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2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

fire1 injured · 638710 · 2007-09-15

Vehicle

Make
VOLKSWAGEN
Model
PASSAT
Year
2004
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Miles at failure
24,000
Speed
40 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
1
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER TURNING ON MY HEATED DRIVER'S SEAT, I FELT SOMETHING STINGING MY LEFT LEG. SHORTLY AFTER, I BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL, AND SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN. I COULD NOT PULL OVER AS I WAS ON A BUSY STREET. I PUT MY HAND DOWN THERE AND FELT A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND THE HEAT OF THE WIRE. I TURNED THE HEATED SEATS OFF, AND PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE SEAT. WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON I COULD SEE THE LIGHT OF A WIRE BURNING IN THERE THROUGH A DIME-SIZED BURN HOLE. *JB

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10203058
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown