Authored By: Candace Whitman

Heated car seats are a luxury that many drivers enjoy, especially in the chilly fall and winter months; however, there is a lack of regulation around this technology that has safety advocates concerned.

According to Randy Appleton’s recent article for the Legal Examiner, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received 140 complaints from consumers about heated seat malfunctions over a six-year period, almost half of which resulted in fires when the heated seats were turned on.

Appleton states that vehicle manufactures report that heated seat temperatures max out at between 86 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. They can at times go up to 150 degrees. Ten minutes of exposure to 120-degree temperatures can cause third degree burns so consumers may be at risk of serious burns if sitting on a too hot heated seat for too long.

Concerned safety advocates are urging the NHTSA to impose a maximum temperature of 105 degrees, so the seats will not reach injury causing temperatures.

To read more about this issue, read Randy Appleton’s article on the Legal Examiner.

Photo Credit: algre