NHTSA complaint: 2004 BMW 545I — AIR BAGS
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 545I. ON THE SECOND TIME HAVING A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I WAS ALERTED BY A CHIME AND MESSAGE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG / SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAD FAILED. ALSO NOTICED WAS THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER, THE SEAT GOT VERY HOT IN ONE PARTICULAR SPOT- ON THE LEFT SIDE NEAR MY HIP (HOT ENOUGH THAT I RECEIVED A MINOR BURN ON MY LEG THROUGH A PAIR OF JEANS). I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AS I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME REASONS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR EITHER ISSUE ON MY MODEL. THE REPRESENTATIVE SIMPLY EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT FIXING THE ISSUES WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT COULD AFFECT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation