# 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — SEATS
> NHTSA complaint `886657` · 2011-10-21 · 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:** 2005
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** SEATS
- **Speed:** 20 mph
## Narrative
ON 10/20/11, I STARTED MY CAR AND TURNED ON THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER TO 2, TO WARM THE SEAT.  I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE TO A 9 AM APPOINTMENT WITHIN 2 MILES FROM MY HOME.  AFTER DRIVING JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS, I SMELLED A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL, BUT THOUGHT IT NORMAL SINCE I HAD NOT USED THE SEAT HEATER IN QUITE SOME TIME; IT WAS JUST LIKE TURNING THE HEAT ON IN A HOME AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF NON-USE. WITHIN A FEW SHORT BLOCKS, I FELT A STING IN MY LEFT LEG AND THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A PINE NEEDLE, SO I SHIFTED MY BODY POSITION TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE.  AFTER A COUPLE MORE SHORT BLOCKS, ANOTHER STINGING SENSATION.  AT THE NEXT STOP SIGN, I REACHED DOWN WITH MY HAND TO FEEL WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THE STINGING OF MY LEG.  I FELT A HOT SPOT IN THE LEFT SIDE OF MY SEAT AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER SINCE MY SEAT HAD WARMED ENOUGH TO BE COMFORTABLE, BUT I DID NOT THINK MY SEAT WAS BURNING, SO I CONTINUED ON TO MY APPOINTMENT.  I WENT IN TO MY APPOINTMENT AND CAME OUT TO MY CAR AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER.  I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL CIGARETTE BURN IN THE SEAT AND A HORRIBLE SMELL IN THE CAR.  I RETURNED HOME AND TOLD MY BOYFRIEND ABOUT THE INCIDENT.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*