NHTSA Complaint #10777857 — 2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM IN THE MORNING, MY SEAT WARMERS HAD BURNT OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK; IT WAS A CHILLY MORNING SO I TURNED THE SEAT WARMER ON TO 4. THE HIGHEST IT GOES UP TO IS 5. SOON AFTER, I FELT IT WAS A BIT TOO HOT. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, I SAW SMOKE! I COULD NOT STOP ANYWHERE SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER. I REMAINED CALM UNTIL I ARRIVED TO A STOP LIGHT. WHEN I LOOKED BEHIND ME I NOTICED 3 HOLES IN MY SEAT. TWO LITTLE ONES AND ONE BIG ONE. YOU CAN SEE THE BURNT WIRES. I WAS SO ANGRY BY THE TIME I GOT TO WORK. I DROVE OVER TO VW NEMER IN LATHAM, NY TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO ENGINE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE REP. WAS NOT SYMPATHETIC AND NOT VERY POLITE. HE KEPT SAYING I SHOULD HAVE CALLED AND I SHOULD HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT. I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO STAY THERE AND WAIT TO FIND OUT THE RESULTS. HE CAME BACK TO TELL ME THAT THE SEAT WARMER BURNT OUT AND THAT WAS ALL. HE ALSO TRIED TO GET ME TO FIX MY BRAKES (I DID NOT COME IN FOR BRAKES). HE TOLD ME I WOULD NEED NEW WIRING AND SEAT COVERS (LEATHER) TO FIX IT. I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY A $100 DEDUCTIBLE. I AM NOT PAYING THAT DEDUCTIBLE. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT MATTER, BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT MY CAR HAS NOT REACHED 100,000 MILES YET... I HAVE WRITTEN A COMPLAINT TO VW DEMANDING SOME TYPE OF RESOLUTION. THEY NEED TO CHECK THEIR CARS VERY THOROUGHLY. I READ THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER SEAT WARMER INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN CANADA AND VW DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I AM AFRAID TO TURN ON ANY HEATING SYSTEM IN THE CAR NOW, BECAUSE IT TOO MIGHT FAIL AND SHOCK ME. I HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW MY TORN SEATS. I CAN SEND THEM IF NEEDED.