# 2009 BMW 328I — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
> NHTSA complaint `1029626` · 2013-12-31 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** BMW
- **Model:** 328I
- **Year:** 2009
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- **Miles at failure:** 50,000
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
TL*  I WAS DRIVING ON WHEN MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE BROKE OUT INSIDE THE CABIN, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY AVOIDED IF THE SONNEN BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD PERFORMED THEIR JOB MORE DILIGENTLY. A WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE, I BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING RUBBER ODOR WHEN I TURNED ON MY HEATER/DEFROSTER. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE CAR TO SONNEN  BMW.  THE SERVICE ADVISOR RESPONDED THAT IT WAS NOT  BMW'S PROBLEM.  I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK INTO BMW FOR SERVICE.  I ALSO MENTIONED REPEATEDLY THAT I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER WHENEVER I TURNED  ON THE HEATER/DEFROSTER. BMW KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK. APPARENTLY,  BECAUSE I MENTIONED THE HEATER, BMW GOT FIXATED ON LOOKING FOR THE  PROBLEM WITHIN THE HEATING DUCTS AND NEVER THOUGHT TO CHECK THE  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A WEEK, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD  DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR WAS A LEAF THAT HAD GOTTEN  SUCKED INTO THE BLOWER ASSEMBLY. THEY CHARGED ME $320 TO OPEN THE  ASSEMBLY AND CLEAN OUT THE LEAVES. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I  INSISTED TO SPEAKING WITH ONE OF THE SERVICE  MANAGERS, AS THIS MADE NO SENSE TO ME. I POINTED OUT THAT BURNING  LEAVES DO NOT SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER, AND I DOUBTED THIS WAS THE  CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED THAT THEY WERE  UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT, AFTER  CLEANING OUT THE BLOWER ASSEMBLY, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE  ISSUE. IT IS APPARENT TO ME THAT BMW NEVER ONC
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*