NHTSA Complaint #10569443 — 2005 DODGE DAKOTA

I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEAT, AS I HAVE DONE SEVERAL TIMES THIS WINTER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I REACHED AROUND THE BACK OF ME AS I WAS DRIVING BECAUSE A SPOT ON MY BACK WAS VERY HEATED. I ACTUALLY STUCK MY FINGER THROUGH A HOLE IN THE SEAT THAT HAD BURNED THROUGH BOTH THE SEAT AND MY COAT. (ALSO MY FINGER, AT THIS POINT.) I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE HEAT OFF AND WENT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO CONTACT CHRYSLER'S CUSTOMER CLAIMS RESOLUTION CENTER, WHO IN TURN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND MY COAT ON MARCH 3, 2014. THE NEXT CONTACT I HAD WAS A LETTER DATED MARCH 10 THAT STATED, "THE INSPECTOR FOUND NO INDICATION OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT..." I SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED THEIR GENERAL OFFICE COUNSEL AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING FURTHER AND I SHOULD MAKE A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE AGENT. THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW MANY VEHICLES HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT THERE WERE NO "HIGHER UPS" THAT I COULD CONTACT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME AND WOULD WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE FOR ME. THANK YOU. *TR