Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Volkswagen Passat submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
A COIL FOR HEATED SEATS HAS MELTED A HOLE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THIS CAUSED PAIN AND CONFUSION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SEAT NOW HAS AN UGLY MELTED HOLE IN IT.
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER SEAT SUDDENLY OVERHEATED (THE SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON). IT STARTED WITH A BURNING SMELL. EXCESSIVE HEAT BURNED MY LEG A BIT (SOME SKIN REDNESS), BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT IS HAPPENING AND TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF. THE SEAT LEATHER NOW APPEARS STIFF AND WRINKLED (NOT SOFT AND SMOOTH LIKE THE REST OF THE LEATHER) IN THE AREA WHERE I FELT THE HEAT.
THE CAR STALLED IN THE ROAD. PULLED OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART FULL TANK OF GAS.
MY CAR 2004 VW PASSAT ALMOST GETT ON FIRE FRONT PASSANDER SEAT HAVE START TO BURN BUT WAS OK AFTER I SHUTT OFF THE CAR AFTER THAT NOW I CAN DRIVE BUT THE SEAT ITS DEMAGED
MY CAR WAS PART OF A RECALL BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS OVERHEATING AND MELTING THROUGH THE SEAT. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. BUT YESTERDAY I HAD THAT EXACT ISSUE - WITHIN 4 TO 5 MINUTES OF TURNING ON MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER IT BURNED/MELTED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED ME.
HEATED SEATS ON DRIVER SIDE STOPPED WORKING ONLY TO FIND SEAT HAD SMOLDERED A FIRE BENEATH ME! WAS THERE A RECALL ON THESE SEATS!? *TR
THE SEAT WARMER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STARTED A FIRE THAT BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT AND ONTO MY LEG. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURN OFF THE CAR FOR IT TO STOP BURNING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING A HOLE TO BE BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER SEATS CAUSED SCORCHING TO PANTS AND A MINOR BURN TO THE BUTTOCKS. A MODERATE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE BURNING SEAT AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER, PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO SMOKE PROFUSELY; I SMOTHERED THE FIRE AND CONTACTED MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO CONTACT VW OF AMERICA; THE ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN A COMPLETE HASSLE AND I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE WHILE VW OF AMERICA "INVESTIGATES" THE ISSUE. MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I WERE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME; THEY BECAME EXTREMELY UPSET AND SCARED. FORTUNATELY, THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED PRIOR TO MY GETTING ON THE FREEWAY (I COMMUTE 45 MINUTES EACH WAY FOR SCHOOL). HAD MY SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD BE ALIVE TO WRITE THIS COMPLAINT. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE THE SURPRISE AND PANIC I FELT WHEN THE SEAT BEGAN TO BURN ME; TO CALL THIS A SAFETY HAZARD WOULD BE A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. THIS MALFUNCTION/DEFECT IS ONE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE GREAT BODILY HARM AND/OR DEATH SHOULD IT HAPPEN UNDER THE ABOVE STATED CIRCUMSTANCES (HIGHWAY DRIVING, HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND HEAVY TRAFFIC). IT IS MY OPINION THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE TO PROTECT ADDITIONAL CONSUMERS FROM THIS HAZARD. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET WITH VW AND THE SEEMINGLY CASUAL ATTITUDE REGARDING THIS ISSUE; AS A CONSUMER I FEEL VW HAS A DUTY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR CONSUMERS-A SEAT THAT CAN CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME IS A BREACH OF THAT DUTY. I FEEL THAT SOME WARNING, AT THE VERY LEAST, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THE CONSUMER PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR FEWER THAN 15 MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT ON. I NOTICED AN ACUTE BURNING HEAT NEAR MY UPPER LEFT LEG, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER NOTICED A HOT/BURNING/MELTING SMELL. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. AFTER BEING TURNED OFF FOR 10 MINUTES, THE BURNING SMELL WAS STILL HANGING IN THE CAR AND MY SEAT WAS STILL EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE GRAY LEATHER NEAR THE OUTER LEFT EDGE OF THE SEATING SURFACE IS EMBLAZONED WITH A SINGED, BROWNISH BURN MARK, AND A HOLE WAS BURNED COMPLETELY THROUGH THE LEATHER. I HAVE NOT TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT SINCE THIS INCIDENT, BUT AM QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND FIRE HAZARD. *TR
HEATED SEAT COILS OVERHEATED AND BURNT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE. *TR
2004 VW PASSAT GL 1.8T WITH 94,000 MILES. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER HAS BURNED THROUGH SEAT AND INTO MY LEG WHILE DRIVING WITH SEAT HEAT IN USE ON SETTING #3. THERE IS NOW A HOLE IN DRIVERS SEAT WHERE BURN OCCURRED. *TR
1)MY HEATED SEATS GOT SO HOT THEY BURNED A HOLE IN MY SEAT AND BURNED MY LEG. I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT HAPPENED WITHOUT ME NOTICING, BUT IT DID. THE BURN WAS NOT SEVERE BUT IT DID HURT FOR A DAY OR TWO. 2. THE SEATS CONTINUE TO GET THAT HOT WHEN TURNED ON.... I NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET, I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW SEAT CUSHION, NEW CLOTH FOR THE SEAT AND HAVE SOMEONE FIX THE HEATED SEAT. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, A 2004 VW PASSAT GLS, TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER ON. ABOUT 2 MILES INTO MY DRIVE I COULD SMELL THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING BURNING OUTSIDE, SO I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN TO SEE IF THE OUTSIDE AIR SMELLED OF SMOKE. THE OUTSIDE AIR DID NOT SMELL OF SMOKE, SO I QUICKLY STARTED THINKING OF WHAT ELSE COULD BE BURNING. I ALSO HAD THE CABIN AIR HEAT ON, SO I DECIDED TO TURN THAT OFF AND ALSO TURNED MY SEAT HEATER OFF, WHICH IS WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION AS THE LEFT PART OF THE SEAT BOTTOM AND SAW THE BURNING AREA, WHICH WAS CLEARLY BEING CAUSE BY A HEATING COMPONENT OF THE SEAT HEATER. I WAS TRYING TO PUT OUT THE SMOLDERING AND SMOKE WITH MY HANDS. I COULD TELL THAT MY LEATHER SEATS WERE STILL SMOLDERING/BURNING SO I PUT WATER ON MY HANDS FROM A WATER BOTTLE THAT I HAD NEARBY TO COOL THE LEATHER AND PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD OF THE SMOLDERING. NOTE THAT THIS WAS ALL WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, AND I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD FOR WHICH VW SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION. SUDDENLY, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLATCHED WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. THE DOOR FAILED TO SECURE IN A CLOSED POSITION. WHENEVER THE POWER LOCK WAS ENGAGED THE DOOR OPENED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE UPDATED UPON RECEIPT OF THE SAFETY COMPLAINT FILING.
2004 VW PASSAT 4 SEDAN REAR CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND ASH TRAY ARE NOT SAFELY AND FUNCTIONAL INSTALLED WELL. HAVE THE TENDENCY TO KEEP COMING APART ENTIRELY EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRES LEADING TO BURN AND ELECTRICAL SHOCK OR POPPING OR BURNING OF WIRES. HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BY DEALER AS WELL AS BY MYSELF TO FURTHER PREVENT THE MISHAP SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CHILDREN BUMP THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND IT CAUSED SPARKS AND BURNING SMELL. I WAS ABLE TO REPAIR THE ENCLOSURE AGAIN FOR THE 13TH OR SO TIME AND SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY IT'S NOT COVERED. CHILDREN SIT IN THE REAR MORE THAN ADULTS BUT THERE HAS BEEN TIME WHERE THE ADULTS HAVE CAUSD THE SAME ISSUE. IT'S THAT MY 9 YR OLD SON TRY TO REPAIR OR PUT BACK IN WHERE THE ENTIRE ENCLOSURE FELL OUT AGAIN. *TR
I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2004 MODEL. ON NOVEMBER THE 11TH 2008 AFTER WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT AT MBUSI IN VANCE, ALABAMA, I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME. I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT JUST AS I HAVE DONE FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS ONLY THIS TIME I GOT MORE HEAT THAN I WANTED. MY HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED MY LEG. IN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, I WRENCHED MY BACK BY STOMPING OUT THE FIRE WITH MY FOOT. I DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING CLOSE TO ME TO USE WITH MY HANDS SO THEY WOULD NOT GET BURNED. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW FAST MY CAR FILLED WITH WORST SMELLING SMOKE I HAVE EVER SMELT. THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE PARKING LOT. IF I WOULD HAVE WAITED TWO MINUTES TO TURN ON MY SEAT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON INTERSTATE 20/59 DRIVING AT 70 MPH AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE COVER ON THE CAR, REPLACE MY PANTS AND PAY MY MEDICAL BILLS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SEAT I WILL CONTINUE TO SIT ON, AND MY CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM HORRIFIED TO THINK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR RECURRENCE AND I CANNOT OVERCOME MY ORDEAL I AM DEVASTATED AND HAVE LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESSES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. *TR
INCIDENT DESCRIPTION = 2004 VW PASSAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORT SEVERAL FUEL CONSUMPTIONS PROBLEMS AT HOY FOX VW AND GAS ENDED UP LEAKING OUT OF FUEL TANK AND CAUSE A SPILL IN MY GARAGE AND DRIVE. HAZARD WAS INHALATION GAS IN A CLOSED IN AREA CAUSED HEAD ACHES/ NAUSEA/DIZZINESS/ FOR MY FAMILY AND I I HAVE HAD MUTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SINCE THEN HAS BROKE DOWN ON ME TWICE IN LESS THAN 1 DAY'S TIME. ON 01 SEP 08 MY WIFE NOTICED AND OIL SPOT IN DRIVEWAY AFTER I LEFT TO GO OUT OF TOWN GRANTED WE HAVE BRAND NEW HOME AND THE VW WAS ONLY VEHICLE PARKED IN THAT SPOT SHE COULD REACH ME BECAUSE NO SERVICE WITH MY CELL PHONE BUT I ENDED UP BROKE DOWN OUTSIDE BIG SPRING ,TX THE CARE WAS SLUGGISH AND LEAKING OIL THIS TIME AND ON 03 SEP08 IN /TEXARKANA AFTER BEING IN SHOP ALLDAY 2SEP08 IT BROKE DOWN FOR A PREVIOUS CONDITION WITH IGNITION COILS. HOY FOXVW NOT ADMITTING THAT MAY HAVE PUT THE NEW OIL FILTER TO TIGHT TO CAUSE TO BREAKDOWN AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGE ON 28AUG08/29AUG08 FOR OTHER NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER I'M SURE IT'S NOT JUST MY VEHICLE THEY TRYING TO ASSUME BECAUSE IT JUST HAD WENT OUT WARRANTY. THE ENGINE OIL COOLER WAS DAMAGED AND BURSTED WHEN PUT ON AT HOY-FOX VW BY A VW TECHNICIAN AFTER PUTTING THE OIL FILTER ON ENTIRELY TO TIGHT. LEAKED IN YARD AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AND THE SPILLED OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND AT A HIGH TEMPERATURE VEHICLE (OVERHEATED) WHICH MAKE IT HARD FOR ME STOP WHILE DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SLICKNESS OF MIXTURE BETWEEN THE COOLANT AND OIL. ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD BUT ENDED UP SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND LETTING COAST OVER TO MEDIAN. *TR
STARTED CAR UP FOR MORNING COMMUTE AND TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER TO 5. 5 MINUTES INTO THE COMMUTE A SMOKE SMELL FILLED THE CABIN. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION I FOUND THAT THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A DIME SIZE HOLE THROUGH MY CLOTH SEAT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE SINCE TAKING POSSESSION ON 2/14/04. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER THEY SOUNDED A BIT SURPRISED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVESTIGATE IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. *TR
WHILE TEST DRIVING A VOLKSWAGON PASSAT GLX SEDAN, TOUCHING THE WINDOW CONTROL CAUSED THE ABS BRAKING MECHANISM TO ENGAGE. THE CAR LURCHED AS IF THE BRAKES WERE QUICKLY APPLIED AND ABS FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS AND TONES WENT OFF IN THE CAR. THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FLICKERED AS WELL. THE WARNINGS SHUT OFF IN A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPERATE OCCASIONS IN THE SPAN OF 10 MINUTES BOTH TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON A LEVEL ROAD AT A CONSTANT SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME. THE SITUATION WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED BRAKING AND THE STARTLING EFFECT OF THE WARNINGS OCCURING SIMULTANIOUSLY. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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