2004 Volkswagen Jetta Seats Problems

SEATS ARE GETTING EXCESSIVELY HOT AND STARTING TO BURN THROUGH THE VISION AND FABRIC. SMOKE IN COMPARTMENT.

I TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER AND IT CAUGHT FIRE BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNING ME. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IN THE CITY. I PORED WATER ALL OVER ME AND THE SEAT AND TURNED THE HEATER OFF.

MY CLOTHE SEATS CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY WHILE DRIVING IT FOR ONLY 25 MINUTES THE SEAT WARMER WAS ONLY SET ON NUMBER 2. I WAS SO RETRIED AND PANICKED BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT IT WITH MY HAND UNTIL IT WENT OUT. IT DID BURN MY HAND. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THEN I STOPPED. IT WAS IN A CITY STREET FILLED WITH CARS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, FUMES OF SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A BURNT HOLE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THE SPECIFIC NAME OF THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION ON THE DRIVER SIDE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT ON THE CONTACT'S RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE CAR RAN INTO A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE ENGINE STALL. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR THE CAR IT STARTED WITH SEVERE HESITATION IN ENGINE. TRIED STEPPING ON GAS TO KEEP ENGINE GOING THE EXHAUST GOT REAL LOUD AND THE SMOKE STARTED FILLING UP THE CABIN. STEPPED OUT OF CAR TO FIND THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES CAN BE SEEN ON UNDER SIDE OF THE CAR, IN THE MIDDLE SECTION RIGHT UNDER THE ARMREST AREA BETWEEN THE TWO SEATS. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE UNHARMED. I THINK THATS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWED THE HEAT FROM EXHAUST TO PENETRATE INSIDE THE CABIN WHERE IT REACHED THE FLOOR CARPER THAT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

SETTING: -4F, 5:45AM DRIVING TO WORK, SEAT HEATER ON. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD NOTICED A PARTICULARLY HAT SPOT ON MY LOWER RIGHT BACK WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS SET TO 5, ON THE 1-5 DIAL. I TURNED DOWN MY SEAT HEATER DURING THE DRIVE TO 1, WHEN I GOT TO WORK IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEANED FORWARD I GOT THE INTENSE SMELL OF BURNING. I TURNED AROUND TO FIND A 5-6 INCH LONG SECTION ON THE LOWER RIGHT THAN SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD BURNED AND CHARRED. IT HAD BEEN GETTING PARTICULARLY HOW RECENTLY IN THAT LOCATION, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I NOTICED THE BURNING OF THE SEAT CUSHION. DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

IN APRIL OF 2005 VW INITIATED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS ISSUES CAUSED BY OVERHEATING SEAT HEATERS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED ON JUNE 24TH 2006 BY COOK VOLKSWAGEN IN FALLSTON MARYLAND, AND PARTS FOR REPAIR WERE ORDERED (INVOICE [XXX]). ON JULY 8TH 2006 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED. THE INVOICE (268548) STATES: RECALLS COMPLETED, VV1 CHECKED SEAT HEATER ' NO REPAIRS REQUIRED. ON JANUARY 3RD 2011, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WITH THE COMFORT SEAT HEATER TURNED ON AT LEVEL 2, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED STRONG PAIN, FOLLOWED BY STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT WAS DISCOVERED. VW SUGGESTED THE OWNER PAYS $170.00 TO NORTHTOWN VW ON AMHERST NEW YORK TO DISASSEMBLE THE SEAT AND TAKE DETAILED PICTURES OF THE FAILURE BEFORE PERFORMING ANY WORK TO REPAIR THE SEAT HEATER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON FRIDAY JANUARY 6 AT AROUND 230PM, MY VW JETTA WAGON'S DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER, SET ON "4," OVERHEATED AND IGNITED THE SEAT MATERIAL, WHICH BURNED THROUGH AND BEGAN TO BURN MY PANTS. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN; LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME. WHEN THE SMOKE BEGAN, I SMELLED A PLASTIC BURNING SMELL, AND VEERED SHARPLY OFF THE ROAD, THINKING THE CAR MIGHT BURN. I SHUT OFF THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL, THEN DROVE TO MY HOME, ONE BLOCK AWAY. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM INSIDE, THEN RETURNED TO THE CAR. THE SMOKE HAD JUST ABOUT STOPPED; A DIME-SIZED BURNED HOLE WAS IN MY SEAT, AS WELL AS A SLIGHT BROWNED AREA ON MY PANTS. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND HAVE FILED A CASE WITH VW OF AMERICA CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT THERE WERE NO CODES PRODUCED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT IN OUR 2004 VW JETTA TDI BECAME EXTREMELY HOT NEAR THE DRIVER'S RIGHT THIGH AND THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, HAD A MINOR SURFACE BURN AS A RESULT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WEARING JEANS, WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM BEING WORSE. *TR

NOTICED DRIVERS HEATED SEAT WAS VERY HOT ON LEFT THIGH. YESTERDAY I SMELLED SMOKE, AND PUT MY HAND UNDER MY LEG. BURNED HAND. TURNED OFF HEATED SEAT AND PULLED OVER. NOTICED A BURN ON FABRIC. *TR

HEATED SEAT BURNED. ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND EXTREME HOT SPOT ON UPPER RIGHT THIGH. *TR

I SMELLED A BURNING OR FOUL-SMELLING CHEMICAL ODOR AFTER DRIVING FOR 01 MINUTE AND NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS SO HOT THAT IT BURNED MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. I THEN SMELLED SMOKE AND I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED OFF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. AFTER STOPPING, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT APPEARED BURNED IN A ROUGHLY CIRCULAR PATCH THAT LOOKED SIMILAR TO A CIGARETTE BURN. THE FOUL ODOR HAS PERSISTED EVEN WITH THE SEAT HEATER OFF AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 16 DEC 2008. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. *TR

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I HAD A DEALER REPLACE THE SWITCH FOR THE HEATED SEAT IN MY 2004 VW JETTA WHICH HAD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE SEAT IS NOT USED THAT MUCH, LET ALONE THE HEATED PORTION. THIS PAST SUNDAY I WAS DRIVING HOME WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH THE HEATED SEAT TURNED ON. AFTER ABOUT TWO MINUTES MY WIFE NOTICED WHAT FELT LIKE A PINCHING SENSATION ON HER LEG. SHE PUT HER HAND UNDER HER LEG AND WAS QUICKLY BURNED ON HER HAND, AND AT THAT TIME WE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THE BURNING STOPPED AFTER TURNING THE SWITCH OFF, BUT A CLEAR BURN MARK WAS LEFT IN THE SEAT. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID INFACT HAVE A RECALL FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH BUT NOT FOR A SHORT IN THE SEAT WHICH IS WHAT THIS WAS. THE TOTAL ESTIMATE THAT I HAVE RECEIVED TO REPAIR THE SEAT WAS ABOUT $900. *TR

SEAT WARMER ON DRIVER'S SEAT IN 2004 VW JETTA WAGON OVERHEATED UNTIL IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. VELOUR SEATS SHOW IMPRESSION OF HEATING ELEMENT. I NOTICED FOR ABOUT A MONTH THAT IT WAS VERY HOT AND THE LAST TIME I USED IT I NOTICED A SMELL. I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY AND HAD IT DISCONNECTED BY A MECHANIC TO PREVENT A FIRE. *TR

MY WIFE JUST PULLED INTO THE GARAGE AFTER A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORE. WHEN SHE BACKED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES CAME FROM THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL (SEAT HEATER WAS OFF AT THE TIME). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING AT THE TIME!*JB

2004 VW JETTA WAGON, TDI: VELOUR HEATED TURNED ON, AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 1/2 MILE,HEATED SEAT BURNED APPROX 1" HOLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SMOKE, FLAMES OBSERVED. SEAT TURNED OFF TO CONTAIN FIRE. CAR TAKEN TO VW DEALER TO ASSESS. PARTS ON BACK ORDER. WAITING FOR PARTS TO BE AVAILABLE. SHOULD BE FACTORY RECALL BECAUSE OF CONCERN OF OTHER HEATED SEAT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION AND POTENTIALLY A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IF OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEEDS.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 1.8T VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER SIDE MALFUNCTIONED. I FELT A VERY SMALL POINT OF PAIN IN MY LEG, BUT DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE IT UNTIL I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE SEAT HEATER (WHICH WAS ON A SETTING OF 3 OUT OF 5 INITIALLY), PULLED THE CAR OVER TO A PARKING LOT, GOT OUT, AND FORTUNATELY NOTHING CAUGHT FIRE. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO MY DEALER (TREND MOTORS IN ROCKAWAY, NJ), WHO PROMPTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, AND HAVE ORDERED A NEW SEAT COVER TO REPLACE THE ONE DAMAGED BY THE MALFUNCTION. THE CAR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH OCCURED ON NOVEMBER 4, 2004.*AK