I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. MY SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHEN MY PASSENGER AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A SWEET, SMOKEY ODOR. THE SMOKE WAS NOT VISIBLE AT THE TIME, BUT OVER THE NEXT 5-10 MINUTES THE SMELL BECAME MORE INTENSE AND THERE WAS SMOKE VISIBLE INSIDE THE CAR. MY PASS…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. MY SEAT HEATER HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHEN MY PASSENGER AND I BEGAN TO SMELL A SWEET, SMOKEY ODOR. THE SMOKE WAS NOT VISIBLE AT THE TIME, BUT OVER THE NEXT 5-10 MINUTES THE SMELL BECAME MORE INTENSE AND THERE WAS SMOKE VISIBLE INSIDE THE CAR. MY PASSENGER NOTICED THICK SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE BACK OF MY SEAT, CAUSING ME TO JUMP FORWARD AND SWERVE THE CAR SLIGHTLY. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. UPON EXAMINING THE SEAT, I FOUND THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED A HOLE AT BASE OF THE LOWER BACK WHERE THE UPPER SEAT MEETS THE LOWER SEAT CUSION (AS SEEN IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO). I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND HAVE NOT USED IT SINCE. I AM CONCERNED AROUND THE SAFETY OF THIS FEATURE AND UPON SPEAKING TO A VW REPRESENTATIVE, THEY STATED I WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT AND HAVE THEM REPLACE IT AT FULL COST.
NHTSA ODI #11072705
140,000 miles · Jul 18, 2017
SeatsFireInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HER SON'S WINTER COAT, HIS SHIRT, AND HIS BACK WERE BURNED BY THE MALFUNCTI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, HER SON'S WINTER COAT, HIS SHIRT, AND HIS BACK WERE BURNED BY THE MALFUNCTIONING SEAT WARMER. THE CONTACT'S SON, WHO WAS AUTISTIC AND NON-VERBAL, WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO HER THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT SOUGHT. HERZOG-MEIER VOLKSWAGEN (LOCATED AT 4275 SW 139TH WAY, BEAVERTON OR, 97005, TEL: 503-644-9121) WAS CONTACTED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND CONFIRM THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT WARMER, BUT THE SEAT WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #11006185
125,000 miles · Dec 25, 2015
Electrical SystemSeats
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC. THE BURN-THROUGH LOCATION IS ON THE VERTICAL SURFACE OF THE SEAT, MID-LINE, AT ABOUT THE LUMBAR HEIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH. A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED SEAT WHEN THE BURN-THROUGH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SP…
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THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC. THE BURN-THROUGH LOCATION IS ON THE VERTICAL SURFACE OF THE SEAT, MID-LINE, AT ABOUT THE LUMBAR HEIGHT. PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED PHOTOGRAPH. A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED SEAT WHEN THE BURN-THROUGH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE BURN-THROUGH, BUT THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #10816208
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2012
Electrical SystemSeatsInjury
I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL TODAY AND WE HAD PUT THE HEATED SEATS ON IN MY 2002 VW EUROVAN. AS WE APPROACHED THE SCHOOL MY DAUGHTER YELLED OUCH AND GRABBED HER BACK. WE DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC AND BURNED A HOLE IN HER NORTH FACE JACKET. IT HAD STARTED TO HEAT UP HER SHIRT…
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I WAS DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL TODAY AND WE HAD PUT THE HEATED SEATS ON IN MY 2002 VW EUROVAN. AS WE APPROACHED THE SCHOOL MY DAUGHTER YELLED OUCH AND GRABBED HER BACK. WE DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT FABRIC AND BURNED A HOLE IN HER NORTH FACE JACKET. IT HAD STARTED TO HEAT UP HER SHIRT BUT LUCKILY SHE FELT IT BEFORE IT GOT EVEN HOTTER. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE BURN TO HER BACK. SHE HAD A LARGE RED PATCH ON HER LOWER BACK BUT NOTHING MORE. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER - AS BOTH SEATS ARE HEATED AND COULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT ANY TIME. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND THERE ARE SOME AS RECENT AS THIS YEAR ALREADY. IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT VW WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR SUCH A PROBLEM AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT EITHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10449424
100,000 miles · Apr 22, 2009
Electrical SystemSeats
HEATED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SMOLDERING. NO FIRE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT. OUT OF WARRANTY. PASSENGER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY. HEATING ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH CLOTH FABRIC. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT DOES PRESENT A FIRE DANGER AND THERE SHOULD BE A RE…
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HEATED FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SMOLDERING. NO FIRE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT CORRECT. OUT OF WARRANTY. PASSENGER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY. HEATING ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH CLOTH FABRIC. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT DOES PRESENT A FIRE DANGER AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10266376
82,000 miles · Mar 20, 2007
SeatsFire
HEATED SEATS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE UPPER PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SEAT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10185706
102,500 miles · May 20, 2006
Seats
BOUGHT A USED 2002 EUROVAN WITH SEAT WARMER IN JAN 2006. SEAT WARMERS WORKED INITIALLY, BUT ON PASSENGER SIDE IT OVERHEATED AND MELTED THROUGH THE FACTORY SYNTHETIC CLOTH SEAT COVER CAUSING ABOUT A 1 INCH CHARRED BLACK SPOT AS WELL AS OTHER DISCOLORATION NEARBY. WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND NOTICED THE EXTREMELY HOT SPOT…
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BOUGHT A USED 2002 EUROVAN WITH SEAT WARMER IN JAN 2006. SEAT WARMERS WORKED INITIALLY, BUT ON PASSENGER SIDE IT OVERHEATED AND MELTED THROUGH THE FACTORY SYNTHETIC CLOTH SEAT COVER CAUSING ABOUT A 1 INCH CHARRED BLACK SPOT AS WELL AS OTHER DISCOLORATION NEARBY. WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND NOTICED THE EXTREMELY HOT SPOT AND TURNED IT OFF BEFORE IT DID MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY. I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT AFTER FINDING OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SEAT WARMER PROBLEMS ON THEIR VW MODELS, DOCUMENTED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON EDMUNDS.COM FOR 2002-2003 VW JETTAS AND VWVORTEX.COM INTERNET SITES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10157920
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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NHTSA investigations
2
EA08002 · Engine Cooling Fan Blade Fracture
Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Mar 14, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS AND ARE CLASS C MOTOR HOMES. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2007, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AS RQ 07-002 AFTER RECEIVING FOUR CONSUMER REPORTS OF FAN BLADE FAILURE ON MODEL YEAR 2002 WINNEBAGO RIALTA AND VISTA VEHICLES.AS A RESULT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN RESPONSE TO RQ 07-002, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) 08-002.THE SCOPE OF THE EA INVESTIGATION WAS ALSO EXPANDED TO COVER MODEL YEARS 2001 THROUGH 2004 RIALTA AND VISTA, 2002 THROUGH 2004 SUNSTAR, AND 2001 THROUGH 2003 EUROVAN.ALL OF THESE VEHICLES UTILIZE THE SAME ENGINE COOLING FAN.HOWEVER, THE WINNEBAGO VEHICLES ARE LARGER AND HEAVIER THAN THE EUROVAN.AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE COOLING FAN WOULD OPERATE MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE WINNEBAGO VEHICLES COMPARED TO THE EUROVAN FOR THE SAME ON-ROAD OPERATING CONDITIONS.ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE DATA CONCERNING THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT IT PREDOMINATELY AFFECTS THE MY 2002 WINNEBAGO MODELS.WINNEBAGO ACCOUNTS FOR 79% OF ALL THE REPORTS, BUT REPRESENTS ONLY 23% OF THE TOTAL SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.THE MAJORITY OF THE WINNEBAGO REPORTS ARE FOR THE MODEL YEAR 2002 (64%).THE DATA SHOW A DECLINING REPORT TREND, PARTICULARLY FOR THE 2002 WINNEBAGO.REPORTS ON THE 2002 WINNEBAGO REACHED A HIGH OF 11 REPORTS IN CALENDAR YEAR 2005, DROPPING TO THREE REPORTS IN 2006,TWO REPORTS IN 2007, AND ONE REPORT IN 2008.AN EXISTING SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
RQ07002 · Engine Cooling Fan Blade Fracture
Opened Sep 5, 2007 · Closed Jan 4, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON FOUR REPORTSALLEGING FAILURE OF AN ENGINE COOLING FAN IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THREE OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THE FAN DISINTEGRATED AND TWO OF THE THREE ALLEGED THE RADIATOR WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT.THE FOURTH COMPLAINANT ALLEGED THAT HIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING AND OVERHEATING.WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS NOTED THAT PIECES OF THE FAN WERE MISSING.ALL FOUR VEHICLES WERE CLASS C MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS.TWO OF THE VEHICLES ARE RIALTA MODELS AND TWO ARE VISTA MODELS.BASED ONADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VOLKSWAGEN ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TOENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA 08-002 FOR FURTHER STUDY.
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