10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 5
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 70,120 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. The contact activated the driver's side seat warmer and noticed that the leather seat was becoming extremely hot. The seat melted, but the contact was uninjured. The failure burned her clothing and left a large hole in the driver's seat. The dealer and manufacturer stated that they could not assist. The contact would be responsible for the repair costs. She was concerned with the overall safety of the vehicle and the strange noises she heard. There were no recalls for the failures. The failure and current mileages were more than 100,000.
- Madison, WI, USA
Right passenger heated seat overheated and charred leather seat cover before I noticed a burning smell. I've removed fuse to this seat, but my seat is ruined. My local Chevrolet dealer said he has had three other GM vehicles to do this and even caught one man's coat on fire laying in the seat. But, he said there was no recalls on his records from GM. Now I'm stuck with a five or six hundred dollar repair bill if I have it fixed. I can't take fuse out for driver, S seat, as it also controls another function on car. Now I'm afraid it will overheat and I'll be burned like some of the others I've read about on the internet. See www.carstats.com/safetystation.asp.
- Auburn, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. While driving 60 mph, the contact noticed that the seats were becoming hotter than normal. She deactivated the seat heater; however, the seat continued to heat. She smelled something burning and noticed smoke and a whole in the seat. As of December 14, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 160,900.
- Breman, IN, USA
Complainant was traveling on interstate highway when driver's leather seat suddenly became extremely hot, causing burns to lower back and buttocks. Seat became hot despite fact that switch controlling heated seat had been, and was still in the "off" position. Seat continued to burn regardless of setting of 3-position control switch. Seat continued to burn despite vehicle being turned off. Seat continued to burn until complainant located driver's side fuse box and removed fuse marked for driver's heated seat/BCM. Vehicle must continue to be operated with fuse removed as re-insertion causes seat to again burn regardless of switch position or vehicle on/off. Passenger heated seat was/is unaffected by the defect or removal of fuse. Incident date is approximate.
- Arlington Heights, IL, USA
: the contact stated when the vehicle was started; the driver's ide electric heater became very hot, and then failed to continue heating the seat. The passenger seat was not affected by the driver's side failure, but failed to work a few days later.
- West Seneca, NY, USA
: the consumer stated while driving, the passenger seat warmer became very hot. The problem was not noticed until a coat in the seat caught on fire. The coat was discarded from the vehicle while moving in order to keep the fire from spreading. The passenger seat was damaged as a result of the fire.
- Harvard, IL, USA
Consumer stated that seat heater is too hot, causing the heater to burn a hole into the driver's seat, resulting in a distraction to the consumer. Dealer notified.
- Richmond, VA, USA
Passenger heated seat created an electrical fire (no flames) about 30 minutes into trip. Seat toggle was set at "low". leather was charred, foam seat padding melted in hottest area of the burn, personal property on the seat was destroyed. The temperature of the heat melted a cd case and pens which were in a bag on the seat. Driver received burns on fingers when they brushed against seat. GM has been contacted by owner for assistance. The GM representative state they are unaware of any other occurance.
- Fairview Park, OH, USA
The electronically heated seats started burnng the driver's back while driving, they overheated. The dealer has been contacted.
- Temperamce, MI, USA
- Wilmington, DE, USA