Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
1,222 NHTSA complaints about seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler issues across 36 makes and 256 models.
The seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,222 filings from 36 manufacturers and 256 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 3 crashes, 526 fires, 281 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 184 filings, followed by VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT and JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 184 |
| 2 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 126 |
| 3 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 123 |
| 4 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 70 |
| 5 | VOLVO 850 | 26 |
| 6 | CHEVROLET IMPALA | 17 |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 16 |
| 8 | CADILLAC ESCALADE | 15 |
| 9 | CADILLAC CATERA | 14 |
| 10 | BUICK REGAL | 14 |
| 11 | MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 | 13 |
| 12 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 13 |
| 13 | DODGE DAKOTA | 12 |
| 14 | AUDI A4 | 12 |
| 15 | FORD EXPLORER | 11 |
| 16 | BMW X5 | 11 |
| 17 | MERCEDES-BENZ E350 | 10 |
| 18 | CHRYSLER SEBRING | 10 |
| 19 | BUICK LESABRE | 10 |
| 20 | MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 | 9 |
| 21 | HONDA PILOT | 9 |
| 22 | DODGE DURANGO | 9 |
| 23 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 9 |
| 24 | CADILLAC DEVILLE | 8 |
| 25 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 7 |
| 26 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 7 |
| 27 | MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 | 7 |
| 28 | CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | 7 |
| 29 | BMW 530I | 7 |
| 30 | OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE | 6 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that there was smoke inside the vehicle. The contact opened the front passenger side
The contact owns a 2020 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that moments after starting the vehicle and while driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact suddenly felt a sharp burning pain in the buttocks
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that after her husband had driven for approximately 2 hours with the seat heater activated, the passengerâs side seat overheated, and the sea
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, it was discovered that the front driverâs side heated seat was inoperable, and the seat was not heated whi
The contact rented a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the seat warmer activated, after arriving at a Rest Stop and exiting the vehicle, the contac
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the front passenger's side and seat heater and cooler were inoperable. The contact stated that upon inspecting underneath the passenger's si
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the front passengerâs seat warmer was overheating and emitting a burning odor and smoke. The contact pulled over and noticed that the smok
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated her son was driving on the highway at 70 MPH, when an abnormal smell of garbage was followed by smoke being emitted from a hole in the rear si
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Armada. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that one day, upon exitin
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, he felt a sharp pinch coming from the driverâs side seat. Upon further ins
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the defroster, the defroster failed to active to defrost the windshield. The contact stated that on a separate
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that after driving for approximately 9 straight hours, the contact had turned on the driver-side seat warming feature. The contact then
The contact owns a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that upon returning to the vehicle, the contactâs daughter noticed that the front driver's side seat was smoldering. The contact state
The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving with the front driverâs side seat heater activated, the seat became extremely hot. The contact started smelling a burn
Turned the heated seat on (driver side seat). After a little while the seat felt too hot so I thought maybe my jacket was positioned strange on my back. I readjusted my jacket and turned the seat down
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz GLK350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's seat was excessively hot while using the heated seat feature. The contac
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the driver's side seat heater was overheating. The contact stated that he attempted to set the heater to the lowest setting
The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the driverâs side seat heater was activated on the high setting. The contact stated that the followin
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after parking and returning to the vehicle 30-minutes later, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of vehicle. The contact d
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after noticing that the seat heaters were inoperable, he saw that the heated seat module connector had melted. The contact also stated th
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.