2003 Volkswagen Jetta Seat Heater/Cooler Problems
- 69
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 69 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 32 indicate injury
- 41 indicate fire
- 1 indicate a death
What owners report
- seat heater · 32 records
- caught fire · 15 records
- burned through · 14 records
- side seat · 13 records
- through seat · 13 records
- seat caught · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 31 |
| 1–30k mi | 13 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 100–150k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Seat Heater/Cooler
Failure in the driver side heated seat element resulted in a smoking hole burnt through the seat leather. The incident resulted in a small burn to the passenger.
1 injury
ODI 10112324
Seat Heater/Cooler
Seat heater on driver's side became very hot in one spot, started to smell and smoke and burned through the seat material, my jacket and to my leg (no burn to skin noted).*ak
ODI 10108201
Seat Heater/Cooler
Noticed the seat wsa hotter than normal a few days before incident. I was on my way to work and i smelled burning, then noticed my leg was hurting, then noticed smoke. I pulled over and jumped out of the car. I patted out the fire/smoke with my hand. There was a burned hole through the leather in the side of my seat. There was also a small burn in my pants and on my upper leg. I immediatly called the dealer. They…
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10114647
Seat Heater/Cooler
On early morning start-up, the seat heater was turned on. Within about 1 minute it began to smolder, melting the seat foam cushion and burning a hole in the upholstery fabric and my trousers. Had i not quickly turned off the heater, it may have started a fire. I contacted vw of america. They took my information and repaired it at their expense through my local vw dealership. *jb
ODI 10118351
Seat Heater/Cooler
On monday morning i noticed that my seat warmer was burning the left side of my butt. I didn't notice anything at that time. On tuesday morning, my seat was smoking and it burned a whole in my leather. When i called the dealership, they told me they had seen a couple of these incidents. Said i would need to bring my car in and leave it or wait 45+ minutes for them to take a look at it. I complained that i can't miss…
1 injury
ODI 10106565
Seat Heater/Cooler
Drivers side seat heater malfunctioned wile set to level (2) two. Results were burn hole to seat, smoke erupting form seat, burn to driver?s jeans, pain and discomfort to driver this was during normal vehicle operation on public streets. *jb
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10106496
Seat Heater/Cooler
Passenger side seat heater malfunctioned. Seat heater turned on to level 3. Passenger and driver noticed smell of something burning, then passenger felt pain under left thigh. Turned seat heater off. When stopped, examined seat to discover brown hole in seat where heater had burned through. No repairs have been made yet. *nm
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10106441
Seat Heater/Cooler
While driving the seat caught on fire. Consumer smelled a burnt odor. The seat became very hot; burning completely through the leather. Also, burning through consumer's jeans. The seat burned consumer's legs and her backside. It wasn't until she got out of the vehicle she could see the smoke coming from under the seat. *ak
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10115596
Seat Heater/Cooler
(1) driving on ih-35, seat started burning and smoke filled the car, seat heater had burned through the seat. *ak
Fire reported
ODI 10104412
Seat Heater/Cooler
The consumer stated the seat warmer caused the seat to catch on fire when the vehicle was being warmed up. *jb
Fire reported
ODI 10105197
Seat Heater/Cooler
2003 vw jetta front passenger heating element (heated seats) failure; fire burned through seat fabric. *jb
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10104092
Seat Heater/Cooler
The heater on driver seat overheated and burned a hole through driver's seat, and it also caught on fire. Consumer was able to extinguish the fire with his hand. Dealer and manufacturer were not notified. *ak
Fire reported
ODI 10105113
Seat Heater/Cooler
While driving consumer turned on the seat heater and seat burned through completely; burning consumers buttocks and hand. Contacted the dealer. *ak
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10105107
Seat Heater/Cooler
Consumer was driving to work when suddenly the passenger felt heat coming from the driver's seat. The seat started to burn. Conumer exited the vehicle, and it was towed.*ak
Fire reported
ODI 10104978
Seat Heater/Cooler
This car is equipped with electric seat heaters. After driving this vehicle for approximately 25 miles, the driver seat heater burnt through the seat, burning my butt. The seat quit burning after turning the heater off. I have spoke to two vw dealers and vw directly and it sounds like this is not an isolated incident by any means.*ak
Fire reported · 1 injury · 1 death
ODI 10104573
Seat Heater/Cooler
I was driving down the road and had just cut on my heated seats in my 2003 volkswagon jetta and noticed that my seat was getting very hot on the left hand side. I could not figure it out and could not see b/c it was dark. I started filling around in my seat and felt a whole and it burned my finger. I had no idea what it was. I started smelling smoke and so i turned on my light in my car and pulled over immediately.…
ODI 10102788
Seat Heater/Cooler
Seat heater in 2003 volkswagen jetta shorted out causing small hole to burn in leather seat and inflicting minor pinpointed burn to driver while vehicle was in operation. Seat heat turned off returned vehicle to dealer for repair. To date the parts for repair are not available. Condition is still active if switch is turned on.*ak
1 injury
ODI 10112500
Seat Heater/Cooler
While driving the consumer's seat caught fire. The consumer contacted the dealer and took the vehicle in for repair. *jb *nm
Fire reported
ODI 10108876
Seat Heater/Cooler
While driving 10 mph heater in the driver seat caught on fire and burned through the driver's seat. Consumer extinguished the fire with her hand. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, who ordered a new seat.*ak
Fire reported
ODI 10103682
Seat Heater/Cooler
While driving seat heater started to burn. Consumer felt the heat through her coat. Pulled over and exited the vehicle. The leather seat was melted. Consumer contacted the manufacturer.*ak
ODI 10102033
Power Window Devices And Controls · Seat Heater/Cooler
We purchased a brand new 2003 vw jetta in june of 2003. I have had no problems with the vehicle until yesterday, 11/28/04. We could smell something "hot" and burning. The drivers seat caught on fire from the heated seats, there is a hole in the seat and my boyfriend burnt his hand. Within minutes of that happening, the passenger side door window just fell down. I've never seen anything like this before. Somehow, the…
Fire reported
ODI 10100708
Seat Heater/Cooler
I currently own a 2003 volkwagen jetta and have been driving it for 2 years. I live in michigan and as a result use the seat warmers regularly during the cold winter months. I have never had a problem or any complaints until yesterday. I drove about 1 mile and had the seat warmer on 3, which isn't the highest setting, and my seat caught fire. I had to pull over to the side of the road, get out, and proceed to stomp…
Fire reported
ODI 10100604
Seat Heater/Cooler
A hole was burnt into my velour driver seat from the seat heater on my 2003 diesel jetta. I cannot use the seat heater as it continues to produce a burning smell when the heat is turned on. *ak
1 injury
ODI 10102294
Seat Heater/Cooler
Consumer noticed that driver's side seat heater became extremely hot, burning the plastic of the seat. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the seat needed to be replaced. *ak
Fire reported
ODI 10105374
Seat Heater/Cooler
Sunday evening i left my house to run out to the local convenient store when the driver seat of my 2003 vw jetta caught on fire. The heat settings run as high as five, my setting at the time was on two. I felt heat generating beneath my rear-end and when i lifted my leg to look below me, i saw and felt the flames beneath me. Trying to put the fire out, which by the time i'd got pulled over to the side of road had…
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10100311