MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT HAS A SEAT WARMER. ONE MORNING, IT BEGAN TO BURN ON MY LEG; I NOTICED THE LEATHER IN ONE CORNER WAS MELTING. ONE OF THE WIRES FOR THE SEAT HEATER WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND PRESSING AGAINST THE SEAT. I NOTIFIED MY LOCAL DEALER AND VW OF AMERICA. THEY WERE UNWILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY A DEFECT, BUT ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB