2003 Volkswagen Jetta Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 100about this part
- Share
- 22%of 456 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 54,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 100 complaints about the seats of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta, 22% of the 456 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 54,500 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 53 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driver side seat heater gets very got. On march 4, 2016 at 7:30am noticed a burnt smell as I parked my car (I had driven for about 20 mins). When I returned at 12pm for lunch, I noticed 2 burnt areas of my leather seat. March 5th, tried to use heater again but within 10 mins it got too hot to touch and burnt smell, really bad. I shut it off. I can't use this now. Very disappointed.”
NHTSA complaint #10849573, filed 2016-03, 15 miles“The right area of the driver's side heated seat began to get excessively warm so I discontinued use for a period of time. Subsequent attempt at use resulted in the heating coil burning through the upholstery. Pictures attached. I have discontinued use and learned there is an expired recall for this as a know issue.”
NHTSA complaint #10884773, filed 2016-07, 85,000 miles“When I was sitting in the driver's seat with the heated seat option turned to a 5 (high), while the car was warming up, I noticed some smoke coming from the right side of the seat. The heated seat started to burn through the cloth cover directly where my metal jacket zipper was making contact with the cloth seat surface. I immediately poured water on the seat to ensure a fire didn't start. I have not attempted to use the seat heaters since this incident.”
NHTSA complaint #11002776, filed 2017-07, 162,000 miles“The heated seat on the passenger side of our 2003 vw Jetta tdi got very hot on my right leg, I reached down to feel the seat and it burnt my hand. We turned on the lights and the seat had a burned hole with smoke coming out of it. Had I been wearing my coat it could have caught fire before I felt the intense heat.”
NHTSA complaint #10256241, filed 2009-01, 154,000 miles“Someone left the passenger side seat heater on. I started smelling a burning plastic odor then I came across a small burn mark. Another person left it on, the whole became bigger but no scent.”
NHTSA complaint #10825750, filed 2016-02, 230,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10031384Jun 1, 2009Volkswagen service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Revised expiration dates for seat heater customer satisfaction campaigns. Affected vehicles may have a…
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 8 | 4% |
| 2014 | 3 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0% |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% |
| 2011 | 3 | 0% |
| 2010 | 3 | 0% |
| 2009 | 9 | 1% |
| 2008 | 6 | 3% |
| 2007 | 11 | 5% |
| 2006 | 25 | 4% |
| 2005 | 3 | 1% |
| 2004 | 22 | 10% |
| 2003 | 100 | 22% |
| 2002 | 101 | 14% |
| 2001 | 27 | 4% |
| 2000 | 17 | 4% |
| 1999 | 7 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 5 | 2% |
| 1994 | 6 | 5% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
97 complaintsAir bags
77 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
54 complaintsEngine cooling
45 complaintsExterior lighting
28 complaintsBrakes
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsEquipment
9 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
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