2003 Volkswagen Jetta Complaint Log

ON MONDAY MORNING I NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WARMER WAS BURNING THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUTT. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING AT THAT TIME. ON TUESDAY MORNING, MY SEAT WAS SMOKING AND IT BURNED A WHOLE IN MY LEATHER. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD SEEN A COUPLE OF THESE INCIDENTS. SAID I WOULD NEED TO BRING MY CAR IN AND LEAVE IT OR WAIT 45+ MINUTES FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I COMPLAINED THAT I CAN'T MISS WORK, AND I NEED A CAR THAT I CAN RELY ON TO GET ME BACK AND FORTH. I ASKED FOR A LOANER FOR THE DAY, TO WHICH THEY RESPONDED NO. AT THIS TIME, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, AND I AM STILL DRIVING WITH A DEFECTIVE SEAT WARMER. *NM

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ON ROUTE 17 IN NEW JERSEY AND PASSED OVER RAILROAD TRACK AT A SPEED BETWEEN 20-30 MPH (ON 50 MPH HIGHWAY). AFTER CLEARING THE TRACKS THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS HURT... IMMEDIATELY HE CAME TO MY JOB (I WORK AT A CAR DEALERSHIP) FOR ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS ,FOR ME TO LOOK AT.VEHICLE. WE COULD NOT FIND ANY DAMAGE OR ANY SIGNS OF A COLLISION. SO, I TOOK MY CAR TO VOLKSWAGEN SO THIS COULD BE FIXED. THEN, I WAS INFORMED BECAUSE DRIVING OVER THE RAILROAD TRACKS TRIGGERED MY CRASH SENSOR CAUSING IT TO REGISTER A CRASH OR COLLISION, THIS WAS NOT COVERED. THE DEALERSHIP THEN INFORMED ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILE A CLAIM. NOW I WOULD LIKE YOUR ADVICE IS THIS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN, AND SINCE IT HAPPENED TO ME, SHOULD IT HAPPEN TO EVERYONE IF THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT. WOULDN'T A FAULTY SENSOR RATHER THEN A BUSY ROAD TRAVELED BY THOUSANDS A DAY CAUSE THIS.*AK

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED WILE SET TO LEVEL (2) TWO. RESULTS WERE BURN HOLE TO SEAT, SMOKE ERUPTING FORM SEAT, BURN TO DRIVER?S JEANS, PAIN AND DISCOMFORT TO DRIVER THIS WAS DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION ON PUBLIC STREETS. *JB

DT: ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THE REAR DEFROSTER SWITCH IS SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AUTOMATICALLY TEN MINUTES AFTER BEING ACTIVATED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROSTER IT DID NOT SHUT ITSELF OFF. AS A RESULT, THE WIRES IN THE REAR WINDOW DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS CAUSES THE CONSUMER NOT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH SOME PARTS OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE MANUAL. THE WINDOW WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2005. THE REPLACEMENT WINDOW HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY DAMAGE BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER SWITCH HAD BEEN TURNED OFF MANUALLY. *AK (11/17/05) *SC

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH FRONT RIGHT AND REAR RIGHT WINDOW'S FELL DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

DRIVING ALONG, CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES, WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER THEY SAID THE PRESSURE PLATE IS COMPLETELY WORN AND ITS MY FAULT, AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS IS QUITE COMMON. I HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE OR ANY NUMBER OF MANAGERS.*AK

THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE OWNER. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. SEAT HEATER TURNED ON TO LEVEL 3. PASSENGER AND DRIVER NOTICED SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, THEN PASSENGER FELT PAIN UNDER LEFT THIGH. TURNED SEAT HEATER OFF. WHEN STOPPED, EXAMINED SEAT TO DISCOVER BROWN HOLE IN SEAT WHERE HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE YET. *NM

(1) DRIVING ON IH-35, SEAT STARTED BURNING AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAR, SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNT ODOR. THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT; BURNING COMPLETELY THROUGH THE LEATHER. ALSO, BURNING THROUGH CONSUMER'S JEANS. THE SEAT BURNED CONSUMER'S LEGS AND HER BACKSIDE. IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE SHE COULD SEE THE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT WARMER CAUSED THE SEAT TO CATCH ON FIRE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING WARMED UP. *JB

2003 VW JETTA FRONT PASSENGER HEATING ELEMENT (HEATED SEATS) FAILURE; FIRE BURNED THROUGH SEAT FABRIC. *JB

THE HEATER ON DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH DRIVER'S SEAT, AND IT ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH HIS HAND. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT BURNED THROUGH COMPLETELY; BURNING CONSUMERS BUTTOCKS AND HAND. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER FELT HEAT COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT STARTED TO BURN. CONUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED.*AK

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. WHEN THE CAR WAS IDLING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO FAIRFAX VOLKSWAGEN IN FAIRFAX, VA TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT. APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION COILS, WHICH HAD BEEN OUT FOR OVER A YEAR. I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE RECALL -- EVEN AFTER I TOOK THE JETTA TO STOHLMAN VW FOR SERVICE ON MY AUDIO SPEAKERS IN THE FALL OF 2004. THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. FAIRFAX VW TOLD ME THAT CHECKING FOR RECALLS IS THEIR FIRST PRIORITY, AND THAT IS HOW THE RECALL WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH STOHLMAN, AND THE SERVICE, OR LACK THEREOF, I RECEIVED. *AK

THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC SEAT HEATERS. AFTER DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES, THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT, BURNING MY BUTT. THE SEAT QUIT BURNING AFTER TURNING THE HEATER OFF. I HAVE SPOKE TO TWO VW DEALERS AND VW DIRECTLY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BY ANY MEANS.*AK

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAD JUST CUT ON MY HEATED SEATS IN MY 2003 VOLKSWAGON JETTA AND NOTICED THAT MY SEAT WAS GETTING VERY HOT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. I COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND COULD NOT SEE B/C IT WAS DARK. I STARTED FILLING AROUND IN MY SEAT AND FELT A WHOLE AND IT BURNED MY FINGER. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND SO I TURNED ON MY LIGHT IN MY CAR AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. MY SEAT STARTED SMOKING OUT OF THE WHOLE. I TRIED TO SEE CLOSER WHAT WAS GOING ON AND NOTICED SPARKS COMING OUT OF THE WHOLE. THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF AT THAT MOMENT WAS MY HEATED SEATS. I TURNED THEM OFF AND THE SPARKS WENT AWAY. I NOW HAVE A WHOLE IN MY SEAT THE SIZE OF A NICKEL. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I AM TAKING IT IN ON MONDAY, HOWEVER AFTER READING MANY WEBSITES ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN 2002/2003 JETTA'S I AM NOT SO SURE THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY TRY AND BLAME IT ON THE DRIVER MESSING AROUND WITH THE GRID WHICH IS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. I AM WRITING IN ADVANCE AND CALLING AS WELL SO IT IS ON FILE THAT THIS HAPPENED. I FOUND THE COIL IN THE SEAT THAT WAS NOT PROTECTED BY ANYTHING AND LOOKS TO BE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SPARKS IN MY SEAT. *JB

SEAT HEATER IN 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SHORTED OUT CAUSING SMALL HOLE TO BURN IN LEATHER SEAT AND INFLICTING MINOR PINPOINTED BURN TO DRIVER WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. SEAT HEAT TURNED OFF RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. TO DATE THE PARTS FOR REPAIR ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CONDITION IS STILL ACTIVE IF SWITCH IS TURNED ON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH HEATER IN THE DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH HER HAND. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ORDERED A NEW SEAT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER'S SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. *JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING SEAT HEATER STARTED TO BURN. CONSUMER FELT THE HEAT THROUGH HER COAT. PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE LEATHER SEAT WAS MELTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 VW JETTA IN JUNE OF 2003. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL YESTERDAY, 11/28/04. WE COULD SMELL SOMETHING "HOT" AND BURNING. THE DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE HEATED SEATS, THERE IS A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND MY BOYFRIEND BURNT HIS HAND. WITHIN MINUTES OF THAT HAPPENING, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WINDOW JUST FELL DOWN. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. SOMEHOW, THE WINDOW IS NO LONGER IN IT'S TRACK. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FINDING MANY MORE INSTANCES WITH THE WINDOWS FALLING AND THE SEATS CATCHING ON FIRE? WHAT IS THE DEAL? THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE MY APPOINTMENT TOMORROW WITH OUR LOCAL VW DEALER IN ERIE PA TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO TO CORRECT THIS. I WANT BOTH SEATS LOOKED AT....I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR ANY LONGER!!!*AK

I HAVE A 2003 VW JETTA TDI. AT 29,000 MILES THE CLUTCH FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY IN A BLIZZARD. THE VW DEALER HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE CLUTCH FAILED DUE TO MY DRIVING AND THAT IT WILL COST $2000. I HAVE DRIVEN A JEEP WRANGLER OVER 100000 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN DANGER IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE 70 FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IN ADDITION TO CALLING THE VW DEALER, I ALSO SPOKE WITH 2 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAD THE CAR IN 2 WEEKS AGO FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM AND THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME THAT MY CLUTCH WAS NOT FUNTIONING PROPERLY. VW SOLD ME THE CAR BASED ON QUALITY AND RELIABLITY IN BAD WEATHER. THEY CERTAINTLY CANNOT BACK WHAT THEY ARE MARKETING TO CONSUMERS. I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE AS THIS. I WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ACTION IF I AM NOT REMIBURSED FOR MY TROUBLES. *AK

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2003 VOLKWAGEN JETTA AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR 2 YEARS. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND AS A RESULT USE THE SEAT WARMERS REGULARLY DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OR ANY COMPLAINTS UNTIL YESTERDAY. I DROVE ABOUT 1 MILE AND HAD THE SEAT WARMER ON 3, WHICH ISN'T THE HIGHEST SETTING, AND MY SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, GET OUT, AND PROCEED TO STOMP OUT THE SMALL EMBER BURNING. I KNOW HAVE A DIME TO NICKEL SIZE HOLE IN MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT.*AK

A HOLE WAS BURNT INTO MY VELOUR DRIVER SEAT FROM THE SEAT HEATER ON MY 2003 DIESEL JETTA. I CANNOT USE THE SEAT HEATER AS IT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE A BURNING SMELL WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED ON. *AK

ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE CAR DIED WITHIN SIXTY SECONDS. WE WERE ABLE TO RE-START THE CAR AFTER SITTING FOR 30 MINUTES, ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME THING RE-OCCUR WITHIN TWO MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS, EXCEPT FOR THE ILLUMINATED LIGHTS, BUT THIS LEFT NO TIME TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY TRAGIC OR FATAL EVENT IF WE WERE NOT ON A LOCAL, NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER BECAME EXTREMELY HOT, BURNING THE PLASTIC OF THE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS WITH COLD WEATHER PACKAGE HAD SEAT HEATING ELEMENT BURN HOLE IN SEAT. *JB

SUNDAY EVENING I LEFT MY HOUSE TO RUN OUT TO THE LOCAL CONVENIENT STORE WHEN THE DRIVER SEAT OF MY 2003 VW JETTA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE HEAT SETTINGS RUN AS HIGH AS FIVE, MY SETTING AT THE TIME WAS ON TWO. I FELT HEAT GENERATING BENEATH MY REAR-END AND WHEN I LIFTED MY LEG TO LOOK BELOW ME, I SAW AND FELT THE FLAMES BENEATH ME. TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, WHICH BY THE TIME I'D GOT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD HAD BURNED THROUGH MY JACKET AND PANTS, I'D BURNT MY HAND IN AN ATTEMPT TO SQUOOSH THE FIRE BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE CUSHIONING. NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. THE SEATS ARE 'VELOUR'. THIS IS MY THIRD AND LAST JETTA. MY PREVIOUS JETTA HAD THE HEATED 'LEATHER' SEATS PACKAGE AND I'D NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE. THE DEALER WAS KIND ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE HEATING COMPONENTS, CUSHIONING AND SEAT COVER. (SARCASTICALLY SPEAKING) HOWEVER, I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY VEHICLE, MUCH LESS VOLKSWAGEN. VERY DISAPPOINTED. *AK

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS VELOUR HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTION. BURNED A HOLE IN CAR SEAT, THROUGH MY COAT AND SCORCHED MY PANTS. ALSO BURNED FINGER. VOLKSWAGEN IS FIXING THE PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED TO REIMBURSE FOR COAT AND PANTS. ALL IS DONE AT NO CHARGE.

DURING FIRST USE IN COLD WEATHER TURNED ON HEATING SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE AFTER ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS THE CAR BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE, I FELT A SHARP PAIN IN MY LEFT REAR BUTT CHEEK. OPENED THE DOOR & GOT OUT OF THE CAR .REACHED IN AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. NOTED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT, FOUND ONE IN MY TROUSERS AND A SMALL BURN MARK ON MY BUTT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY ORDERED THE PARTS. AM NOW WAITING TO SEE IF IT WILL BE PAID FOR BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE CAR IS 5000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. *AK

IN DECEMBER OF 04 THE DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLX. I HAD THE HEATED SEAT ON WHEN I NOTICED THE SEAT WAS GETTING EXTREMLY HOT AND STARTED SMOKING. I WAS ON A BUSY FOUR LANE ROAD AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER AT THE TIME. ONCE I DID PULL OVER I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE. I HAD MANAGED TO BURN THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS AND MY "REAR END". VW REPLACED THE SEAT UNDER WARRANTY AFTER I WAITED ALMOST A MONTH FOR THE SEAT TO COME IN. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS VERY IRATE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT "I WAS OVER REACTING". I CALLED VWOA AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM BUT THEY TOO DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED. I DID MY OWN LITTLE RESEARCH AND WAS ABLE TO COME UP WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED OTHER CASES OF SEATS CATCHING ON FIRE IN VOLKSWAGENS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND VOLKWAGEN DOESNT SEEM TO CARE, SOMEONE CAN GET SERIOUSLY INJURED IF NOT KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG COVER SHOOK WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *AK VW SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAGS UPON INSPECTION. *SC

UPON TURNING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT ELEMENT TO STRENGTH 2 OUT OF 5 A STRONG BURNING ODOR WAS RELEASED AND A SECTION OF THE HEATING ELEMENT PROCEEDED TO BURN THROUGH THE SEAT COVER AND SLIGTLY BURNED MY LEG. I TURNED OFF THE HEATING ELEMENT TO STOP THE PROBLEM AND AM BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO INSPECT IT.*AK

MAKING A RIGHT TURN DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED.*AK

HEATED SEAT WARMER ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT OF MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING, BURNING BOTH THE SEAT AND MY BODY. NO REPAIR AS OF YET.*AK

I WAS DRIVING MY LEASED, 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, (EQUIPPED WITH COLD WEATHER PACKAGE), ON A VERY BUSY ROAD IN LATE AFTERNOON ON A COLD AUTUMN DAY JUST OUTSIDE OF BOSTON. I TURNED MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL, (5) AND IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES I FELT A SHARP PAIN ON THE BACKSIDE OF MY LEFT THIGH AND THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD STUNG ME AT FIRST. I REPOSITIONED MYSELF IN THE SEAT, AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW DARK BROWN SMOKE POURING FROM THE SEAT AND REALIZED THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY BURNING ME. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE SEAT WARMER OFF, PULLED OVER, (AGAIN IN VERY BUSY TRAFFIC IN WATERTOWN, MA), AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO FIND A DARK BROWN, DIME-SIZED BURN MARK IN THE SEAT!!! THE HEAT ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED A SMALL BROWN MARK INTO MY BLUE JEANS AND SUBSEQUENTLY, LEFT A SMALL WELT ON THE BACKSIDE OF MY THIGH. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE IF THERE ARE OTHER ELECTRICAL DEFECTS WITH THIS CAR THAT MAY PUT MY LIFE, AND MY PASSENGERS LIVES IN DANGER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I LEASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY SEEM VERY EAGER TO REPLACE THE SEAT AND TO CLEAR THIS MATTER UP IMMEDIATELY.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *JB. *AK

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, SUDDENLY A FIRE STARTED FOR NO REASON FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER GLOVE COMPARTMENT, BURNING PLASTIC WAS DRIPPING TO THE FLOOR MATS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES MY CAR WAS TOTALLY ON FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER INCIDENTS OF SPONTANEOUS FIRES FOR THIS MAKE AND YEAR MODEL.*AK

RE FORD WINDSTAR (MY) 2001-2003, 2ND & 3RD ROW SEAT RECALL. *BF RECALL NUMBER 03V459000. *TC

I BEGAN NOTING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR IN FEBRUARY OF 04. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALERSHIP AND VW OF AMERICA, THEY BOTH DISMISSED MY CONCERNS. THE CLUTCH WAS INSPECTED IN THE SPRING BUT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH IT. MY CLUTCH HAS NOW FAILED AT 18,600 MILES AND VW IS REFUSING TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN ANYTHING OTHER THAN MANUAL TRASMISSION CARS AND HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO REPLACE A CLUTCH, EVEN AFTER 130K. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MY CAR AND REFUSES TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE NO TRANSPORATION AS A RESULT AS THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE I WAIT FOR THE FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON TO INSPECT THE CAR. I HAVE NOTIFIED THEM THAT I WILL SEEK LEMON LAW STATUS IF THEY FAIL TO REPAIR THE CAR BY OCTOBER 8TH, 2004. *AK

HEATED SEAT (DRIVER SIDE) OVERHEATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT MATERIAL, AND BURNED THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. SMALL HOLE VISIBLE IN MATERIAL OF SEAT WHERE IT BURNED THROUGH, AND SMOKE COULD BE SMELLED. THIS OCCURED WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THE SEAT BEING TURNED ON.*AK

1- TURNED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER 2- FELT HOT SPOT, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. A SMALL HOLE WAS BURNED IN LEATHER, AND PADDING INSIDE SEAT WAS BLACK. NO FIRE, JUST SMOKE.*AK 3- TURN OFF SEAT HEATER, PUT WATER ON SMOKING HOLE IN LEATHER SEAT.

REPEATED COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE ON MY 2003 JETTA. I AM AN EXPERIENCED STANDARD TRANSMISSION DRIVER AND NEVER HAD PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER CAR. THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE OF LOW QUALITY AND VOLKWAGEN IS BLAIMING CLUTCH FAILURE ON THE DRIVER - EASY WAY OUT. *JB

THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES AS A RESULT. *NM VW REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN EXCHANGE FOR A MOST RECENT MODEL AT NO COST OR PENALTY UNDER THE SAME REMAINING TERMS OF THE EXISTING LEASE. *SC

BLOWN CLUTCH ON NEW 2003 VW JETTA TDI 1.8. FIRST OCCURANCE IN AUGUST OF 04 WITH 26,000 MILES AND AGAIN NOW IN MAY OF 05 WITH 40,500 OR 14,000 MILES TO ANOTHER BLOWN CLUTCH. I AM NOT A TEENAGE DRIVER, I AM 23 WITH EXCELLENT DRIVING SKILLS AND HAVE DRIVEN CLUTCHES ALL MY ADULT DRIVING LIFE. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THEIR CLUTCH SYSTEM. I HAVE FOUND TONS OF EVIDENCE IN BULLETIN BOARDS. VW IS BLAMING THIS ON POOR DRIVING SKILLS AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT OCCURS EVERY 20,000 MILES. CONSUMERS LIKE ME ARE GETTIGN RIPPED OFF ON THIS ONE LEFT AND RIGHT. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING. THIS IS NO ISOLATED INCIDENT!

VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2003 GLX. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANICS SUGGESTED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTING SHIRTING ERRATICALLY. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE VEHICLE STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRATICALLY MIS-SHIFT AND OR BUCK. (MODEL/GLX) *SC