NHTSA Complaint #10289698 — 2003 BMW 525I

SEATS issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10289698
Vehicle	2003 BMW 525I
Component	SEATS
Date of Incident	October 24, 2009
Date Filed	October 24, 2009
Mileage	72,690 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	MN

Consumer Description

UPON TURNING ON THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED DRIVERS SEAT HEATER, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT CAUSING EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT CAUSE A FIRE, IT WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO CAUSING A FIRE. THE HEATER WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE SMOKE AND HEAT SUBSIDED. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. CONTACTED A BMW MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW. HE CITED A CASE WHICH CAUSED A CUSTOMERS LEATHER SEAT TO BURN AND ALSO BURNED HIS SPORTS COAT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS OVERTIME DO TO THE BREAKDOWN OF THE WIRING WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. OVER TIME, THE WIRES RUB BARE CAUSING THE DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING AND THE INSULATION. THE WIRING IN TURN BUILDS RESISTANCE WITH THE IN ABILITY OF THE ELECTRICITY TO PASS THROUGH THE DAMAGE WIRING, WHICH CAUSES THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR

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