Hi,

I wonder if anyone can offer any advice or thoughts on a situation that has arisen with my partners 2022 Ford Puma

On purchasing she asked for a heated seat and the dealer said they would put one in for £100

Back in May, it caught fire and burnt a hole in the seat. She took it back and they 'repaired' it - however 3 weeks ago she used it for the first time since and the same thing happened again and this time actually burnt through and left a mark on her leg. 

the dealer have said they have never know this to happen but someone in the dealer who we spoke with asked if she had the heated steering wheel which she didn't and a friend of ours has since said that it is a pack, the steering wheel and seat and thinks it is likely that a non approved part has been used. Is this likely to be the case? 

When my partner bought the car, the dealer came back to say they wouldn't cover the extra finance for the £100 for the seat, only if the car purchase price was increased by £100. 

Nobody at the dealer will confirm if the part was approved and nobody has asked how her leg is and just seem more interested in finding a like for like replacement car.

Has anyone had a similar issue or thoughts on what might be going on?

I would be really grateful 

In addition to the garage, I would make a phone call to your insurance company. The car is obviously a 'fire risk', and it may also have some, 'personal injury' cover for your poor partners leg injury! (Make sure you take photos before it heals). This whole incident just sounds horrible.

1 minute ago, bassmolby said:

Has anyone had a similar issue or thoughts on what might be going on?

I'd never normally suggest this, but a phone call to one of the hundreds of ambulance chasing solicitors (no win no fee) will undoubtedly focus (sorry should that be puma) the dealers attention and get a swift result.

Take many photos of the seat and of course your partners leg.

To the very best of my knowledge Ford have never provided just one heated seat. Many Fords do have only front heated seats without a heated steering wheel, my own car included. It depends on the specification of the car as to whether or not a heated steering wheel is included. For example if the car was originally ordered with the "winter pack" then it would have two heated seats and the heated steering wheel.

Is it just one heated seat?

If so, that must be a dealership modification and I'm very surprised they've allowed that on finance.  It should have been chosen as part of a pack before being built at the factory.

The seat & heater pad may be genuine, but it sounds like it's missing a safety cut-off which will be part of the heater control circuit, which is likely to be part of another module.  Though I don't know exactly which one on the Puma.

6 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Is it just one heated seat?

If so, that must be a dealership modification and I'm very surprised they've allowed that on finance.  It should have been chosen as part of a pack before being built at the factory.

The seat & heater pad may be genuine, but it sounds like it's missing a safety cut-off which will be part of the heater control circuit, which is likely to be part of another module.  Though I don't know exactly which one on the Puma.

Thank you so much for your reply - really appreciated. 

Yes, it was just the drivers heated seat. There is no mention of it on the order form.  They were getting it added before my partner collected it because she was specifically looking for a car with heated front seats. We have an email from the dealer saying that the finance company wouldn't cover the £100 for the heated seat, but are happy if the car is £100 dearer. At this point the dealer changed broker as well.
We went in last weekend and spoke to someone new there and one of the first things they asked was if we had the heated steering wheel and was surprised when we said no

12 minutes ago, unofix said:

I'd never normally suggest this, but a phone call to one of the hundreds of ambulance chasing solicitors (no win no fee) will undoubtedly focus (sorry should that be puma) the dealers attention and get a swift result.

Take many photos of the seat and of course your partners leg.

To the very best of my knowledge Ford have never provided just one heated seat. Many Fords do have only front heated seats without a heated steering wheel, my own car included. It depends on the specification of the car as to whether or not a heated steering wheel is included. For example if the car was originally ordered with the "winter pack" then it would have two heated seats and the heated steering wheel.

thanks you so much for your reply - really appreciated. 

I hadn't thought about that but they haven't been at all bothered about her leg and not asked once if she is ok

The heated seat was just something they added to the driver seat as part of agreeing to buy it so no winter pack was originally ordered. 

15 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

In addition to the garage, I would make a phone call to your insurance company. The car is obviously a 'fire risk', and it may also have some, 'personal injury' cover for your poor partners leg injury! (Make sure you take photos before it heals). This whole incident just sounds horrible.

thank you so much for your reply - really appreciated 

that's a good point - hadn't thought about that - will certainly do that -

5 minutes ago, bassmolby said:

Thank you so much for your reply - really appreciated. 

Yes, it was just the drivers heated seat. There is no mention of it on the order form.  They were getting it added before my partner collected it because she was specifically looking for a car with heated front seats. We have an email from the dealer saying that the finance company wouldn't cover the £100 for the heated seat, but are happy if the car is £100 dearer. At this point the dealer changed broker as well.
We went in last weekend and spoke to someone new there and one of the first things they asked was if we had the heated steering wheel and was surprised when we said no

I honestly haven't heard of a Ford main dealer making a modification like that.

How is the seat heater controlled in the car?  Does it have the genuine switch fitted?  I'm now wondering if it's just an aftermarket heat pad that has been added under the standard seat cover.  A full genuine heated seat would have cost a lot more than £100.

13 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I honestly haven't heard of a Ford main dealer making a modification like that.

How is the seat heater controlled in the car?  Does it have the genuine switch fitted?  I'm now wondering if it's just an aftermarket heat pad that has been added under the standard seat cover.  A full genuine heated seat would have cost a lot more than £100.

It's something like this picture. Unfortunately, the car is with the dealer so can't take a picture of it but it's definitely in the side of the seat like this. 

Just found a couple of videos of car modification companies offering something that looks similar and they have lifted the cloth and put a heat pad in underneath

then I've seen that some puma's the heated seat is controlled by the display panel - not sure if that's on all models. Hers is a ST Line X 2022 model

2 minutes ago, bassmolby said:

I've seen that some puma's the heated seat is controlled by the display panel - not sure if that's on all models.

Yes they are controlled by the display panel on all Puma models, not by a switch on the seat.

6 minutes ago, bassmolby said:

It's something like this picture. Unfortunately, the car is with the dealer so can't take a picture of it but it's definitely in the side of the seat like this. 

Just found a couple of videos of car modification companies offering something that looks similar and they have lifted the cloth and put a heat pad in underneath

then I've seen that some puma's the heated seat is controlled by the display panel - not sure if that's on all models. Hers is a ST Line X 2022 model

The seat heating should be controlled either by the Sync screen or by buttons on the dash like this.  There should be a variable rate of heating and some indication of which level it's at, such as 3 lights shown on the buttons here.

 

Your seat picture is from a Ford manual though so I'm not sure what to say about that.  Perhaps that is a dealer retrofit item that I'm not aware of.  Dealers can retrofit non-standard parking sensors, for example, but not much else.

15 minutes ago, unofix said:

Yes they are controlled by the display panel on all Puma models, not by a switch on the seat.

ah that's interesting then! 

7 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The seat heating should be controlled either by the Sync screen or by buttons on the dash like this.  There should be a variable rate of heating and some indication of which level it's at, such as 3 lights shown on the buttons here.

 

Your seat picture is from a Ford manual though so I'm not sure what to say about that.  Perhaps that is a dealer retrofit item that I'm not aware of.  Dealers can retrofit non-standard parking sensors, for example, but not much else.

that was just a random picture from google so not sure it's exactly like that but it's certainly a little button thats on the side of the seat.

dont' think it had different levels of heat, just on/off 

if it's not a dealer retrofit item and not something approved by ford, would it invalidate the warranty?

1 minute ago, bassmolby said:

if it's not a dealer retrofit item and not something approved by ford, would it invalidate the warranty?

Not only the warranty, but sadly, if I understand correctly, a 'modification' like that if  undisclosed to your insurance company, could also invalidate your car insurance. Would be pleased if someone could confirm I'm wrong in that...

It looks like X-Vision do supply heated seat retrofit kits to Ford dealers.  They can be fitted to just one seat.  (They are also the ones who supply the parking sensors.)

Xvision (SCC)* Seat Heater Kit for one seat - Ford Online Accessory Catalogue

Genuine Ford Front Seat Heating Pad Single X1 2008- 2021594 | eBay

There are different heat levels on that button.  Press down for low heat.  Press up for high heat.  Set to the centre for no heat.  Perhaps your partner has been leaving it on low heat permanently by accident.  (Though there should still be a thermal cut-off).

Not sure how it would affect the warranty.  In theory the dealership should provide warranty on this, rather than Ford Motor Company.  Though I'm not sure how that works in practice.

23 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Not only the warranty, but sadly, if I understand correctly, a 'modification' like that if  undisclosed to your insurance company, could also invalidate your car insurance. Would be pleased if someone could confirm I'm wrong in that...

that's an interesting point - I hadn't considered that. I'll check with her insurance company - thank you

2 minutes ago, bassmolby said:

that's an interesting point - I hadn't considered that. I'll check with her insurance company - thank you

I'd try & do that discretely, unless you are left high & dry!

23 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

It looks like X-Vision do supply heated seat retrofit kits to Ford dealers.  They can be fitted to just one seat.  (They are also the ones who supply the parking sensors.)

Xvision (SCC)* Seat Heater Kit for one seat - Ford Online Accessory Catalogue

Genuine Ford Front Seat Heating Pad Single X1 2008- 2021594 | eBay

There are different heat levels on that button.  Press down for low heat.  Press up for high heat.  Set to the centre for no heat.  Perhaps your partner has been leaving it on low heat permanently by accident.  (Though there should still be a thermal cut-off).

Not sure how it would affect the warranty.  In theory the dealership should provide warranty on this, rather than Ford Motor Company.  Though I'm not sure how that works in practice.

dont' think the button looked like that, was more rectangle but then I guess could be the same thing but with just slightly different button. 
not sure if she felt in low heat constantly but it's a good point - i'll ask her

Just now, StephenFord said:

I'd try & do that discretely, unless you are left high & dry!

ah yes! good point!! 

24 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

... (Though there should still be a thermal cut-off).

Absolutely correct. I have a 'heated seat' on passenger side courtesy of Lidl at £14. It has a thermal cut off...

8 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Absolutely correct. I have a 'heated seat' on passenger side courtesy of Lidl at £14. It has a thermal cut off...

sorry, what does the thermal cut off do? should it have stopped it burning through the seat? 

 

10 minutes ago, bassmolby said:

sorry, what does the thermal cut off do? should it have stopped it burning through the seat? 

 

Thermal cut off - it it gets too hot, it automatically cuts of the electricity supply to appliance (like a fuse/trip switch) Your domestic iron will have one ...

9 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Thermal cut off - it it gets too hot, it automatically cuts of the electricity supply to appliance (like a fuse/trip switch) Your domestic iron will have one ...

ah yes I'm with you. thank you. just waiting to hear back from the dealer again!