Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Volkswagen Passat seats problems

98 complaints about seats have been filed for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat, which is 12% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
98 12% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
46,000 miles 78 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
2 and 51
Injuries and deaths
30 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When seats problems show up

Seats complaints by mileage, 2003 Volkswagen Passat Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 46,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 10 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 26 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 14 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 13 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 4 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 7 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 1 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 46,000 miles
Based on 78 complaints that include mileage. 64% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles10
20k to 40k miles26
40k to 60k miles14
60k to 80k miles13
80k to 100k miles4
100k to 120k miles7
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles1
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 78 seats complaints that report mileage, the median is about 46,000 miles, and 64% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 2 crashes, 51 fires, 30 injuries.

What owners wrote

I wanted to note that on october 1st, my heated seat on my 2003 volkswagenw passat malfunctioned. It actually burned through the seat, filled my car with smoke, and left me with a small burn on my thigh. Luckily, I am fine. But, this should never have happened, and I was lucky I wasn't driving down the highway at a high rate of speed. Feel free to contact me if you need further information.

Reported at 22,000 miles, October 2004 FireInjury

Driving my 2003 passat for 1-2 minutes, I smelled something burning. I noticed that the seat was getting extremely warm. I checked the seat heater setting, it was on 1 (of 5). I turned the switch off, but continued to smell the burning smell and feel the heat. I pulled over and noticed a hole in the driver seat and discovered that the heat had burned a hole through my pants as well. The car was inspected by the dealer and parts were ordered to replace the element and seat cover. I also reported the failure to vwoa.

Reported at 17,000 miles, February 2004 Fire

Other problems reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Passat

Seats problems in other years

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
  • 1997
  • 1996
  • 1995
  • 1994
  • 1993
  • 1992
  • 1991
  • 1990

Seats problems across all Volkswagen models