Good afternoon,

 

My 2015, 52,000 mile, vRS TSI has heated front seats, BUT when using the facility this morning and noticing a burning smell, I saw that the heating element had burned a 1½ inch hole in the leather portion of the driver's backrest! 

 

I have never seen anything like this in 53 years of motoring and must surely be a health and safety issue. I also believe this should be worthy of a recall. I will be emailing DVSA about this dangerous fault asap.

 

What say others here? 

 

Regards,

Kev.

Ouch !

Have you checked if there already is a recall ? I’ve definitely read other similar reports on briskoda in the past, and I’m sure some models did need an update of some kind, but didn’t take much notice as I’ve only got standard seats.

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall

25 minutes ago, classic said:

Ouch !

Have you checked if there already is a recall ? I’ve definitely read other similar reports on briskoda in the past, and I’m sure some models did need an update of some kind, but didn’t take much notice as I’ve only got standard seats.

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall

 

Many thanks, classic, I'll check that out 👍

That has happened in the past, VAG have often had to pay out for damaged clothing and personal injury.

7 minutes ago, Crasher said:

That has happened in the past, VAG have often had to pay out for damaged clothing and personal injury.

 

Wow!! I didn't know that!! 😱

38 minutes ago, classic said:

Ouch !

Have you checked if there already is a recall ? I’ve definitely read other similar reports on briskoda in the past, and I’m sure some models did need an update of some kind, but didn’t take much notice as I’ve only got standard seats.

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall

 

I've just checked, but sadly no recalls have been issued on this model. 

 

I have submitted a detailed report to DVSA requesting a health and safety recall, so I shall await their response 🤔

20 minutes ago, Crasher said:

That has happened in the past, VAG have often had to pay out for damaged clothing and personal injury.

It happened to a bloke I worked with a few years ago in his Passat, burnt a hole in his seat (full leather, I think) and his jeans, his wallet saved him from being branded!

VW stumped up for a new seat, jeans, wallet etc. 

Good morning all,

 

I have an update on my burnt seat debacle...

 

After 6 weeks of intense to-and-fro emails and phone calls with Skoda UK and DVSA, I have finally had my seat repaired with a new cover, padding and heating element at no cost to me!

The work was carried out to a high standard by my local dealer, Marshalls Skoda of Barnstaple who have been very helpful.

 

The moral is never give up on a worthy cause and be sure to use key words, which in my case were the words "fire" and "health and safety"  -- no one expects their vehicle to present a fire hazard, whatever the vehicle's age.

 

Kind regards,

Kevin Pallett.

It was a Voluntary Recall with Mk2 Fabia.  A Service / Workshop Campaign, a TPI,  yet never a SAFETY CRITICAL Recall with the DVLA / VOSA / DfT.

 

Actually Dealership staff even said, 'Never heard of that'.    Many cars still never had the replacement switches. 

On 16/01/2024 at 13:00, Kevin Pallett said:

What say others here? 

 

Its a short circuit of the heating element, usually happens when wires cross each other and rub through the insulation.

 

There was no fire risk as all the materials are self extinguishing, your own clothing may be the exception.

 

Being 12v there is no electrocution risk unlike my shonky Ali-Express electric underblanket which did the same thing, I could feel a concentration of heat like an itch under my shoulder blade which made me move around a bit, I am sleeping in an exposed and inadequately heated caravan in winter so use the blanket to preheat the bed then reheat me after getting undressed, especially my frozen feet, then I turn it off for the night.

 

The next morning in the bathroom I could see a burn scab on my back, I checked the bed and the sheet and mattress protector were both burned through as was the covering of the blanket and the insulation of the crossed wires, the itch was a bit more than an itch it turned out!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/417427-heated-seats-a-burning-issue

 

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-campaigns

 

Edited 7 March, 20242 yr by Rooted

34 minutes ago, Rooted said:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/417427-heated-seats-a-burning-issue

 

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-campaigns

 

 

Thanks for the edit, Rooted 😄

2 hours ago, J.R. said:

 

Its a short circuit of the heating element, usually happens when wires cross each other and rub through the insulation.

 

There was no fire risk as all the materials are self extinguishing, your own clothing may be the exception.

 

Being 12v there is no electrocution risk unlike my shonky Ali-Express electric underblanket which did the same thing, I could feel a concentration of heat like an itch under my shoulder blade which made me move around a bit, I am sleeping in an exposed and inadequately heated caravan in winter so use the blanket to preheat the bed then reheat me after getting undressed, especially my frozen feet, then I turn it off for the night.

 

The next morning in the bathroom I could see a burn scab on my back, I checked the bed and the sheet and mattress protector were both burned through as was the covering of the blanket and the insulation of the crossed wires, the itch was a bit more than an itch it turned out!

Doesn't say much for the fuses then.

Partial short circuit, seat heaters, electric blankets, the UFH that I use all rely on the resistance wire being a certain length and in the case of the latter carry dire warnings about not shortening them.

 

Fuses are rated to protect the wiring to an appliance from overheating and not the appliance itself.

 

In the case of my electric blanket the lower about 1/4 of the resistance was being shorted out, worse still it was arcing with the partial contact, the part of the blanket heating did get hotter but not unbearably so, in fact I was enjoying it, it was the arcing that smouldered the holes through bedlinen and burned my shoulder.

 

There was never any danger of a fire, had the mattress been an older one then maybe just maybe but I think even they were self extinguishing from smaller heat sources like a burning cigarette.

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Partial short circuit, seat heaters, electric blankets, the UFH that I use all rely on the resistance wire being a certain length and in the case of the latter carry dire warnings about not shortening them.

 

Fuses are rated to protect the wiring to an appliance from overheating and not the appliance itself.

 

In the case of my electric blanket the lower about 1/4 of the resistance was being shorted out, worse still it was arcing with the partial contact, the part of the blanket heating did get hotter but not unbearably so, in fact I was enjoying it, it was the arcing that smouldered the holes through bedlinen and burned my shoulder.

 

There was never any danger of a fire, had the mattress been an older one then maybe just maybe but I think even they were self extinguishing from smaller heat sources like a burning cigarette.

Maybe some circuits should have an RCB similar to what you get in your house.

There is no danger from a 12v heating element, my shonky electric blanket was fed from an RCD, they will not trip if there is no current leakage, most 240v ac electrical fires are from non fault current loads passing through a loose connection causing arcing and there being combustible material in the vicinity that will sustain and propogate fire once ignited.

 

Home furnishings and vehicle upholstery have been fire resistant since forever, I have no end of work clothing that has smouldered into ashes on my body while welding or plasma cutting, the worst being when I cut an RSJ using a petrol disc cutter, none of them catch fire although I make sure they are regularly washed and dont get oil sodden.

 

I have seen some horrific injuries where little children have worn cheap imported fancy dress costumes and come into contact with candles, sparklers etc.