# 2003 BMW 530IA — SEATS
> NHTSA complaint `1249846` · 2016-01-04 · 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:** 530IA
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** SEATS
- **Miles at failure:** 121,000
- **Speed:** 25 mph
## Narrative
I GOT INTO MY CAR.  STARTED IT. I PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND TURNED ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER.  I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEADED TO MY DR. APP.  ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOME I SMELLED  SOMETHING BURNING.  I STARTED TO LOOK AROUND MY CAR WHILE STILL DRIVING.  AS I LOOKED LEFT BESIDE MY SEAT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY BACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT.  I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR IN THE ROAD AND UNBUCKLED MY SEAT BELT.   I LEANED FORWARD AND LOOKED BACK AT MY SEAT WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM.  I SAW A ROUND HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE GREY LEATHER SEAT WITH A RED GLOW COMING FROM THE HOLE WITH A FLAME.   I IMMEDIATELY USED MY FINGER TO TRY TO SNUFF OUT THE FLAME.  I THEN NOTICED MY SHIRT WAS ALSO SMOKING WITH  A HOLE BURNED THROUGH IT.  I PATTED OUT MY SHIRT AND THEN REALIZED THE SEAT WARMER WAS THE PROBLEM SO I QUICKLY TURNED IT OFF.  I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO MAKE SURE MY SHIRT AND SEAT WERE NOT STILL BURNING.  I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WITH NO TURNS APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME.
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*