Investigations
OVERHEATING OF SEAT HEATERS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04017 - closed, opened 2004-02-18.
NHTSA investigation PE04017 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-02-18 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-06-21 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE04017 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 24 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT SPARKS/OVERHEATS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER BELIEVES THE FAILURE IS DUE TO ONE OF TWO FACTORS: THE STITCHING OPERA..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON 24 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEAT SPARKS/OVERHEATS. DAIMLERCHRYSLER BELIEVES THE FAILURE IS DUE TO ONE OF TWO FACTORS: THE STITCHING OPERATION ON THE SEAT COVER MAY CAUSE THE SEWING NEEDLE TO SEVER SOME STRANDS OF THE WIRE HEATING GRID IN THE SEAT, OR A POOR SOLDER JOINT/WIRE CONNECTOR FAILS DUE TO "IMPROPER PROCESSING OR LONG TERM OVERSTRESSING." THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH MUST BOTH BE TURNED ON TO POWER THE SEAT HEATER. COMPLAINANTS REPORT THAT WHEN OVERHEATING OCCURS, SWITCHING THE HEATER OFF ALSO STOPS THE OVERHEATING. THE FAILURE CANNOT OCCUR IN AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF. ODI FINDS THAT THE 33 FIRE ALLEGATIONS ARE REPORTING VERY LOCALIZED OVERHEATING (PHOTOS OF DAMAGED SEATS SHOW HOLES THE SIZE OF A PENCIL OR LESS). THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF SUSTAINED COMBUSTION AND NO REPORTS OF OTHER FIRE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE INJURY ALLEGATIONS ARE REPORTING MINOR INJURY. NO CONSUMERS REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT (PHYSICIAN CARE). THERE ARE NO ALLEGATIONS OF LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO FAILURE OF A HEATED SEAT. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.