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Man says seat warmer caused car fire

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A frightening fire destroyed a Cobb County man's car beyond recognition.

Channel 2 Action News consumer investigator Jim Strickland spoke to the car's owner who said the seat warmer caused his 2008 Honda Civic to explode.

Brian Reece told Strickland he was coming home from work on March 14 when he noticed his car full of smoke.

It got so hot and smoky inside the car, State Farm labeled it a total loss.

“As I saw the smoke clear and everything else, I just saw my entire seat gone ... burnt to smithereens,” Reece said.

Safety advocates succeeded in getting federal safety regulators to look into seat heater malfunctions, but that was 7 years ago and little has been done.

The complaints on file with the government involve several car makers.

In fact, just last month Mercedes finalized a class action lawsuit settlement over its heated seats.

Reece is awaiting a check from his insurance.