2003 Volkswagen Passat seats problems

Filed Nov 30, 2020 · Seats · 121,365 miles · MO · fire · 1 injury

My son was driving (in motion) on hwy 17 in miller county mo with seat heater on saturday nov. 28, 2020. Seat caught on fire. I had noticed when I had seat heater on previously it became so hot as to burn legs. This is a serious problem. It could have burned my car completely. Very dangerous.

Filed May 6, 2019 · Seats · 56,000 miles · PA · fire

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

Filed Sep 28, 2015 · Airbags, Seats · 116,000 miles · CA · fire

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.

Filed Jan 20, 2015 · Seats · 117,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. While driving 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.

Filed Apr 19, 2014 · Airbags, Seats · 125,000 miles · VA

On sept 20 2013 my wife showed me a spring that came from under the drivers seat . Ironically the next day the airbag light came on and wont go off . About a month later a 2nd spring appeared in the floorboard .car will not pass inspection . Vw really needs to address this .

Filed Dec 14, 2012 · Seats · 143,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Dec 29, 2011 · Seats · RI · fire

Heater stopped working and blew cold air. Brought car into vw dealer be serviced. Heating system was flushed with cleaner. A couple of days after "repair," car was driven with the passenger seat heater on and a 1 1/4" hole burnt through seat exposing burnt heating element and burnt foam. Heater stopped working a couple of weeks after above "repair." returned to dealer to redo repair and requested the seat heater and seat upholstery leather replaced. Told that it would cost $1000.00 and that it would be the owner's responsibility. Clearly the seat heaters on this car model are defective given all the complaints and prior recalls. Vw replaced the driver's seat heater with a recall...which leads to the obvious question: "why weren't the passenger side seat recalled as well?" was this a calculation on the part of vw corporate....that the cost of replacing the driver seats through a recall was less that the liability due to burns/accidents/loss of life...but the cost of replacing the passenger seats through a recall was calculated to be more than the liability there? This does not smell good. Class action suit seems appropriate.

Filed Oct 5, 2011 · Electrical, Seats · 85,000 miles · MA · fire

Heated seat coils overheated and burnt seat on driver side. 1 year after recall was done by [xxx] vw brockton ma, they told me the heaters in the seat are no longer under warranty and told me to call vw USA with my problem, information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 14, 2011 · Seats · 54,000 miles · RI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen passat. While driving approximately 55 MPH with the heated seat engaged, the contact felt a burning sensation coming through the seat. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed there was a burned hole through the front driver seat as well as a burn to his pants. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed nor repaired. The failure and current mileage was 54,000.

Filed Jan 7, 2011 · Seats · 112,347 miles · MA

2003 volkswagen passat wagon with cloth heated seats. While using heated seat option, felt burning on right leg. Found seat heater had melted right bolster of seat cushion.