2009 BMW 3 Series

HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. (HTTPS://BRANDILAW.COM/2013/12/26/BMW-RECALLS-76565-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-A-FRONT-PASSENGER-SEAT-ELECTRONIC-SENSING-MAT-FAILURE/) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RECALL DATE. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND INFORM THE NTSB TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT WITHIN OTHER BMW MODELS AND TO HOPEFULLY REMEDY ANY AFFECTED CARS. THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR IS VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO SIMPLY FOREGO MAKING THE NECESSARY FIXES. IN FACT, SEVERAL MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT CUSTOMERS TYPICALLY AVOID MAKING THE FIX DUE TO HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS, RUNNING THE RISK OF THEIR PASSENGER NOT BEING PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I HOPE THE NTSB CAN LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT [XXX] FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE ONE DAY AND A MESSAGE SAYING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEATBELT. BRING TO LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP." THE DAY BEFORE NOTHING HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON. OCCASIONALLY AS I DRIVE WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING GOES AWAY BUT THEN THE CHIME GOES OFF AND THE MESSAGE REAPPEARS. THIS HAPPEN ALL IN JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. NOW EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE WARNING COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE SEATBELT AS WELL SEEMS TO HAVE NO RESTRAINT AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF I WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT WON'T HOLD THE PASSENGER BACK.