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.
The driver side seat heater over heated and melted the seat and clothing of the driver. No burns were noticed on the drivers body, but could feel the intense heat from the heater.
While driving 70 mph on the freeway, my drivers seat began moving on it's own. The top part of the seat pushed me up against the steering wheel while the bottom half pulled me back so I couldn't reach the pedals. I had my 2 yr old grandchild in the backseat and barely made it off of the freeway. The seat continues to move even while the car is off. The tow truck refused to help because of legal reasons and the VW dealer wants to charge me $140 just to look at it because it's no longer under warranty. This is a very dangerous defect that can cause a very serious accident. VW should be held responsible for any defective parts regardless of the year of the car and should not be charging anyone to fix this.
Drivers seat adjustment automatically moves seat while driving. If you are tall, the seat moves you into the steering wheel and I'm afraid this could cause an accident as you cannot turn steering wheel and your knees are pinned under the dash.
While driving the vehicle at approximately 65 mph the driver seat started to move forward on its own towards the steering wheel in which I was unable to control the driver seat it would not reversenearly causing a serious accident. I also noticed that the vehicle horn no longer works due to some sort ofelectrical issue. The issue took place while I was driving on a major highway.
About a week ago, I noticed my driver's seat was too far forward, so I used the seat adjustment controls to move it back to where it was comfortable. Almost immediately and periodically throughout the week, whether I was driving (highway or local), stationary, or stopped (with the engine turned off!), the seat back would move back and forth, sometimes lunging forward 4-6 inches and then back about 10 inches. This caused me, while driving, to be pressed almost on the steering wheel or at full arms-length, back and forth numerous times. Sometimes pushing one/any of the setting buttons would stop the rocking for a short time; sometimes it had no effect. This issue is of serious safety concern to me as it makes steering and braking/accelerating very difficult and not controllable. There must be a recall on this model as this problem has been reported on this site since the model first came out in 2006! it is unconscionable that no recall has yet been issued.
- Apo, AP, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
While driving my 2006 VW Jetta the drivers power seat started to move by itself forward this has happened several times to the point where my knees where pushed to the dash and my right knee actually turned car off by hitting my keys on key chain occasionally when I have gone out in morning to start the car the seat has been pushed forward and battery has been weakened I feel this is a safety issue especially the fact that this seat moves while driving.
While on the highway (hutchinson river parkway, westchester county, NY), my power driver's seat started moving forward (towards the wheel) on its own. I stopped it by pushing back on the switch. This incident happened twice more within the next 5 minutes and again overnight (last night) while the car was parked (I came to it this morning and found the seat was pushed all the way forward). Obviously, a driver's seat with a mind of its own could be a serious safety hazard. The seat moving while the car is parked and unoccupied means it might not be able to be stopped even by shutting off the engine. At 6ft2, I would be crushed if I were unable to stop the seat from moving up.
Driver seat lower right back overheated. Burnt a hole in the seat and melted the coat I was wearing. Smell of burning in the car and intense heat on my back. Turned off the seat heat. When I arrived at my destination, noticed the burn in the seat and later noticed a burn on my coat. Interior of the car is well maintained, never flooded or abused. Now I have a car driver seat that is badly damaged, a ruined coat and scared to operate the car or to park in my garage in fear of a fire that could burn down my house and car putting my self and family in harms way. I have noticed several VW cars in the past with the same problem in the same spot and was always thankful that it was not my car. Now it is my car with the same problem. Called the VW dealer and they said that there is not a recall on this. This is a problem that can cause a bad burn on a person. I am glad I had a coat on while driving, otherwise I would have had to seek medical treatment for the burn. Would like to see VW correct the problem and replace the seat at no charge to the owners. This is a preventable problem that needs corrected.
Driver seat lower right back overheated. Burnt a hole in the seat and melted the coat I was wearing. Smell of burning in the car and intense heat on my back. Turned off the seat heat. When I arrived at my destination, noticed the burn in the seat and later noticed a burn on my coat.. interior of the car is well maintained, never flooded or abused. Now I have a car driver seat that is badly damaged, a ruined coat and scared to operate the car or to park in my garage in fear of a fire that could burn down my house and car putting myself and family in harms way. I have noticed several VW cars in the past with the same problem in the same spot and was always thankful that it was not my car. Now it is my car with the same problem. Called the VW dealer, and they said that there is not a recall on this. This is a problem that can cause a bad burn on a person. I am glad I had a coat on while driving, otherwise I would have had to seek medical treatment for the burn. Would like to see VW correct the problem and replace the seat at no charge to the owners. This is a preventable problem that needs corrected.
I was driving down the highway in Iowa and to my horror, my car seat started moving back by itself. I could not reach the pedals in the car and had to hold the electric seat button and fight it to keep it from moving back. This was pretty difficult since the car is a stick shift. Volkswagen was uninterested in helping defray the cost of repairing this very seriously unsafe defect!
Our 2006 Jetta tdi had an airbag fault. We took the vehicle to a Volkswagen dealership and they tested the air code and found out that the passenger occupant detector module went bad due to a electrical malfunction in the circuit. The dealership was not able to say if the airbags were going to work on not in the case of a crash. Volkswagen is refusing to take any ownership of keeping their vehicle safe and covering the cost of the part. I contact Volkswagen usa and they gave the reason they will not cover the part because I did not have an extended warranty. I feel that Volkswagen is being neglectful to their claim on providing a safe vehicle. Now that the airbag sensor is going out, we are having more electrical problems with headlights, parking lights, taillights, brake lights, day time running lights, and turn signals.
While driving home with my wife, she stated that she thought she had noticed a burning smell. The heated seats were on as it was a cold morning. The next day I noticed that the back rest of the seat had a smoldering mark as well as some sort of smoke damage as if there was a fire on the inside of the seat. We later looked on her jacket and noticed that there was transfer of the "leather" to her jacket.
Driver's seat, lower right side of seat back: Noticed a discoloration & change in the fabric at least one year ago. More recently, two pinholes have appeared in the area. Without a doubt, this has been caused by the heated seat element. In retrospect, we realize that several articles of clothing - primarily outerwear - were damaged by the excess heat from that area of the seat. Because it was outerwear, that probably accounts for why we never felt the intense, localized heat. No injuries resulted. But after reading about almost 200 similar complaints for the Jettas built around that time, some resulting in injuries and / or fires, I'm surprised there have been no recalls.
I was driving down the road with the heated seat on, I had it on 5 which is the max setting and I felt a burning sensation near my right shoulder area so I felt my back and thought wow so I turned it down and after pulling in my garage I looked and the seat was slightly melted about the size of a golf ball and my jacket was slightly melted I am going to contact my local dealer tomorrow to see if there's a recall (beware it could have resulted in fire I believe if I would have kept it on long enough.)
My wife was getting ready to go to work, when she opened the door of our Jetta, smoke started coming out from under the drivers front seat. She bent down to see where it was coming from but all she saw was a red glow coming from under the seat. This thing must have set and smolder all night because she didn't unlock the car that morning because she had left the car unlocked do to where we live no one is around for miles. Inspector said that it was fault of (VW) the seat, but it will cost to much to sue VW. We almost lost our home, garage and our lives. We had the seat recall repaired but I think the repair was never made, the video is on youtube under "Jetta fire". one of my questions is why didn't a fuse blow before the car burnt to the ground.
My 2006 VW Jetta 2.5 L has had the passenger side seat warmer catch fire and cause holes in my seat. As I dropped off one of my children to school today I noticed a black hole with glowing orange embers in the seat! I touched it and realized my seat had caught on fire! thank god my child was already out of the car and was wearing a heavy coat and wasn't burned by it. Definitely a huge safety issue and I'm lucky no one was injured!
Recently my beloved 2006 Jetta 2.5's power driver side seat has been moving on its own while I am actively driving!! I was on my way home the day after thanksgiving when my seat started to shift on its own.. I was driving in NJ on the parkway traveling 75 mph.. my seat moved forward which put pressure on my foot on the gas than moved backwards atleast 6 inches.. leaving me both unaware I was traveling 90mph!! and unable to brake.. because I couldn't reach the brake pedal.. while I was trying to fix my seat and panicking.. I looked in my mirror and realized I was being pulled over by a state trooper. I advised him of the situation and he didn't wanna hear it.. I plan to fight this ticket in court because this was not* my fault.. however I am grateful I wasn't involved in something more severe like an accident.. the car is being towed to the dealership I bought it from and I strongly advise anyone who has had the same issue to complain to VW because this is a deff!!!!! safety hazard and will kill someone.. and I forgot to mention that I also had my 6 yr old son in the car.. this is a problem!
I was sitting in my (drivers) seat and noticed a faint burning smell followed by pain (burning) in my right side. I got home and found a burn hole in the back of the seat. Something burnt through the seat and burnt my clothes and gave me a small blister. Neither of us smoke. After a few times I believe it is the seat heater. If it's off it doesn't burn you. A mechanic told us this is common and to followup on it.
Brakes/steering/esp-vehicle pulls to the right after making left hand turns or U-turns. Sometimes so aggressively that it has caused injury to the drivers and damage to the car's rim and tire. Vehicle moves after put in park and the ignition has been turned off. Sometimes, it moves after getting out and walking away. Have been told by two dealerships that this is normal. I don't feel that moving 6 inches or more is safe, especially around children and small pets. Seat memory-seat started moving on its own while driving. Almost had an accident because of this as in the middle of braking, the seat moved all the way back where I could not reach the pedals. Memory has not been right even after replacing switches and I am stressed and wonder when the seat will start moving on its own again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Newnan, GA, USA