2003 Volkswagen Passat Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 97about this part
- Share
- 15%of 628 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 46,400miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 97 complaints about the seats of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, 15% of the 628 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,400 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 51 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My son was driving (in motion) on hwy 17 in miller county mo with seat heater on saturday nov. 28, 2020. Seat caught on fire. I had noticed when I had seat heater on previously it became so hot as to burn legs. This is a serious problem. It could have burned my car completely. Very dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #11377193, filed 2020-11, 121,365 miles“We were just leaving our friends house it was approx. 6am in morning little cold out so I turned on the seat warmers which is always nice touch to warm you up on those cold mornings, anyhow about 4-5minutes after seat warmers were turned on passenger side where I was sitting got rather warm and then hot and then actually start smoking and flames came out there was fire right under my bottom. …”
NHTSA complaint #10778124, filed 2015-09, 116,000 miles“On sept 20 2013 my wife showed me a spring that came from under the drivers seat . Ironically the next day the airbag light came on and wont go off . About a month later a 2nd spring appeared in the floorboard .car will not pass inspection . Vw really needs to address this .”
NHTSA complaint #10583614, filed 2014-04, 125,000 miles“The driver's side seat heater in my 2003 vw Passat is a potential fire hazard. I noticed what looked like a cigarette burn on the left seat bolster (I do not smoke). The following day, I smelled something burning in the cabin. When I got out of the car, there was a second burn hole about a half inch from the first hole. I have stopped using the heater, but it is a potential fire hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #10295514, filed 2009-12, 33,197 miles“While my husband was driving our 2003 awd Passat wagon with myself and two children in the car, the driver seat caught on fire. At the time it caught fire, the heated seat was on setting 3 for no more than 5 minutes. Luckily, my husband was able to pull off the road, exit the vehicle, and turn off the heated seat before he was burned and/or a large fire erupted.”
NHTSA complaint #10171537, filed 2006-10, 23,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10242997Dec 15, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10032411Jun 1, 2009Volkswagen: heated seats install new passenger side seat heater switch. Affected vehicles may have a seat heater element that can malfunction when the ignition switch is on and…
- 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…
- 10025969Jun 1, 2009VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INSTALL NEW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER SWITCH. *PE CSC LETTER WAS ADDED TO BULLETIN. 10/20/08. *PE…
- 10025968Jun 10, 2008Volkswagen service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Install driver's side seat heater repair kit. Campaign expiration date is extended to 6/30/09. *pe csc…
- 10023659Oct 1, 20072003-2004 model year passat with heated seats install new passenger side seat heater switch.
- 10019324Oct 1, 2007Heated seats may have a seat heater element that can malfunction when the ignition switch is on and the seat heater switch is on. Install driver's side seat heater repair kit…
- 10018809Jun 1, 2007Customer satisfaction campaign circular - seat heater element can malfunction when the ignition switch is on and the seat heater switch is on. The seat heater mat may temporarily…
- 10021951May 23, 2007Seat heater is inoperative.
- 10020719Apr 21, 2006Heated seat bottom cover replacement.
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 8% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 3 | 0% |
| 2012 | 3 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 3 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% |
| 2006 | 5 | 1% |
| 2005 | 13 | 9% |
| 2004 | 34 | 12% |
| 2003 | 97 | 15% |
| 2002 | 15 | 2% |
| 2001 | 7 | 2% |
| 2000 | 3 | 1% |
| 1999 | 10 | 2% |
| 1998 | 11 | 3% |
| 1990 | 1 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2003 Volkswagen Passat
169 complaintsEngine cooling
131 complaintsElectrical system
90 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsBody and structure
29 complaintsAir bags
23 complaintsEngine
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsOther or unknown
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat
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