# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
> NHTSA complaint `506021` · 2004-11-10 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** JETTA
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
- **Miles at failure:** 24,000
- **Speed:** 35 mph
## Narrative
I WAS DRIVING MY LEASED, 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, (EQUIPPED WITH COLD WEATHER PACKAGE), ON A VERY BUSY ROAD IN LATE AFTERNOON ON A COLD AUTUMN DAY JUST OUTSIDE OF BOSTON.  I TURNED MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL, (5) AND IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES I FELT A SHARP PAIN ON THE BACKSIDE OF MY LEFT THIGH AND THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD STUNG ME AT FIRST.  I REPOSITIONED MYSELF IN THE SEAT, AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.  I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW DARK BROWN SMOKE POURING FROM THE SEAT AND REALIZED THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY BURNING ME.  I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF, PULLED OVER, (AGAIN IN VERY BUSY TRAFFIC IN WATERTOWN, MA), AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO FIND A DARK BROWN, DIME-SIZED BURN MARK IN THE SEAT!!!  THE HEAT ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED A SMALL BROWN MARK INTO MY BLUE JEANS AND SUBSEQUENTLY, LEFT A SMALL WELT ON THE BACKSIDE OF MY THIGH.  I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE OTHER ELECTRICAL DEFECTS WITH THIS CAR THAT MAY PUT MY LIFE, AND MY PASSENGERS LIVES IN DANGER.  I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I LEASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY SEEM VERY EAGER TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND TO CLEAR THIS MATTER UP IMMEDIATELY.
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*