NHTSA complaint: 2004 BMW 5 SERIES — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO USE HIS SUBMITTED EMAIL AS THE ACTUAL COMPLAINT. OUR 2004 BMW 530I HAD THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT CATCH FIRE. I AM NOT GETTING MUCH HELP FROM BMW ON THIS MATTER. TO ME, THIS IS ONE HELLUVA OF AN EASY WAY TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ONLY BECAUSE OF MY PARTNER'S QUICK THINKING AND TURNING OFF THE HEATER WAS SHE ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE. IT WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT IT MELTED THE FOAM (TOXIC I AM SURE) IN THE SEAT. SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING WHILE YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. EITHER WAY A MAJOR ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN. NOT TO MENTION THAT A PERSON COULD BE SEVERELY BURNED. WHILE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THIS SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR WEIGHS IN AT ABOUT 120 POUNDS. FROM CHECKING THE INTERNET THERE SEEMS TO BE A QUITE A NUMBER OF SUCH INSTANCES. THANK YOU SCOTT THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation