# 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
> NHTSA complaint `604464` · 2006-11-28 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **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:** 75,000
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.  I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A CAN OF SODA ON HAND TO POUR ON IT BECAUSE THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM DEEP INSIDE THE INTERIOR OF THE FOAM PADDING INSIDE THE SEAT.  I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE FLAMES, COULD HAVE EASILY LOST MY ENTIRE CAR IF I HAD NOT BEEN ON A SLOW ROAD (ABLE TO STOP QUICKLY) AND DOUSE IT WITH SOMETHING WET.  I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WARMER WAS ON SO IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT OFF.  SEVERAL DAYS LATER I TURNED THE WARMER BACK ON TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN - WITHIN 60 SECONDS SMOKE AND SPARKS WERE VISIBLE FROM THE HOLE CAUSED BY THE ORIGINAL FIRE.  THERE WERE REAL FLAMES AND MY CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE.  HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT THEM OUT QUICKLY AND HAD MY CHILDREN STRAPPED INTO THEIR CAR SEATS AT THE TIME THIS COMPLAINT WOULD PROBABLY BE A DEATH NOTICE.  *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*