NHTSA complaint: 2005 BMW X3 — VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
2005 BMWX3 IS MAKING ME SICK. I TURNED THE HEAT ON & I STARTED TO FEEL ILL. MY SYMPTOMS GOT WORSE ,MY THROAT WAS SWOLLEN, COMPLETELY LOST MY VOICE AS A DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT I BREATHED IN. BMW LOOKED AT THE CAR & ADVISED OF "DEFECT IN THE EVAPORATOR HOUSING" AND WHAT I AM BREATHING IN IS "MOLD DUE TO CONDENSATION. ADVISED OF A KIT TO FIX IT. I REFUSED TO PAY. I CALLED BMW & THEIR CANNED RESPONSE WAS THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BUT "ENVIRONMENTAL." I REFUSED TO GIVE UP, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADMITTED (OR SLIPPED) THAT BMW HAD AN INTERNAL MEMO CIRCULATING WITH EXACTLY WHAT TO TELL CUSTOMERS AND NOT TO COVER IT.. THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER AGREED TO EAT THE CHG. MY DR. DETERMINED I HAD A DIRECT &FAST ALLERGIC REACTION. IT TOOK 4 WEEKS TO RECOVER. FRIDAY WE HAD A RAIN STORM IN NJ. I DROVE AN HOUR ,COULD BARELY SEE AND TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER. THE SMELL CAME OUT OF THE VENTS .I COULDN'T SEE,BUT I WAS SCARED OF GETTING SICK. THIS BECAME A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION ON ROUTE 287 N IN NJ. I USED THE DEFROSTER FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. ON THE WAY HOME I WAS TOO SCARED TO USE IT, STILL RAINING YESTERDAY (SUNDAY 5-18) IT WAS RAINING. I TURNED THE CAR ON PUT THE DEFROSTER ON & SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVE THE SYMPTOMS AGAIN BUT IT HAS NOT GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF MY THROAT CLOSING BECAUSE I KNEW TO SHUT IT OFF. THIS MEANS I CAN'T USE MY DEFROSTER, HEATER OR AIR-CONDITIONER OR I WILL GET VERY SICK. I WILL CALL THE LOCAL DEALER TODAY WHO WILL TELL ME I CAN PAY TO HAVE THEM RUN LY
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation