Front Seat Heater/cooler Problems of Volkswagen Jetta - part 1

The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving with the front driver’s side seat heater activated, the seat became extremely hot. The contact started smelling a burning odor coming from the seat. The contact felt a hole in the seat, which burned the contact's middle finger. The contact immediately pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact’s back started burning due to the extreme heat of the seat back. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a hole in his jacket and approximately four holes that had formed in the front driver seat due to the seat heater failure. The contact was not treated for the burns to his back. The contact stated that two dealers were notified of the failure but neither provided immediate assistance. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 489,000.

See all problems of the 2000 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

Tl-the contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the driver's seat caught fire while driving. The contact stated that the driver's seat felt warmer than usual while the seat warmer was activated. The contact placed a lumbar cushion on the seat and found that the driver's seat was on fire. The seat back and cushion were burned. The fire department was present to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to heritage Volkswagen parkville (9215 harford rd, parkville, MD 21234, (877) 398-1963) where it was determined that the seat cover and coil needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 190942827. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 197,000. Li.

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The vehicle was in motion with the seat heater on. I noticed a burning smell and then a burning sensation. By the time I was able to safely pull over, there was a hole in the right side of the driver's seat cover, exposing the wiring and foam. My coat and clothing were burned, as well as my back. There is also evidence of overheating/burning in additional locations of the seat cover, but it only burned through in one location. I turned off the seat heater and drove to the dealership where I was instructed to discontinue use of the seat heater. This occurred on 3/8/19 with less than 95k miles on the car.

See all problems of the 2007 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

When the seat heater is turned on, the seat catches on fire. When you look at the picture that is smoke coming from the seat, the holes were caused by the seat heater.

See all problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

The electric seat heater malfunctioned and burned a hole in the seat while in use. It no longer regulates. Dangerous for driving. Smelled like a fire!.

When I was sitting in the driver's seat with the heated seat option turned to a 5 (high), while the car was warming up, I noticed some smoke coming from the right side of the seat. The heated seat started to burn through the cloth cover directly where my metal jacket zipper was making contact with the cloth seat surface. I immediately poured water on the seat to ensure a fire didn't start. I have not attempted to use the seat heaters since this incident.

The contact owns a 2002 volkwagen Jetta. While operating the vehicle with the front seat warmers activated, the front passenger was burned when the seat warmer malfunctioned. Medical attention was not needed. The failure burned a hole through the front passenger seat. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 160,000.

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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.

Driver side seat heater gets very got. On March 4, 2016 at 7:30am noticed a burnt smell as I parked my car (I had driven for about 20 mins). When I returned at 12pm for lunch, I noticed 2 burnt areas of my leather seat. March 5th, tried to use heater again but within 10 mins it got too hot to touch and burnt smell, really bad. I shut it off. I can't use this now. Very disappointed.

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.

Someone left the passenger side seat heater on. I started smelling a burning plastic odor then I came across a small burn mark. Another person left it on, the whole became bigger but no scent.

I own a 2000 vw Jetta. My son and I were heading home after a college visit, he turned on his seat heater and began to nap. 20 minutes later, he popped up rubbing his shoulder, the seat heater caused the seat to catch fire and burned a portion of the seat, his shirt and shoulder. I called the dealer and was told they've never heard of that issue and that there has never been a recall for such an issue. I then did an internet search and found where it's a very common issue.

2007 Volkswagen Jetta. Attorney representing consumer writes in regards to vehicle seat heater caught fire and burned the consumer and her clothing. After the dealer kept the vehicle for two weeks, it was returned to her in the same manner and she was offered $1200 and they would disconnect the heater.

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 truned 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 arounf to find a 5-6 inch long section on the lower righ thand side of the drivers seat had burned and chared. It had been getting particuarly how recently in that location, but this is the first I noticed the burning of the seat cushion. Definite fire hazard.

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph a burning plastic odor was present inside the vehicle before the passenger suddenly experienced a burning sensation coming from the seated area of the passenger seat. The contact indicated that the passenger side seat heater element had over heated causing a burn hole in the seat and causing a minor burn to the passenger. The contact stated that a small flamed to the passengers right pant leg had to be extinguished during the incident and the passenger seat burn hole measured approximately 1 inch in diameter. The vehicle was diagnosed at the dealer. The contact was informed that the defect was caused by a faulty heat element inside the seat. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 125,000. Jft.

While driving with seat heater on seat burned thru foam and seat cover also burned pants leg and wife's finger trying to put out the embers.

I was driving to work one morning and it started to smell like something was burning. I thought maybe it was just a weird smell in my vents but within 10 minutes of driving a cloud of smoke filed the driver side of my car. Luckily I was not on the highway yet and I was able to pull over and shut off the car. Not knowing where the smoke came from I immediately got out of the car. It when then that I looked down and saw the source of the smoke, there was a quarter size hole in my driver seat. I had been driving with the seat heater on and it caught fire. Luckily I was not injured and was able to quickly get off the road and discover the issue however I have read other complaints of similar events and yet no recall.

See all problems of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta 🔎.

Both front seat heaters on any setting arc and have burned multiple holes on the outer lower seat upholstry.

Back in 2007 recall for heated seats in Volkswagen's. Issued recall fixed both drivers and passengers seats as new ones were ordered and shipped in from overseas, due to both catching fire and burning holes in seats one seat being the drivers burnt a hole in my jeans and burned myself. As of 3/5/12 drivers side seat is getting so hot it has burnt the material on the seat again as it started smoking. Quickly turned it off. Problem thought was fixed as recall in 2007, not fixed apparently.

Driver's seat heater malfunctioned. Right side of seat has small burn marks, is discolored, has exposed elements, and seat foam is melted. Two pairs of pants obtained singe marks on separate occasions. I drive the car to and from the city via interstate for 40 minutes each way. Seat heaters are typically on for about 20 minutes. Beginning in November when I used the seat heaters I could smell a slight burning smell. Since it was the beginning of the winter season I figured it was just heated dust on my seats from being inactive all summer. The final time I used the seat heaters (1/26/12) the smell got so bad that I had to open the sun roof for air. I also noticed the seats got hotter than usual and wondered if my seat back was heating at all. As was usual when the seat was hot enough I would manually turn off the seat heater. I did not know what was happening until one day when I noticed brown marks on the right side of my pants. I then looked at the seat and saw the damage to the seat. The driver's seat element was replaced in may 2006, the passenger seat August 2006, due to previous recall/warranty service.

My 2003 Jetta seat caught on fire while driving home. I was using my seat heater at the time. I was burned on my leg.

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 # 120003277.

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 268180). 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.

I currently own a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. Passenger seat heater gets extremely hot and very concerned due to burn risk to children as well as possible fire hazard.

While driving home at night, my son and I smelled smoke. We exited the vehicle, checked under the hood, but found nothing. We continued home and parked in the garage. Still smelling smoke, we re-inspected the vehicle, but were unable to determine an origin or any visible evidence. Both seat heaters were on during the drive home, but the seats showed no visual signs of damage after parking. Next morning we opened the vehicle to discover the cabin was filled with smoke with an approximate 1?hole burned up thru the passenger seat on the lower right bolster. Apparently the seat heater initiated a thermal event which erupted in a seat fire after we turned off the ignition and parked the car in the garage. Fortunately, the fire did not engulf the vehicle or it could have caught our home on fire, resulting in possible injury or death to my family. I believe we ?dodged a bullet? because the seat fire did not sustain itself and engulf the vehicle. Vw has agreed to repair the burned seat at their expense and make a mitigation repair. However, vw has declined my request to cover any similar mitigation repair to the other seat. In October 2004, the NHTSA odi concluded that ?driver-side seat heater may fail or malfunction due to normal vehicle use? but ?such failures do not pose a significant risk of injury or fire. ? the odi stated the investigation did not conclude ?that a safety-related defect does not exist? and ?the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. ? (ea04010) evidence and reports indicate that seat heater caused thermal events in both driver and passenger seats in the vw Jetta have been an issue for nearly 10 years now. Near misses continue to occur. I believe that a seat fire is a significant safety concern. I would encourage the NHTSA to re-examine the circumstances to determine if further action is warranted.

My drivers side seat heater doesn't recognize the setting of 0-5. It's either on, or off. Meaning, 0-4 the seat heater doesn't heat the seat. But when I turn it to 5 on the setting within 10 minutes the seat gets so hot it burns my legs through clothing.

My seat heater failed in my 2003 vw Jetta, burning a hole in the seat under my left buttock. I was startled when suddenly there a strong burning smell in the car, then a hot spot in the seat occurred which caused me to have to quickly shift my seating posting and I immediately turned off the seat heater. Luckily I was driving slowly in the city and able to pull in the in a parking spot quickly and the seat or my clothing did not catch on fire. The seat was set to 3 on a scale of 1-5. The car has about 125k miles on it.

My 2003 Jetta driver side heated seat is failing. The problem started in January 2011. The driver side heater coil was recalled back in 2007 and had been replaced through the recall, however, the replacement part is faulty as well. This time, the heater coil has burned the leather seat and burned a hole in my north face down coat. Luckily the coat is thick so I did not get badly burned. I had contacted Volkswagen directly after this assuming they would replace the heated seat coil since the initial replacement from the recall was bad, they were not helpful and said the car was past warranty. Which it was by about 3 months. However, given the situation of a prior recall and replacement of the part with another bad part, I expected more from the company. I then went to my dealer who charged me $120 "diagnostic fee" to tell me the heat seater is faulty. They told me to take it up with Volkswagen. A second call and email to Volkswagen lead no where. This is a dangerous issue and replacement of one bad part with another bad part is not responsible. I see there are other complaints and investigations active on this same make, model and year car. I would like a credit for my diagnostic fee which anyone could see was a faulty seat based on the burn, and I expect Volkswagen to pay for a replacement seat cover and pad and bolster heaters as the seat is not usable as is and if it is used creates a very dangerous situation.

Driver side seat heater overheating, burnt multiple holes in seat as well as burnt leg. Setting was placed on 2 of 5 when seat was burnt.

I am the owner of a 2003 vw Jetta. I was recently burned(11/2010) by the seat heater while driving and the car seat smelled like it was going to start on fire. My car had a recall not long after I bought it for the seat heaters. It is obviously a malfunction in the seat heater that vw has had numerous problems with based on the recall and the plethora of complaints on the internet. I can no longer use the heating unit. I took it to patrick motors in auburn, MA where I bought the car. They said it was out of warranty and they would charge me to look at it to see what the problem was and then maybe ask vwoa if they would help. I was not willing to pay more money for something that is obviously a manufacturing problem and has been documented as problematic.

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.

My car driver seat is burned with some smoke because of faulty seat heater.

Recall for 2003 Volkswagen Jetta- seat heater defect causing seats to get too hot even causing fire in some instances. Brought my Jetta to riverside Volkswagen in riverside, CA. Inspection and repairs made in 2006. Yesterday, 1/25/2010, driver side seat heater started to burn a hole in seat. Did not burn all the way through as I turned the heater off before hand. Felt something that resembled a bee sting before realizing that it was the seat heater that was malfunctioning. Burning smell detected. Called vw riverside, said that it would not be a covered fix based on recall info. Complaint of failed initial repair.