Heated seat overheating?

Asked by mike_luts Feb 02, 2010 at 02:10 PM about the 2004 Chrysler Sebring Touring Convertible FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Anyone run into a problem with the heating element in the Driver side seat is heating to the point of burning on level 3 or 4.  I have experinced this a couple of times now, but can't feel it with my hand.  The car is used all year round with the top down and I have the heated seats on all the time.  Smelled something burning the other day and felt it too.  Heated seats not working now....anyone see this before?

17 Answers

65

Well i havent had mine for long i just got it start of school back in september, and when in minnesota in negative 20 degree weather without wind chill that heated seat feels pretty good. Well using it during good seaosn is sort of pointless, but if its winter why would you have it down anyway??

1 people found this helpful.
40

Yes, I have a 2004 Chrysler Sebring Touring Convertible, and I have holes in my seats that have burned my jackets. Is Chrysler doing anything about this? Jean

4 people found this helpful.

Jean, Thanks for your response. Good to know someone else has experienced this. I have not gone to Chrysler yet, as it is a 2004 and out of warranty. Now that the weather has broken (here in PA) I haven't looked into getting it fixed, but will by the end of summer and will post the outcome. I am intending to go to Chrysler first to see if the issue has been recorded in their recall notices. Thanks, Mike

40

I called Chrysler yesterday, and they are going to investigate it. I'll let you know how it goes. I'd call if I was you.

Mine has done the same thing. I have an extended warranty and have been waiting two years for a fix. Chrysler doesn't make the part anymore. I have until July to decide what to do about it but am considering taking them to court. How can you sell a warranty and then quit making the parts and not make a replacement part.

7,495

well that issue is new for me. but looks like a grave issue. so kindly take it to a dealer to get it fixed and try n cover the charges under warranty if u have. http://chryslersebring.org/

Mine has been to the dealer too many times in the last two years and every time I tell them I want the seat heater fixed. They claim the cannot find the part to fix it. The warranty company even approved a used part. But now that I see they have even caught the seats on fire in other cars, I am wondering why they have not disconnected the passenger seat. I opened a case with Chrysler and so far it has gone no where. The lady asked me if I wanted the passenger seat heater disconnected. I told her I bought a car with heated seats and I want a car with heated seats that work and don't start fire.

heated seats is the worst thing that was ever put into a vehicle,what u smelled was the element burning out,u luckey it did not catch on fire.unhook them and be safe,who needs bun warmers in a car anyway.

I have a 2004 Sebring LTD. with the heated seats. Same thing happened here just before xmas...they got really really hot, and the only difference here was that BOTH seats stopped working at the same time. I took it to a dealer to have it diagnosed ($135) and was told that it needed a new switch in the console. ($135) Well, that wasn't the problem...seats still don't work. Took it back to the dealer a 2nd time...they had it all day and at the end...still no answer. (no charge this time). Took it back to the dealer for a 3rd time just this past friday and this time they actually pulled the seats out of the car and it looks like both seats need a new heating grid...this time I got charged for a diagnosis again. Argued the point with the general manager but to no avail. ($265). I was told that new grids cost $250 each, and you're looking at 2 hours labor EACH to install them. So here, I'm out $500...and still no heated seats. You're looking at $500/seat if you go the dealer route. As for me, I'm surfing the net looking for used seats. That's how I stumbled on your question. Hope this helps

10

thank you John for that response. My seat on the driver side is really hot, I can't put it on the highest setting or it feels like it might burn me. If mine go out, I guess I will no longer have heated seats :(

1 people found this helpful.

That is very interesting, John, because I have an extended warranty to cover all but $100 and Chrysler is telling me the parts are not available to fix it. Funny thing that they can fix yours for hundreds of dollars but can't fix mine under warranty.... smells like a rat. I have opened a case with Chrysler... I paid for heated seats and paid for the warranty to keep them working so I want heated seats...

My driver's side seat did the same thing this year. It even burnt a hole in my coat. So I called Chrysler customer relations and they were pretty helpful (surprisingly!) I had to get it inspected to verify that it was a malfunction with the seat heater and then had to get an estimate. They covered the costs to replace the whole thing and my coat. Hope this helps!

10

Yes we have. It actually burned a hole in our seat. We had a Chrysler engineer take a look and of course they said there was not a manufactoring defect. We also smelled something burning several days before the seat actually burned. This is scary but Chrylser does not seem to think it is important.

1 people found this helpful.
10

I have a 2005 Sebring when a few years ago I thought someone put there cigar out on the passenger seat all this time and now a few days ago the driver seat is now covered with burn holes on it so if anyone knows of a recall please post

1 people found this helpful.
10

ragtopsweetie: I have a 2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible purchased & put on the road in March 2005. The driver's seat was heating up so much on 1& 2 setting that it was burning my leg. Then I was smelling a burning odor. The heated seat then didn't work at all. Don't know if passenger seat was affected. Since my car was beyond the extended warranty period, I took it to an independent service shop. They attempted to fix the problem but could not . They investigated the problem and found that it was a common problem My previous experience with the Chrysler Corp is that they DO NOT follow through and correct manufacturing problems. I had a1988 LeBaron convertible on which the black exterior paint was fading to the grey primer. It was a publicly known latent manufacturing defect. Other auto manufacturers that had a similar paint problem were repainting their cars at no cost to the customer. Chrysler told me they would repaint the car for something like $600. The only reason that I bought another Chrysler was because it was the only US convertible with front wheel drive and a decent back seat. My car has less than 50,000 miles on it but when I decide to get another convertible I don't think I'll buy a Chrysler.

1 people found this helpful.
10

i need help. my 2006 sebring convertable has just burned through and burned thru my coat and leg. no one will answer me at chrysler help!!!! doty serio 5854896957

1 people found this helpful.

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