2004 Volkswagen Jetta Interior & seats Problems

SEATS ARE GETTING EXCESSIVELY HOT AND STARTING TO BURN THROUGH THE VISION AND FABRIC. SMOKE IN COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ID

11130394

Incident

Sep 18, 2018

Mileage

163,000 mi

I TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER AND IT CAUGHT FIRE BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNING ME. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IN THE CITY. I PORED WATER ALL OVER ME AND THE SEAT AND TURNED THE HEATER OFF.

NHTSA ID

11081853

Incident

Mar 27, 2018

Mileage

91,000 mi

MY CLOTHE SEATS CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY WHILE DRIVING IT FOR ONLY 25 MINUTES THE SEAT WARMER WAS ONLY SET ON NUMBER 2. I WAS SO RETRIED AND PANICKED BUT MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT IT WITH MY HAND UNTIL IT WENT OUT. IT DID BURN MY HAND. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THEN I STOPPED. IT WAS IN A CITY STREET FILLED WITH CARS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

NHTSA ID

10910705

Incident

Sep 29, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATED SEATS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 05/31/17*LJ UPDATED 06/02/2017*JS

NHTSA ID

10679573

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE ACCESS OR MANUALLY. ALSO, THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN MANUALLY WHEN THE HANDLE WAS PULLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 7/14/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT REAR DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN USING THE REMOTE, OR USING THE DRIVER'S SWITCH ON THE PANEL. ALSO, THE REAR DOOR COULD NT BE OPENED, EVEN WITH TRYING TO USE THE DOOR HANDLE. UPDATED 05/10/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10633141

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

THE CAR RAN INTO A BIG PUDDLE OF WATER AND THE ENGINE STALL. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR THE CAR IT STARTED WITH SEVERE HESITATION IN ENGINE. TRIED STEPPING ON GAS TO KEEP ENGINE GOING THE EXHAUST GOT REAL LOUD AND THE SMOKE STARTED FILLING UP THE CABIN. STEPPED OUT OF CAR TO FIND THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES CAN BE SEEN ON UNDER SIDE OF THE CAR, IN THE MIDDLE SECTION RIGHT UNDER THE ARMREST AREA BETWEEN THE TWO SEATS. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE UNHARMED. I THINK THATS A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWED THE HEAT FROM EXHAUST TO PENETRATE INSIDE THE CABIN WHERE IT REACHED THE FLOOR CARPER THAT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564592

Incident

Feb 13, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

SETTING: -4F, 5:45AM DRIVING TO WORK, SEAT HEATER ON. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD NOTICED A PARTICULARLY HAT SPOT ON MY LOWER RIGHT BACK WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS SET TO 5, ON THE 1-5 DIAL. I TURNED DOWN MY SEAT HEATER DURING THE DRIVE TO 1, WHEN I GOT TO WORK IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEANED FORWARD I GOT THE INTENSE SMELL OF BURNING. I TURNED AROUND TO FIND A 5-6 INCH LONG SECTION ON THE LOWER RIGHT THAN SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD BURNED AND CHARRED. IT HAD BEEN GETTING PARTICULARLY HOW RECENTLY IN THAT LOCATION, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I NOTICED THE BURNING OF THE SEAT CUSHION. DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563332

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

199,000 mi

LAST YEAR I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL ONE NIGHT IT WAS COLD OUT SO I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEAT. MY SEAT STARTED TO GET VERY HOT IN AN ISOLATED AREA SO I TURNED IT REMEMBERING THE RECALL I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT IN THE SEAT COULD BE FAULTY AND THE SEAT COULD CATCH FIRE. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY EXPRESSED TO ME THAT THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED! WHAT HOW COULD SOME THING THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE? WELL AFTER THAT I NO LONGER USED THE SEAT BUT ONE DAY MY SON WHO WANTED THE CAR TO BE WARM FOR HIS MOTHER STARTED IT AND TURNED ON BOTH HEATED SEATS BY THE TIME I WENT OUT TO THE CAR IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND A HOLE BURNED THROUGH MY SEAT. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS I GOT A RECALL ON MY SUN ROOF SAYING IT CAUSES THE DRIVERS SIDE BACK AND FRONT FLOOR TO FLOOD. WHEN IT DID I TOOK IT IN TO MY DEALER THEY "FIXED IT", WELL LAST WEEK IT POURED TERRIBLE THE NEXT DAY I WENT OUT TO MY VEHICLE TO FIND 4 INCHES OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OF MY DRIVERS SIDE BACK SEAT. TODAY 09/18/2012 I TOOK IT IN TO MY DEALER TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $100 FOR DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS I HAVE A CHILD AND TO HAVE WATER SIT IN BETWEEN THE METAL OF THE CAR FLOOR AND THE CARPET I AM DISGUSTED!!! IT SMELLS SO BAD I HAD TO SPRINKLE BAKING SODA ON THE FLOOR TO KEEP THE SMELL AT BAY. THE WATER IS STILL SQUISHING BETWEEN THE CARPET AND THE METAL AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO STORM AGAIN TODAY!!! I AM COMPLETELY FED UP WITH VOLKSWAGEN! *TR

NHTSA ID

10475788

Incident

Sep 21, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

IN APRIL OF 2005 VW INITIATED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS ISSUES CAUSED BY OVERHEATING SEAT HEATERS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED ON JUNE 24TH 2006 BY COOK VOLKSWAGEN IN FALLSTON MARYLAND, AND PARTS FOR REPAIR WERE ORDERED (INVOICE [XXX]). ON JULY 8TH 2006 THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO HAVE THE SERVICE PERFORMED. THE INVOICE (268548) STATES: RECALLS COMPLETED, VV1 CHECKED SEAT HEATER ' NO REPAIRS REQUIRED. ON JANUARY 3RD 2011, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WITH THE COMFORT SEAT HEATER TURNED ON AT LEVEL 2, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED STRONG PAIN, FOLLOWED BY STRONG ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT WAS DISCOVERED. VW SUGGESTED THE OWNER PAYS $170.00 TO NORTHTOWN VW ON AMHERST NEW YORK TO DISASSEMBLE THE SEAT AND TAKE DETAILED PICTURES OF THE FAILURE BEFORE PERFORMING ANY WORK TO REPAIR THE SEAT HEATER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10443777

Incident

Jan 3, 2012

Mileage

131,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON FRIDAY JANUARY 6 AT AROUND 230PM, MY VW JETTA WAGON'S DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER, SET ON "4," OVERHEATED AND IGNITED THE SEAT MATERIAL, WHICH BURNED THROUGH AND BEGAN TO BURN MY PANTS. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN; LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME. WHEN THE SMOKE BEGAN, I SMELLED A PLASTIC BURNING SMELL, AND VEERED SHARPLY OFF THE ROAD, THINKING THE CAR MIGHT BURN. I SHUT OFF THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL, THEN DROVE TO MY HOME, ONE BLOCK AWAY. I SHUT OFF THE CAR, GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM INSIDE, THEN RETURNED TO THE CAR. THE SMOKE HAD JUST ABOUT STOPPED; A DIME-SIZED BURNED HOLE WAS IN MY SEAT, AS WELL AS A SLIGHT BROWNED AREA ON MY PANTS. I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND HAVE FILED A CASE WITH VW OF AMERICA CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10443182

Incident

Jan 6, 2012

Mileage

84,000 mi

DOOR AJAR NOT WORKING, ALONG WITH INTERIOR LIGHT ON DRIVERS DOOR, & CABIN INTERIOR LIGHTS NOT COMING ON WHEN DOOR OPENS. REPLACED DRIVERS DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR VIA DEALER FIXES PROBLEM. A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR A $17 MICROSWITCH (APPROX) PART ON THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR THAT FAILS VERY OFTEN. MANY VW OWNERS EXPERIENCE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381381

Incident

Jan 17, 2011

Mileage

108,300 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP BUT THERE WERE NO CODES PRODUCED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10381330

Incident

Feb 5, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT IN OUR 2004 VW JETTA TDI BECAME EXTREMELY HOT NEAR THE DRIVER'S RIGHT THIGH AND THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL IN THE CAR. MY WIFE, WHO WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, HAD A MINOR SURFACE BURN AS A RESULT. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS WEARING JEANS, WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM BEING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10381193

Incident

Jan 25, 2011

Mileage

51,000 mi

NOTICED DRIVERS HEATED SEAT WAS VERY HOT ON LEFT THIGH. YESTERDAY I SMELLED SMOKE, AND PUT MY HAND UNDER MY LEG. BURNED HAND. TURNED OFF HEATED SEAT AND PULLED OVER. NOTICED A BURN ON FABRIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373755

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

HEATED SEAT BURNED. ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND EXTREME HOT SPOT ON UPPER RIGHT THIGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371789

Incident

Nov 27, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

I SMELLED A BURNING OR FOUL-SMELLING CHEMICAL ODOR AFTER DRIVING FOR 01 MINUTE AND NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS SO HOT THAT IT BURNED MY HAND WHEN I TOUCHED IT. I THEN SMELLED SMOKE AND I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED OFF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. AFTER STOPPING, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT APPEARED BURNED IN A ROUGHLY CIRCULAR PATCH THAT LOOKED SIMILAR TO A CIGARETTE BURN. THE FOUL ODOR HAS PERSISTED EVEN WITH THE SEAT HEATER OFF AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 16 DEC 2008. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252148

Incident

Dec 16, 2008

Mileage

61,000 mi

CLUTCH FAILED AT 52K MILES, WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR, MECHANIC DEEMED IT A FAULTY PART, VW SAID IT ONLY COVERED MANUFACTURER DEFECTS UP TO 50K MILES, PAID $1500 TO REPLACE CLUTCH. TRUNK POPS OPEN RANDOMLY AND LATCH MAKES CLICKING NOISES. AIR COOLING SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, MY CAR IS READING A RUNNING TEMP OF -54 WHEN IT SHOULD BE 160. CAR STALLS IF I TURN IT OFF AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN A FEW MILES THEN DOESN'T TURN OVER IF THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. BLACK SMOKE POURS OUT OF TAILPIPE AND IT BURNS DOUBLE THE GAS IT SHOULD. LUCKILY THEY EXTENDED THE FACTORY WARRANTY ON THE SENSOR LAST WEEK AND IT CAN BE FIXED FOR FREE AT A VW DEALERSHIP ONLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221165

Incident

Jun 6, 2007

Mileage

52,000 mi

OWNER WAS DRIVING VOLKSWAGEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AND SMELLED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR. HE STARTED TO NOTICE WHISKS OF SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE AREA, AROUND THE GEAR SHIFT. FIRE BURNED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, THE CENTER FRONT OF THE DASH, AND THE CORNER OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178191

Incident

Aug 9, 2004

OUR 2004 VW JETTA 1.8T HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM A CLICKING/POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AT APPROXMIATELY 10,000 MILES, TO THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. THE CLUTCH/DISC WENT COMPLETELY OUT AT 15,000 MILES. ALL THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE DARK ON A NON LIT BACK ROAD TO WORK, TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS, TRANSMISSION STILL SLIPPING, BACK DOOR LOCKS DO NOT UN-LOCK WHEN REMOTE IS ACTIVATED, SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS RE-TORQUED EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE BUT THIS HAS NOT MADE PROBLEMS GO AWAY. SINCE MAY 2005, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY CAR FORA TOTAL OF 62 DAYS FOR SERVICE AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE MOST PART STATES "THAT THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM." THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL THE WHEEL BEARINGS IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND THIS DID NOT STOP THE CLICKING/POPPING NOISE, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH DISC THIS DID NOT CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM, THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED PER DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO HAVE A WHISTLING NOISE, TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SLIP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE LEATHER SEAT HAS THE SEAMS POOPING LOOSE AND A PART OF THE FRAME IS PUSHING THROUGH THE LEATHER. TRUNK LATCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. DEALERSHIP STATES CAR IS SAFE TO OPERATE, I BEG TO DIFFER!

NHTSA ID

10141704

Incident

May 13, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

DT: THE CALLER HAD THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE WINDOWS/THE ALARM SYSTEM/THE LIGHTS/THE GAUGES, AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED. AS THE CALLER INDICATED EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONED. THE CALLER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND A FEW TIMES HE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. DEALER COULD NEVER GIVE HIM AN ANSWER WHY THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM FOR FREE, AND SINCE THE PROBLEM INCLUDED DIFFERENT COMPONENTS IT DID NOT FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW. MANUFACTURER SAID THAT IF THE CALLER GOT A LOAN ON THE VEHICLE IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10136369

Incident

Aug 31, 2004

Mileage

400 mi

IHAVE A 2004 VW JETTA WAGON. THE INSTRUMENTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN SOME LIGHTING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY THE SPEEDOMETER. THE NEDDLE IS A DARK, NON REFLECTIVE RED AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND. WITH A BRIGHT FOREGROUND OUTSIDE, THE SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN, EVEN WITH THE LIGHTS TURNED BRIGHT. I E-MAILED VW, BUT NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER.

NHTSA ID

10128972

Incident

Jul 15, 2005