2002 Volkswagen Jetta seats problems

Filed Dec 19, 2016 · Seats · 160,000 miles · CO · fire · 1 injury

Tl* 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.

Filed Oct 7, 2015 · Airbags, Seats · 230,000 miles · ND

While driving our jetta at approximately 30 MPH the drivers side curtain airbag and side seat airbag spontaneously deployed. There was no impact. There was no pothole. It was the only car on the road. Going straight.

Filed Mar 16, 2015 · Seats · 217,000 miles · OR · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While driving 60 MPH, smoke started to emit from the front passenger seat. The front passenger was not injured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 217,000.

Filed Apr 1, 2014 · Seats · 110,000 miles · IN

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

Filed Nov 11, 2013 · Seats · 120,000 miles · MN · 2 injuries

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.

Filed Jan 22, 2013 · Seats · IL

Turned the drivers side heated seat warmer on to 2. Range being 0-5. I smelled smoke and turned it off after only 10-15min of being on. I noticed when I got out of the car, that I had a huge quarter size hole in my seat and my down coat was burned through in 2 large spots. This is unsafe. It could have been a huge fire if I had not turned off the warmer as soon as I smelled something burning.

Filed Dec 19, 2012 · Seats · 70,000 miles · VA · fire · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the driver's side heated seat overheated and burned through the seat, causing burns to the contact's legs. The contact stated that the failure had been experienced before, but was never so sever that it caused injuries. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The VIN was not available. The failure and the current mileages were 70,000.

Filed Mar 29, 2012 · Seats · 110,000 miles · CT · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the heated seats began to spark and burned a whole in the seat. The seats were repaired under a previous manufacturer's recall, but the failure recurred. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure, but the contact was denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 110,000 and the current mileage was 145,000.

Filed Feb 21, 2012 · Seats · 125,000 miles · OR · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the heated seat warmer burned through the seat and the pants of the contact. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 125,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2011 · Electrical, Seats · 143,050 miles · UT · fire

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 federal safety agency 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 federal safety agency to re-examine the circumstances to determine if further action is warranted.