2008 Volkswagen Jetta Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 3%of 188 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 106,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the seats of the 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, 3% of the 188 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 106,000 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 utilized my seat warmer on the driver side and only had the setting on 2 (out of 5). After approximately an hour of my trip home for christmas, I started to feel my lower back (on my right) burn because the seat was excessively hot. When I reached my hand behind my back to feel the seat that is when I discovered the hole in my seat and I burnt my hand in the process.”
NHTSA complaint #11163359, filed 2018-12, 119,600 miles“Turned seat warmer on while driving. Thirty minutes later after arriving at destination, felt like my lower back was burned. Had my wife look at my back. I had what appeared to be a second to third degree burn. Throughout the afternoon, the burn began blistering. There is an imprint in the seat which matches where the burnt part of my back was resting against the back of the seat. A burn mark (hole), a little larger than the size of a pin tip, was left in the seat and the fabric appears to be melted around the hole.”
NHTSA complaint #10561569, filed 2014-01, 106,000 miles“I was driving to work one morning and it started to smell like something was burning. I thought maybe it was just a weird smell in my vents but within 10 minutes of driving a cloud of smoke filed the driver side of my car. Luckily I was not on the highway yet and I was able to pull over and shut off the car. Not knowing where the smoke came from I immediately got out of the car. It when then that I looked down and saw the source of the smoke, there was a quarter size hole in my driver seat. I had been driving with the seat heater on and it caught fire. …”
NHTSA complaint #10500687, filed 2013-02, 112,000 miles“Drivers heated seat activated on its own. Control switch on dash was set at 0, drive received moderate burns to legs and buttock. Removed fuse and took vehicle to dealer. Nothing found, dealer suggested if the seat heats up again, bring vehicle directly to the dealer, do not shut it off. Burns are similar to a bad sunburn, some redness, no blisters.”
NHTSA complaint #10352449, filed 2010-08, 65,078 miles“While my sister which is currently pregnant, was driving my Jetta the heated seat overheated. The heated seats became so hot that it burned the seat, her jacket and her skin. She received 1st -2nd degree burns on her back.”
NHTSA complaint #10561937, filed 2014-01Seats: 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 2008 Volkswagen Jetta
53 complaintsElectrical system
42 complaintsBrakes
23 complaintsAir bags
20 complaintsEngine
20 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 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