NHTSA Complaint #11396659 — 2009 MERCURY SABLE

I BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO. I USE THE HEATED DRIVER SEAT REGULARLY. SOMETIME BACK I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT IT SEEMED TO GET HOTTER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT AND ON THE RIGHT, AND THE LAST FEW WEEKS IT INTENSIFIED, WITH THE LEFT SIDE GETTING TOO HOT VERY QUICKLY SO I WOULD SIMPLY TURN THE SEAT OFF. THEN SEVERAL DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH THE SEAT ON AND WITHIN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT FELT SO HOT THAT I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT WAS BURNING ME. IT STILL WAS SO HOT THAT I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND GET OUT JUST TO GET OFF THE SEAT. THAT IS WHEN I SAW THAT THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD BURNED RIGHT THROUGH THE LEATHER. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD, BOTH FOR BODILY INJURY AND FOR A CAR FIRE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.