NHTSA Complaint #10807497 — 2001 ACURA MDX

THE 2001 ACURA MDX TOURING IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER HEATED SEATS CONTROLLED BY THREE-POSITION ROCKER SWITCHES (ONE SWITCH TO CONTROL DRIVER SEAT A SECOND SWITCH TO CONTROL PASSENGER SEAT) IN THE CENTER CONSOLE ALLOWING PASSENGER TO CHOOSE BETWEEN LOW-OFF-HIGH TEMPERATURE SETTINGS. THE SEATS ARE DESIGNED TO WARM THE SEAT CUSHION AND THE LUMBAR CUSHION OF BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. CURRENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WORKS AS DESIGNED. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT, HOWEVER, ONLY HEATS THE LUMBAR CUSHION WHEN THE HEATER IS ENGAGED AND THE SEAT CUSHION DOES NOT HEAT. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED WHITE RUBBER UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SEAT. THE RUBBER LOOKED LIKE WIRE INSULATION AND SOME OF THE PIECES LOOKED TO BE CHARRED. I SUSPECT THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT COULD HAVE BROKEN OR SHORTED SOMEHOW CAUSING THE WIRE INSULATION TO CRACK AND OVER TIME TO DISINTEGRATE. MY CONCERN IS THAT A BREAK IN THE HEATING ELEMENT AND/OR CIRCUITRY COULD RESULT IN A SHORT OR SPARK OR EVEN A FIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE HARM TO THE DRIVER IF SITTING IN THAT SEAT WERE SUCH AN EVENT TO OCCUR AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION IF SUCH AN EVENT OCCURRED EN ROUTE WHERE A DRIVER'S REACTION TO SHOCK, SMOKE, BURNING SMELL, OR FIRE COULD ENDANGER THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND OTHER VEHICLES/PASSENGERS ON THE ROAD. EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS USED WITHOUT INTENTIONALLY ENGAGING THE SEAT HEATING SYSTEM, THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE ROCKER SWITCHES ALLOW THEM TO EASILY BE ENGAGED INADVERTENTLY.