Passenger compartment fire

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Volkswagen vehicles. Closed 8 February 1999.

Investigation
PE99007
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
29 January 1999
Closed
8 February 1999

What NHTSA investigated

In its letter dated february 4, 1999, volkswagen stated that it will recall approximately 23,600 redesigned 1999 jetta and golf 4-DOOR vehicles, of which approximately 11,000 have been sold to customers, to correct a defect thatmay cause a fire in the passengeer compartment after a vehicle collision.a sound insulation material attached to the inside of the b-pillar trim panel could have been improperly installed.in the event of a collision severe enough to activate the seat belt pretensioner, the hot exhaust gas from the pretensioner could ignite the insulation material if it is too close to the pretensioner.volkswagen dealers will remove the insulation material from the b-pillars.

The recall that followed

  1. Volkswagen — Structure: Frame and Members99V0220005 February 199936,258 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
VolkswagenJETTA1999

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.