2002 Volkswagen Eurovan Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 20%of 35 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 104,750miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the seats of the 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan, 20% of the 35 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 104,750 miles. 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving my vehicle on the highway going approximately 70mph. My seat heater had been on for about 10-15 minutes when my passenger and I began to smell a sweet, smokey odor. The smoke was not visible at the time, but over the next 5-10 minutes the smell became more intense and there was smoke visible inside the car. My passenger noticed thick smoke coming up from the back of my seat, causing me to jump forward and swerve the car slightly. I immediately turned off the seat heater and pulled over to the side of the highway. …”
NHTSA complaint #11072705, filed 2018-02, 107,000 miles“The front passenger seat heater burned through the seat fabric. The burn-through location is on the vertical surface of the seat, mid-line, at about the lumbar height. Please refer to the attached photograph. A passenger was seated in the aforementioned seat when the burn-through occurred. The vehicle was in motion at highway speed at the time of the burn-through, but the passenger was not injured.”
NHTSA complaint #10816208, filed 2015-12, 125,000 miles“Heated front passenger seat smoldering. No fire. Manufacturer will not correct. Out of warranty. Passenger seat heating element previously replaced under extended vehicle warranty. Heating element burned through cloth fabric. I believe this to be a manufacturer defect that does present a fire danger and there should be a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10266376, filed 2009-04, 100,000 miles“I was driving my daughter to school today and we had put the heated seats on in my 2002 vw Eurovan. As we approached the school my daughter yelled ouch and grabbed her back. We discovered a hole in the seat that had burned through the seat fabric and burned a hole in her north face jacket. It had started to heat up her shirt but luckily she felt it before it got even hotter. This could have caused a severe burn to her back. She had a large red patch on her lower back but nothing more. …”
NHTSA complaint #10449424, filed 2012-02“The contact owns a 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan. The contact stated that the front passenger seat caught on fire. The contact stated that the seat warmer malfunctioned and caused the seat to catch on fire. The contact stated that the front passenger seat, her son's winter coat, his shirt, and his back were burned by the malfunctioning seat warmer. The contact's son, who was autistic and non-verbal, was unable to communicate to her that there was an issue. Medical attention was not sought. …”
NHTSA complaint #11006185, filed 2017-07, 140,000 milesSeats: other model years
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
11 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsEngine
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Volkswagen Eurovan
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology