# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
> NHTSA complaint `444605` · 2003-12-10 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
- **Miles at failure:** 25,000
- **Speed:** 15 mph
## Narrative
ON A SAT. MORNING (NOV 22ND 10 AM) MY FIANCEE AND I GOT IN HER 2003 VW PASSATT.  IT WAS A COLD DAY AND I WAS DRIVING.  BOTH OF US TURNED THE SEAT HEATERS WITHIN HER LEATHER SEATS ON LEVEL 5 (HIGH).  VERY SHORTLY AFTER, I FELT A BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT REAR END AREA.  WE THEN SMELLED SMOKE.  WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND I JUMPED OUT QUICKLY AS I COULD FEEL MY LEFT REAR END BURNING ONLY TO SEE THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND THROUGH MY PANTS AND BURNED MY REAR END!  OUCH!  NO JOKE!  I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE SEAT, MY NYLON PANTS, AND MY REAR END!  WE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEILLAN VW OF BAY CITY MICHIGAN WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND SPOKE TO A SALESMAN.  THE CAR WAS REPAIRED YESTERDAY.  I WAS THEN GIVEN A COPY OF AUTOBEAT DAILY FROM WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10TH, 2003 AND ON PAGE 10 THERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH READS "NHTSA PROBES SMOLDERING VW SEAT WARMERS"  I THEN THOUGHT I WOULD SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT FORMALLY TO INFORM NHTSA THAT THE ARTICLE READS THAT JUST 2002-2003 JETTAS WERE BEING PROBED.  THIS HAPPENED ON A PASSATT AS WELL.  THE VIN  BELOW IS INCORRECT AS I DON'T HAVE THE VIN  WITH ME AT THIS TIME.  *LA
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*