NHTSA Complaint #10128342 — 2005 BMW 530I

I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW 530I IN JANUARY OF 2005. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER OF THE CORRECT HEIGHT AND WEIGHT REQUIREMENT WOULD BE SEATED IN THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO IRVINE BMW AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN IN FOUR TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE (3 TIMES ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY COMBINED INVOICES). ON ONE OCCASION (WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR) A BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME, "EVEN IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, THE AIRBAGS WILL MOST LIKELY GO OFF ANYWAY." (CLEARLY, THIS TYPE OF COMMENT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT BMW LACKS SERIOUS CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CLIENTS). I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THEY FINALLY GOT INVOLVED ON THE FOURTH SERVICE ATTEMPT IN WHICH THEY CLAIM TO HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SENSORY MAT WITH AN "OLD-STYLE MAT." NOW THE LIGHT DOES NOT ACTIVATE AT ALL, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE DISCONNECTED THE LIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE COMPUTER IS CLEARLY NOT READING WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR, AND THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; AND THAT IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS MAY NOT GO OFF AS WELL (IN AN ACCIDENT). I HAVE REQUESTED THAT I BE GIVEN A NEW VEHICLE OF EQUAL VALUE, BUT MY REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DENIED. BMW SEEMS TO EXPECT ME TO CONTINUE USING AN UN-SAFE LEMON, PLACING MYSELF AS WELL AS MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED A LEMON-LAW ATTORNEY, BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC.