10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
111,000 miles

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problem #1

Aug 252003

Passat 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 111,000 miles
I was dirivng the car when smoke started entering the cabin area. Pulled over, and the engine compartment was englufed in smoke. Had to call the fire department to extinguish the fire. There was no flames, but the firefighters had to use a hose to kill the smoke. Volkswagen dealer in tallahassee indicated that the alternator "malfunctioned". I'd like an investigation into how a malfucntion int he alternator could cause a near fire hazard, and if it was a malfucntion -- what caused it, and a bulletin posted as to how to avoid it. This is a very serious matter as the car was paractically in flames.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

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