Eight problems related to seats have been reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat based on all problems reported for the 2003 Passat.
05/01/2019 car had a dead battery---charge over night still would not start---had the car towed to auto shop--upon arrival with key on approx. 15 min drive--smoke started billowing---disconnected battery---drivers side seat warmer completely melted--mechanic says unit pulling 30 amps--there was a previous recall--not sure if totally corrected--donot want to replace immediately--please advise.
My front driver seat warmer was turned on low. I could feel the seat getting warmer and checked to be sure the setting was not on high which it wasn't. I thought maybe I was being sensitive and stuck my mitten under my thigh. I then noticed a funny smell and suddenly things got very hot and started to burn my leg as I was driving. I looked down and actually started to see smoke. I was not able to just pull over but quickly turned the seat off. I pulled out my mitten and fleece was actually melted. I was a block or two from work and tried to keep from sitting completely down as it burned. I arrived and jumped out to see a blackened area and hole in my seat!! the car was smelling and I am still in shock over this. I have looked and can't find a recall on the seat. This is very disturbing and dangerous. This should not happen no matter how old the car is.
Tl-the contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the heated seat was activated and within two minutes, the seat was unbearably hot and burned a hole through the contact¿s pants. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000. Djr.
We were just leaving our friends house it was approx. 6am in morning little cold out so I turned on the seat warmers which is always nice touch to warm you up on those cold mornings, anyhow about 4-5minutes after seat warmers were turned on passenger side where I was sitting got rather warm and then hot and then actually start smoking and flames came out there was fire right under my bottom. I freaked out jumped out of seat . . I was yelling fire fire fire you could smell plastic burning as it was smoking and burning. My boyfriend poured water on and smothered out the fire with his jacket I'm a bit leary of the car because I don't feel its safe. I had my boyfriend unplug harness under seat and now my air bag warning default light and bell stay on. I am shocked to see several other complaints regarding this issue and that vw people haven't addressed this. I feel this car is a death trap. Very unhappy with this vehicle.
When I turn my heated seat on the driver's side past level 1, there is one spot on the seat that gets painfully hot. I usually turn the heat off at that point. Today I was so cold that I didn't want to turn the seat off, so I put my hand between the seat and my leg. When I took my hand out, it smelled like smoke. I called Volkswagen, and they don't have any recall on these seats. I thought they might make a concession since it is a possible safety issue, but they wouldn't do anything for me.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. While driving approximately 45 mph on normal road conditions, the driver's heated seat control module was activated. A high voltage of heat penetrated through the bottom of the seat and smoke suddenly appeared. The driver deactivated the heated seat control module. He burned his finger on the seat. The authorized dealer was notified of the malfunction. The manufacturer's customer satisfaction campaign m2 was referenced. The free remedy consisted of installing a repair kit for the heated seat. The remedy was performed on the vehicle in 2005; however, it was insufficient and did not prevent future failure. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 76,900 and current mileage was 77,000.
Vehicle was hit from the rear by another vehicle. Drivers seat slid all the way forward in its tracks and the seat back collapsed all the way flat. Seat integrity should be maintained in this type of incident.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 35 mph, the contact smelled smoke and felt a tingling feeling on her back. She exited the vehicle and noticed small holes and smoke coming from the driver's seat. The manufacturer advised her to take the vehicle to the dealer for repair. The contact sent the receipt for her damaged fur coat and blue jeans to the manufacturer, but she has not received any reimbursement. The failure mileage was 61,949.