NHTSA Complaint #10204301 — 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I HEARD A VERY LARGE "CRACK" SOUND AND FELT MY SEAT SHUDDER. THE SOUND AND IMPACT MADE ME THINK THAT SOMETHING HAD STRUCK THE CAR UNDER MY SEAT. HOWEVER, WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I DISCOVERED THAT A SPRING ATTACHED TO MY SEAT HAD DISLODGE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THE SPRING CONNECTED HAD BROKEN OFF - APPARENTLY METAL FATIGUE. THIS STRUCK ME ODD BECAUSE WHILE CLEANING MY CAR EARLIER IN THE SUMMER, I HAD NOTICED THAT A SPRING WAS LOOSE UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT AND ALSO FOUND THE NUB OF WHERE IT ATTACHED. I HAVE KEPT BOTH PIECES AND THE SPRINGS. I THINK THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT WITH THE PART. I AM NOT A VERY HEAVY PERSON - 180 LBS - SO I DOUBT I PUT THAT MUCH STRESS ON THE SEAT. I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND THAT IS WHY I AM REPORTING IT. WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILED I SWERVED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS THE SOUND WAS INCREDIBLY UNNERVING. I ALSO NOW WONDER ABOUT THE SEATS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IF IT WERE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION.