NHTSA Complaint #11390572 — 2016 FORD F-150

WHILE STATIONARY (WOULD ALSO HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION) IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT HEATERS ACTIVATED (DRIVER ON MEDIUM, PASSENGER ON HIGH), A RANDOM CLICKING SOUND (BELIEVED TO BE THE RELAY FOR THE HEATED SEATS) WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS THEN NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEATS WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING/PROVIDING HEAT, EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS ON THE CONTROLS WERE STAYING ILLUMINATED. A SHORT WHILE LATER, A BURNING (ELECTRICAL) SMELL WAS OBSERVED IN THE CAB, COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE SMELL STARTED GETTING STRONGER, THE HEATED SEATS WERE TURNED OFF AND THE SMELL SEEMED TO GO AWAY WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES. UPON ARRIVING HOME, I INSPECTED THE SEAT HEATER CONTROL MODULE (ORIGINAL FORD PART NUMBER GU5T-14B663-AA) THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. UPON INSPECTION OF THIS MODULE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BK-BU WIRE ON THE 12-PIN C3265A CONNECTOR HAD STARTED TO MELT. UPON DOING SOME INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AMONG MANY NEWER FORD VEHICLES THAT USES THE SAME SEAT HEATER CONTROL MODULE, AND MANY OTHER EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. THIS POSES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS A FIRE HAZZARD.