# 1999 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
> NHTSA complaint `452263` · 2004-01-29 · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** CHRYSLER
- **Model:** TOWN AND COUNTRY
- **Year:** 1999
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Component:** SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
- **Miles at failure:** 37,400
## Narrative
DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT WOULD BECOME VERY HOT AFTER 3 TO 4 MIN. I WOULD OFTEN HAVE TO SUDDENLY LOCATE THE SWITCH WHILE DRIVING TO PREVENT BEING BURNED. ON 1/25/04 I HAD JUST STARTED DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON BUT GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO TALK TO MY SISTER. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES I RETURNED TO MY CAR (STILL RUNNING) TO FIND IT FULL OF SMOKE. I ALSO NOTICED A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND A SMOKING WIRE SHOWING THROUGH. THIS AREA IS AT A SEAM NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. THE HEAT SWITCH IS LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND IS OFTEN KNOCKED ON WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. I FEAR THE PASSENGER SEAT MAY ALSO BURN UP SINCE IT IS OFTEN NOT OCCUPIED BUT IN THE ON POSITION.  I NOTICED IN MY 2003 VERSION OF THE SAME VAN, THE SEAT HEAT SWITCHES ARE ON THE DASH INSTEAD.  THE CHRYSLER PARTS DEPT. TELLS ME IT WILL BE OVER $800 EACH JUST FOR THE SEAT COVER/HEATER UNIT. I HAVE READ ABOUT SIMILAR SEAT FIRES IN OTHER 1999 TOWN & COUNTRY VANS.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*