2006 Volkswagen Jetta: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Nov 30, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 160,000 miles · TX

Camshaft failure due to excessive wear on a vehicle with 160,000 miles despite using vw recommended 505.01 specification oil and regular maintenance. Engine developed a rattling noise at highway speed, decreased performance, excessive black smoke coming out of tail pipe, and $1500 repair bill. Dual mass transmission flywheel failure on a vehicle with 120,000 miles resulted in rattling noise in the transmission, vibration of the whole vehicle and $1200 repair bill. Both of these issues are widespread. Multiple owners of this year/make/model have experienced these exact same issues due to poor quality parts originally installed by the manufacturer. Manufacturer should recall the affected vehicles and fix these issues due to them being widespread. There are numerous discussions on public forums of these issues as well.

Filed Feb 28, 2015 · Electrical, Seats · 262,000 miles · PA

Driver seat lower right back overheated. Burnt a hole in the seat and melted the coat I was wearing. Smell of burning in the car and intense heat on my back. Turned off the seat heat. When I arrived at my destination, noticed the burn in the seat and later noticed a burn on my coat.. Interior of the car is well maintained, never flooded or abused. Now I have a car driver seat that is badly damaged, a ruined coat and scared to operate the car or to park in my garage in fear of a fire that could burn down my house and car putting myself and family in harms way. I have noticed several vw cars in the past with the same problem in the same spot and was always thankful that it was not my car. Now it is my car with the same problem. Called the vw dealer, and they said that there is not a recall on this. This is a problem that can cause a bad burn on a person. I am glad I had a coat on while driving, otherwise I would have had to seek medical treatment for the burn. Would like to see vw correct the problem and replace the seat at no charge to the owners. This is a preventable problem that needs corrected.

Filed Feb 28, 2015 · Electrical, Seats · 262 miles · PA

Driver seat lower right back overheated. Burnt a hole in the seat and melted the coat I was wearing. Smell of burning in the car and intense heat on my back. Turned off the seat heat. When I arrived at my destination, noticed the burn in the seat and later noticed a burn on my coat. Interior of the car is well maintained, never flooded or abused. Now I have a car driver seat that is badly damaged, a ruined coat and scared to operate the car or to park in my garage in fear of a fire that could burn down my house and car putting my self and family in harms way. I have noticed several vw cars in the past with the same problem in the same spot and was always thankful that it was not my car. Now it is my car with the same problem. Called the vw dealer and they said that there is not a recall on this. This is a problem that can cause a bad burn on a person. I am glad I had a coat on while driving, otherwise I would have had to seek medical treatment for the burn. Would like to see vw correct the problem and replace the seat at no charge to the owners. This is a preventable problem that needs corrected.

Filed Jan 4, 2014 · Electrical, Seats · 86,000 miles · VA · fire

While driving home with my wife, she stated that she thought she had noticed a burning smell. The heated seats were on as it was a cold morning. The next day I noticed that the back rest of the seat had a smoldering mark as well as some sort of smoke damage as if there was a fire on the inside of the seat. We later looked on her jacket and noticed that there was transfer of the "leather" to her jacket.

Filed Jan 24, 2011 · Electrical, Seats · 116,332 miles · MD · fire

My 2006 vw jetta 2.5 l has had the passenger side seat warmer catch fire and cause holes in my seat. As I dropped off one of my children to school today I noticed a black hole with glowing orange embers in the seat! I touched it and realized my seat had caught on fire! Thank god my child was already out of the car and was wearing a heavy coat and wasn't burned by it. Definitely a huge safety issue and I'm lucky no one was injured!

Filed Oct 26, 2010 · Seats · 50,000 miles · 00 · fire · 1 injury

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.