Front Seat Heater/cooler problems of the 1997 Lexus ES300

For some time, the driver's side seat heater (left side of seat) would reach a temperature which was uncomfortable. So, I would turn it on for a few minutes to warm up, and then turn it off when it became hot. I decided to take it in to the dealership to be checked out and adjusted, if necessary. A few days before I my appointment, I was riding in the car and turned on the heater. When it became hot, I placed my scarf between the seat and my leg. At a certain point, it smelled as though something was burning. I turned off the heater. When I looked at the seat, there was a hole burned right through the leather as well as through my scarf. When I took the car to the dealer a few days later, they disconnected the heater and determined that the seat needs a new heater pad and leather pad, which would cost me $1,326. 00. The repair has not yet been made.

: the consumer stated the driver seat heater became uncomfortably hot. When the problem occurred in 2002 the consumer shut off the seat heater. The dealership replaced the heating unit because of a short in the heater wiring. In 2005 the passenger side seat heater overheated and burned through the seating material. The dealership found a short in the heater wiring. The heater was disconnected at the consumers request. Updated 02/28/06.