mph, smoke billowed from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to safely leave the roadway, the hood was raised and flames appeared in the engine compartment. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was not towed and remained at the scene. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the fire. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The insurance company was not made aware of the fire. The contact was unsure if the vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unavailable.

In approximately July of 2014 my Volkswagen Passat started experiencing on and off again problems with the engine firing. I had recently retired and was not driving the car daily, and so I was unable to associate the problem with any recent driving event. However, one morning when the hesitation was very pronounced I popped the hood to have a look. Water was standing almost level with the top of the battery in the area housing that part. I used my indoor/outdoor vacuum to pump out as much water as possible. When I thought the area was thoroughly dried out I took the car to my local Volkswagen certified mechanic for further investigation. He didn't take long to determine that drainage holes on both sides under the hood were clogged. He was able to unclog the hole on the passenger side immediately, but the hole on the driver side is located beneath parts that have to be moved for access. I recalled numerous times over the years when I was certain I was hearing the sound of water sloshing around under the hood. I had asked on more than one occasion at time of service for the sound to be investigated further. I was always told the same thing: there was nothing to explain the sound I was hearing. I now believe this has been a recurring problem over the years I've owned the car, and might have impacted more than just the battery at any time. I thought there should be more than one report of this problem on file.

A rainy night, 10:30 pm. , on the freeway returning home from a symphony concert, the engine simply quit. I, husband/driver, tried three time to restart it before yelling to my wife to turn on emergency flashers which she did. As we slowed, I remember seeing all icons on dash blinking. Both of us were knocked unconsious and do not remember being hit by the car behind. Air bags did not deploy. Injuries sustained: a contusion and minor whiplash by husband; fractured c-7 and t-1 vertebraes and concussion by my wife. She has been in a neck-to-waist brace from Nov. 10, 2013 until present. We always maintained our Passat scrupulously according to vw standards at their service centers by their trained mechanics. One month earlier we had brought the car in to be checked because sometimes it would not start after driving it someplace. Twice had to wait for aaa towing. Aaa able to start it right up as though nothing was wrong. Vw ran "fault codes" but found no problem. We bought a new battery at vw's suggestion. Something went horribly wrong with our car inspite of our responsbible maintenance. We were extremely lucky not to be killed. We wish to know if there are other cases like ours. At the very least, we want others to know about this possible danger. I will appreciate your acknowledgment of this report.

I am the second owner of this 00 vw Passat . This car has been a great running and driving car. I bought it in Feb 10 2012 . On sept 17 2012 my wife was driving this car to my sons football game with my mother in law. She was going about 50 mph when it shuttered and shut off . She was able to get it off the side of the road and stopped and when she opened the car door there were flames coming from under the hood she went to the other side of the car and helped her mother out of the car. The flames were spreading so fast they were not able to get anything out of the car. By the the time they got to the other side of the road away from the car the whole car was on fire. And when the fire department got there there was nothing left but some melted things in the trunk. I am just happy they made it out ok but what worries me is that it happened so fast and that there were no signs of anything wrong with the car . I have seen on the internet that this is not a isolated incident with this 00 Passat. I have seen pictures and video of the same car with the same results. So right now I am at a total loss this being a second car I only had liability insurance all I can do is hope that someone can stop this from happening to someone else and it should be Volkswagen's responsibility to find who owns these vehicles and fix the problem. . . . .

Engine mounts broke and I replaced them on may 10, 2014, then they broke again on July 6, and I again replaced them now they broke again today as I was pulling out of the gas station. Was there any type of recall relative to the mounts of the engine in this model which is the 200 Passat wagon with manual transmission. The windows also keep steaming up and strong smell of anti freeze.

When acceleration and engaging passing mode, vehicle continues to accelerate even when pedal released. Very difficult to control speed and brake. Have done internet search on problem and find it fairly common with vw Passat and certain Audi models that use same throttle body. This device apparently requires regular servicing to avoid sticking problem. There is no doubt this is a dangerous condition and in my own instance, could easily have led to a highspeed accident. This vehicle was just purchased by me and went through MD motor vehicle inspection in December, 2011.

The heater core started to leak and my windows fogged up while driving on freeway. I almost got into a car crash because I lost my visibility.

1. Brought 2000 Passat glx to dealer twice to fix 'smoke coming from engine compartment and accompanying burning smell. ' dealer charged $430 to replace "in/out transmission cooler lines" the first time in the shop, and "tightened the cams" the second time. 2. Less than 3 weeks after the second service 'tightening the cams', car caught fire while traveling northbound on I-95 at mile marker 8 in NY. After being notified of smoke coming from the car by another motorist, we pulled over. Shortly thereafter, the entire car was engulfed in flames. 3. Nothing was done to correct the failure as the car was totaled. Investigation may or may not be conducted by insurance company to find the cause of the fire.

Owner was driving and noticed a smell, then he saw smoke coming out of the dash vents. He then saw fire on the passenger-side footwell area. The fire was first observed on the floor where it sloped upward, where the passenger would place their feet. He pulled over, got out, and threw some snow on the passenger-side floor area. He opened a rear door and took some personal belongings out and then observed the dash break out into flames.