NHTSA Complaint #10114484 — 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET IMAPLA. IT CAME WITH HEATED LEATHER FRONT SEATS. LAST YEAR THE SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED TO HEAT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAD BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER OF THE SEAT BEFORE IT QUIT WORKING. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND QUIT AGAIN. A SECOND HOLE WAS BURNED IN THE LEATHER SEAT IN THE SAME PLACE AND THREE HOLES WERE BURNED THROUGH THE MATERIAL OF TWO COATS. MY WIFE INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BECAME SO HOT THAT AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES SHE HAD TO TURN IT OFF. BOTH SEATS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE. THEY FOUND TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. I HAD BOTH SEATS DISCONNECTED TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER DAMAGE BY ACCIDENT. WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT TWO OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES IN WHICH THE HEATED SEATS FAILED. THEY DID NOT HAVE THEM REPAIRED OR REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE COST. MY CONCERN IS ONE OF SAFETY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF IT GOT HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH LEATHER, AND BURN HOLES IN MY COATS, IT COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. BOTH MY SECRETARY AND MY DAUGHTER HAD INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HEATED SEATS IN THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE TOLD THEM OF MY EXPERIENCE. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF PERSONS WHO DO GO TO THE EXPENSE OF HAVING THESE KINDS OF SEATS INSTALLED IN THEIR CARS. *AK