NHTSA Complaint #10548831 — 2008 NISSAN ARMADA

THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER MOTOR CAUGHT THE UNDER SIDE OF THE SEAT ON FIRE WHILE NO ONE TOUCHED THE SEAT ADJUSTER. FOR SOME REASON THE ADJUSTER MOTOR HEATED UP AND WHEN MY WIFE, CHILD, AND MOTHER HAD TO PULL OFF OF THE INTERSTATE DUE TO SMOKE, I WAS LUCKILY BEHIND THEM AND GOT THE FAMILY OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT AND SAW 3 INCH FLAMES COMING OUT OF ONE OF THE ADJUSTER MOTORS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE MOTOR OUT FROM UNDER THE SEAT AFTER I POURED A WATER BOTTLE OVER THE MOTOR AND USED TWO PAIRS OF GLOVES TO KEEP FROM BURNING MY HANDS. FROM LOOKING AT THE ADJUSTER MOTOR AFTER PULLED FROM THE VEHICLE ONE END WAS COMPLETELY GONE AS IT MELTED AND BURNED OFF THE PLASTIC COVER. IT ALSO BURNED A COUPLE OF HOLES IN THE CARPET UNDER THE SEAT. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A MOTOR WOULD JUST CATCH ON FIRE AND AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO RANDY REED NISSAN, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE SEAT ADJUSTER WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW CAN IT STICK IN THE ON POSITION WHEN WE ARE NOT TOUCHING THE SEAT ADJUSTERS. LASTLY, SINCE MY WIFE STATED SHE SMELLED A BURNT SMELL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, WHAT IF THE ADJUSTER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN THE GARAGE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BURN AND CATCHING THE HOUSE ON FIRE. I SAY THIS BECAUSE THE ADJUSTOR WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE ON. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY SWITCH TO KEEP SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM HAPPENING. IT ALSO CAUSED $3,600 IN REPAIR WHICH WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED YET. *TR