Skoda Superb police car catches fire in WA amid engine blaze recall – report

A Skoda Superb police car has been significantly damaged after catching fire following a pursuit in Perth – almost 18 months after the model was recalled due to a fire risk.

As reported by The West Australian, police officers reportedly attempted to pull over a BMW 5 Series in the suburb of Baldivis on Saturday morning when the offender's car allegedly failed to stop.

After eventually coming to a halt, the police officers proceeded to detain the male driver and a female passenger when they noticed their own Skoda Superb wagon was emitting smoke from under its bonnet.

The fire continued to burn despite the officers’ attempts to contain it until firefighters could attend the scene – eventually putting the blaze out, but not before the Skoda Superb had “sustained significant damage”, a Western Australia Police Force spokesperson told the publication.

The Skoda Superb rolled out across Western Australia’s police fleet last year, with all examples powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine – shared with the Golf R and Audi S3 hot hatches – which develops 206kW and 350Nm.

There is currently an active recall for the 2022 Skoda Superb – as well as Octavia and Kodiaqs made in the same year – after it was discovered the vehicle’s plastic engine compartment cover could become loose.

If the engine cover comes loose, it could come into contact with the turbo and result in an engine bay fire.

It is unknown whether the police car’s engine bay fire was caused by a loose engine cover.