2006 BMW X5

This car has relatively few miles (85k), and has always been operated by a single person. The passenger seat cushion has a sensor mat that activates the passenger airbag. With relatively fewer miles and very few passengers, the passenger seat didn't experience the normal use as likely modeled by BMW. However, during the fall of 2020, (during the height of covid), a warning light stating the passenger air bag had a malfunction. We were in the midst of nursing and the warning light then went out during the first three months of 2021. When it came on again in May, 2021, I asked BMW about it as was told, "That's Campaign 13V-564. The front passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat isn't working. This means, if there's an accident, the airbag protecting the passenger won't deploy." Apparently there as a "safety check" on this in 2014 and the recall closed as of January 2021....so, I was four months past the expiration date of their safety check for this important malfunctioning seat cushion. As advised by a BMW representative, I requested "goodwill assistance" with covering all or some of this repair (estimated at approx $2k). I was just told that BMW will not provide any goodwill assistance with this and there is apparently no one within BMW Customer Relations I can escalate this to. So, I am reaching-out to the NHTSA in hopes someone can assist me in navigating this. It seems to me, an important safety item such as a passenger sensor for airbag deployment on a car with fewer miles (and passengers) than average, experiencing a brief warning that didn't repeat during covid when we were unable to get to a BMW dealership, and for a "safety check" issue that just ended prior to us contacting BMW to repair is something I don't think BMW should be able to dodge.

Airbag light on, passenger airbag off light illuminated. Diagnostic scan showed faulty Front Passenger seat occupancy detector. BMW Issued recall campaign 13V-564 for vehicles manufactured from DEC 05 to sept 06. My vehicle was manufactured 06/06 and is displaying all the symptoms from recall 13v-564 yet BMW USA claims my vehicle is not effected.

WHEN USING THE HEATED DRIVER SEAT, IT BEGINS TO SMOKE AND GIVE OFF A BURNING SMELL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE, I TURNED IT OFF AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT BURNING AND SMOKING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND JUST THOUGHT THE SEAT WAS A BIT WORN IN THAT SPOT. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THIS YEAR AND THERE AREN'T ANY. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT.

WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A BURNING SENSATION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUTT BURNING MY COAT. I STOPPED THE BMW AND JUMPED OUT . WITH THE COURTESY LIGHT ON I COULD SEE THAT THE LEATHER SEAT HAD A BURN HOLE WHERE I COULD SEE THE ELECTRICITY LIKE MINI LIGHTENING. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND THE BURNING STOPPED. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAD OCCURRED. BMW REFERRED ME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM EVALUATED AND DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND REPAIR WOULD COST ABOUT $1400. BMW IS AWARE OF THEIR SEAT HEATER PROBLEM AS SEE BY NUMEROUS BLOGS ONLINE BUT REFUSES TO RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT OVERHEATS AND BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH. I HAVE EXPERIENCE DISCOLORATION IN SOME OF MY CLOTHING DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND I EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT BURNED ON MY THIGH WHEN THE HEATED SEAT IS TURNED ON. THE ISSUE OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THE LEATHER MOST AFFECTED BY THE HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTION IS THINNING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TWICE ABOUT THE ISSUES, AND I HAVE BEEN IGNORED WHEN I REQUESTED A QUOTE ON THE REPAIR AND WHY THE SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ( CUSHION) CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS. I FIRST SMELLED A BURNING / PLASTIC SMELL. THEN I FELT MY GLUTES AND HAMSTRING GETTING WARM. I LOOKED DOWN ( I WAS DRIVING) AND SAW AN ORANGE EMBER ON THE SEAT. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD, HOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND SAW THAT THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY BURNING. LUCKILY I HAD A BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE CAR AND PUT OUT THE FLAME AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT. I CALLED THE DEALER- GOT A QUOTE TO REPAIR. BMW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I HAVE A SMALL BURN ON MY LEG, AND A GOOD SIZE HOLE IN THE SEAT. I LIKE MY HEATED SEATS LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST DURING WINTER MONTHS. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEATS AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT AND STARTED TO BURN ME. I PULLED OVER ABRUPTLY, JUMPED OUT OF MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY PANTS WAS DISCOLORED/BURNED AND MY SEAT WAS BURNED AND HAD A BURN HOLE (ABOUT 3.5 INCHES) IN IT., THE CAR HAD A PLASTIC TYPE BURN SMELL IN IT. I AM TERRIFIED TO TURN ON THE HEATED SEATS AGAIN.