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2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

fire · 518702 · 2005-01-27

Vehicle

Make
VOLKSWAGEN
Model
PASSAT
Year
2003
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Miles at failure
20,000

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
Yes
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WE NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL AFTER A SHORT RIDE. THE NEXT MORNING I WENT TO CLEAN SNOW OFF OF THE CAR AND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ABOUT 1/2" IN DIAMETER IN THE SEAT. I TURNED THE CAR ON AND BEGAN CLEANING THE SNOW OFF THE CAR AND CALLED MY FIANC TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WITH IN 2 MINUTES THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CAR, SPARKS AND SMALL FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE HOLE IN THE SEAT. WHEN TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEATS THE MELTING AND SMOKING SUBSIDED LEAVING A HOLE (ABOUT 1" DIAMETER) THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. (LATER FOUND A HOLE HOLE IN THE CLOTHING THAT WAS WORN THE NIGHT BEFORE) VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES, SO THE MALFUNCTION IS COVERED IN FULL BY THE WARRANTEE. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CALLS REGARDING THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD US WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT APROX 1 MONTH BEFORE THEY WOULD TAKE THE CAR. AS A REMEDY THE MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT COVER.*AK

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10108040
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown