10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 49
Injuries / Deaths:
34 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,868 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #26

Mar 222004

Jetta

  • 35,000 miles
While driving 60 mph driver's seat caught on fire from the seat heater core. No injuries reported.

- Bridgeville, PA, USA

problem #25

May 202004

(reported on)

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 45,900 miles
Driver's side seat warmer malfunctioned. The driver began to see and smell smoke, pulled over, got out, and noticed a quarter size hole in the driver's side seat that was smoking, and little sparks came out. Vehicle was repaired under warranty.

- Centreville, VA, USA

problem #24

Dec 012003

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 39,810 miles
The consumer turned on the seat heater and it burned a hole in the consumer's pants with proper temperature adjustment.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #23

Nov 072003

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 26,000 miles
Driver seat heater malfunctioned, burning the seat cushion, my clothing and skin, causing minor injury.

- Strongsville, OH, USA

problem #22

Feb 172004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 25,999 miles
Driver seat burned by malfunction of the seat heating system on my VW Jetta 2002.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #21

Jan 302004

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 47,555 miles
Heated seats malfunction. This is the second time the seats malfunctioned causing melting of fabric and smoke, destroying seats. Luckily no one was seriously hurt. VW replaced seats just 10 months ago for the same problem.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

problem #20

Jan 242004

Jetta

  • Automatic transmission
  • 24,646 miles
The consumer smelled a burning chemical scent in the vehicle. The consumer then felt a burning sensation in her hand and the a sharp pain. The consumer then discovered a hole in the seats from the seat warmer. The consumer stated this is third electrical failure she has had with the vehicle.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #19

Jan 082004

(reported on)

Jetta

  • miles
Consumer stated while traveling and without any indication noticed smoke coming from under driver's seat, causing consumer's jacket to catch on fire. Consumer pulled vehicle over, and noticed a burnt hole in seat.

- Evanston, IL, USA

problem #18

Jan 072004

(reported on)

Jetta

  • Manual transmission
  • 26,000 miles
Vehicle came equipped with seat heaters. The left driver's side seat got very hot when the heater was on. This result in consumer being burnt.

- Granby, MA, USA

problem #17

Jan 062004

(reported on)

Jetta

  • 28,000 miles
Consumer installed a driver's side seat warmer. It began to smolder and burn a whole in the driver's side seat.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #16

Dec 052003

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 22,000 miles
I turned my heated seat on and 5-7 minutes into the drive I noticed a burning smell and realized my seat was realy hot. I turned the heated seat off and burning stopped. Upon visual inspection I noticed a hole burnt into seat and a singed dime sized mark on my coat. I have been without my car now for 24 days and I am still waiting for the part to get in the country.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #15

Dec 152003

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 33,400 miles
I was driving and noticed my hip had an itch. I itched it and it sort of went away. The next day the same thing happened, but I touched the seat in my car, and that it was really, really hot. I stopped and looked, and the leather was a bit defromed, and I noticed a burning smell. The heating elements in my 2002 VW Jetta tdi were overheating, and could have caught me or the car on fire. I am gong to the dealer to have it looked at in 2 days.

- Flint, MI, USA

problem #14

Sep 292003

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Vehicle's seat heater caught on fire. Consumer smelled burning and rolled down the window about three inches due to the recent forest fires. She then felt a burning sensation, looked down and saw a 6-8" flame coming up her left side. She was burned as well as her clothing and seat. Consumer pulled over to the side of the road. Pictures were sent to NHTSA via email.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #13

Dec 042003

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My electronically heater driver seat of my 2002 VW Jetta overheated and burned my seat cushion.

- Nutley, NJ, USA

problem #12

Nov 122002

Jetta

  • 32,000 miles
While driving under 55 mph consumer noticed that the driver's seat was becoming too hot. Consumer parked the vehicle and discovered that the heating unit burned a hole in the leather seat and in consumer's pants. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the consumer that a new seat heater was needed. While driving consumer noticed that the driver's seat was becoming too hot. Consumer parked vehicle and discovered that the heating unit had burned a hole in the leather seat and in the consumer's pants. Vehicle was taken to the dealer where consumer was informed that the seat heater needed to be replaced.

- Fernley, NV, USA

problem #11

Nov 262003

Jetta Diesel

  • Manual transmission
  • 62,000 miles
The front drivers seat of my 2002 VW Jetta sedan got extremely hot while I was sitting on it causing the leather seat to start to burn and my buttocks to burn slightly as well.

- Windham, ME, USA

problem #10

Nov 242003

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Volkswagen Jetta gls 2002 the heated seat on the driver's side started to smoke due to faulty wiring.

- Toronto, 00, USA

problem #9

Nov 102003

Jetta

  • miles
The seat warmer of my 2002 volkswagon Jetta malfunctioned and started a fire within the seat. There was smoke and a flame inside the seat. It burned the pants I was wearing. And burned my leg slightly. ***when I called the service center to schedule an appointment to fix this problem, they said "yeah, that's been happening, we're calling the cars 'hot pants'" they also told me that the seats are on back order, and that they have had a car there for over a week that had the same problem.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #8

Nov 102003

(reported on)

Jetta

  • miles
The driver's side seat heater overheated and burnt a hole through driver's pants, but didn't burn the driver's leg.

- Troy, MI, USA

problem #7

Nov 052003

Jetta 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 22,100 miles
While driving I smelled something burning. As I pulled over I felt I was being burned on my upper left leg (rear end). I got out and checked and my seat heating unit had burned through the seat, through my pants and coat and burned my skin.

- Madison, WI, USA

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