(Photo credit: Michelle/Creative Commons)
When the weather outside is chilly, many drivers switch on their seat warmers to keep warm. Heated seats are becoming the norm in many vehicles, but there have been some dangerous cases of malfunctioning seat warmers.
In the last few decades, there have been recall notices sent out regarding heated seats from car manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and Volvo.
Recently, a Toronto woman was almost burned by the seat warmer under her leather seats, according to CTV News. She smelled something burning while driving her 2004 Volvo XC70 and soon realized it was coming from her seat. She was wearing a heavy jacket at the time and escaped being injured, but the heater burned a hole through the leather. The driver was told that the heater overheating was a defect and a spokesperson told CTV Toronto that there hasn’t been any reported heated seat issues for Volvo vehicles produced later than 2005.
While in British Columbia, another driver experienced the same issue while driving her 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, according to CBC News. She also smelled smoke in the car and then realized her jeans were burning. Since the incident, she discovered the issue was due to a short circuit in the seat warmer, which caused it to burn. Her vehicle was among those recalled for the same issue.
In the US, there have been cases of more serious injuries from seat warmers with some from paraplegics and quadriplegics who can’t tell the temperature of the seats, according to USA Today. A 30-year-old paraplegic was burned while driving in his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. The paraplegic has since filed a lawsuit against GM and experts told USA Today that it can take a few years for the heater to become worn out, which can lead to their overheating.
Last year, Toyota stopped selling eight models of its vehicles with heated seats due to the materials failing to meet fire retardation standards, according to Reuters. There were no fires or injuries related to the issue.
In the last two decades, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 1,260 complaints in regards to seat heaters not working properly. There were 287 people injured from these incidents.
According to CTV News, heated seats are typically safe, but if you feel your seat getting too warm, shut it off and inspect the seat for any holes or burn marks.
Drivers have a right to feel safe and secure in the vehicles they operate. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all product liability issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a motor vehicle accident. Accident benefits are available to drivers, regardless of who caused the accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.