NHTSA complaint: 2007 BMW X3 SAV — SEATS
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SINCE IT WAS A BIT CHILLY, TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER. WITHIN SECONDS I FELT A PAINFUL BURNING IN MY LEFT REAR "CHEEK" AND SMELLED SMOKE AND SOMETHING BURNING. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND THE SMOKE AND SMELL CLEARED. WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP AND ASSESS THE DAMAGE, THERE IS A BURNED SPOT ON MY LEATHER SEAT AND I HAVE A BURN ON MY BACKSIDE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MY MECHANIC AND HE STATES THAT I WAS LUCKY IT DIDN'T START A FIRE BECAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE HEATING ELEMENT/WIRING IS SO EXTENSIVE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO USE IT UNTIL IT COULD BE REPAIRED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND I DID PURCHASE A WARRANTY WITH IT, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THIS ITEM IS COVERED. HOWEVER, BMW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN AND I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT TURNING OFF THE SEAT WARMER STOPPED ANY FURTHER DAMAGE. I'VE ALREADY NOTED 7 OTHER SEAT WARMER ISSUES FOR THE 2007 X3 MODEL, I'VE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS OTHER INTERNET BLOGS (WHICH WOULD DEFINITELY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS KNEW WHERE & HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT LIKE THIS), AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER BMW MODELS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL (04V575000 RECALL DATE : NOV 24, 2004 ). WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? FOR SOMEONE TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE, DIE? THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRE
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation