This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Driver's side seat warmer malfunctioned. The driver began to see and smell smoke, pulled over, got out, and noticed a quarter size hole in the driver's side seat that was smoking, and little sparks came out. Vehicle was repaired under warranty.
Heated seats malfunction. This is the second time the seats malfunctioned causing melting of fabric and smoke, destroying seats. Luckily no one was seriously hurt. VW replaced seats just 10 months ago for the same problem.
The consumer smelled a burning chemical scent in the vehicle. The consumer then felt a burning sensation in her hand and the a sharp pain. The consumer then discovered a hole in the seats from the seat warmer. The consumer stated this is third electrical failure she has had with the vehicle.
Consumer stated while traveling and without any indication noticed smoke coming from under driver's seat, causing consumer's jacket to catch on fire. Consumer pulled vehicle over, and noticed a burnt hole in seat.
I turned my heated seat on and 5-7 minutes into the drive I noticed a burning smell and realized my seat was realy hot. I turned the heated seat off and burning stopped. Upon visual inspection I noticed a hole burnt into seat and a singed dime sized mark on my coat. I have been without my car now for 24 days and I am still waiting for the part to get in the country.
I was driving and noticed my hip had an itch. I itched it and it sort of went away. The next day the same thing happened, but I touched the seat in my car, and that it was really, really hot. I stopped and looked, and the leather was a bit defromed, and I noticed a burning smell. The heating elements in my 2002 VW Jetta tdi were overheating, and could have caught me or the car on fire. I am gong to the dealer to have it looked at in 2 days.
Vehicle's seat heater caught on fire. Consumer smelled burning and rolled down the window about three inches due to the recent forest fires. She then felt a burning sensation, looked down and saw a 6-8" flame coming up her left side. She was burned as well as her clothing and seat. Consumer pulled over to the side of the road. Pictures were sent to NHTSA via email.
While driving under 55 mph consumer noticed that the driver's seat was becoming too hot. Consumer parked the vehicle and discovered that the heating unit burned a hole in the leather seat and in consumer's pants. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that a new seat heater was needed. While driving consumer noticed that the driver's seat was becoming too hot. Consumer parked vehicle and discovered that the heating unit had burned a hole in the leather seat and in the consumer's pants. Vehicle was taken to the dealer where consumer was informed that the seat heater needed to be replaced.
The front drivers seat of my 2002 VW Jetta sedan got extremely hot while I was sitting on it causing the leather seat to start to burn and my buttocks to burn slightly as well.
The seat warmer of my 2002 volkswagon Jetta malfunctioned and started a fire within the seat. There was smoke and a flame inside the seat. It burned the pants I was wearing. And burned my leg slightly. ***when I called the service center to schedule an appointment to fix this problem, they said "yeah, that's been happening, we're calling the cars 'hot pants'" they also told me that the seats are on back order, and that they have had a car there for over a week that had the same problem.
While driving I smelled something burning. As I pulled over I felt I was being burned on my upper left leg (rear end). I got out and checked and my seat heating unit had burned through the seat, through my pants and coat and burned my skin.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bridgeville, PA, USA