NHTSA Complaint #10374208 — 2005 BMW X5

FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT TWO WEEKS WHILE DRIVING AND USING THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER MY WIFE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE HEAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING SHE EXPERIENCED A VERY PAINFUL BURNING SENSATION ON HER LEFT LEG AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING IN THE VEHICLE. SHE SHUTOFF THE SEAT HEATER AND APPLIED A SCARF UNDER HER LEG TO STOP THE BURNING SENSATION. UPON NOTIFYING THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THAT HE WAS CURRENTLY DEALING WITH ANOTHER INCIDENT SO HE COULD GIVE HER A QUOTE RIGHT AWAY. WHILE AT WORK THE NEXT DAY SHE WAS TALKING WITH A CUSTOMER AND HE SAID HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT COST TO MUCH TO REPLACE THE SEAT. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE THE SERVICE EMPLOYEE ADVISED THAT HE HAD ALSO SEEN THIS BEFORE AND THAT IT WAS FROM WEAR AND TEAR. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT OUR INSURANCE COVERED THIS EXCEPT FOR $50 AS THE VEHICLE IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE. IT HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHO IS A SMALL FEMALE ABOUT 130 LBS. THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO WEAR AND TEAR AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TAKEN DIGITAL PHOTOS WHICH I CAN PROVIDE THAT WILL SHOW THERE IS NO WEAR OR TEAR ON THE SEAT IN THE BURNED/MELTED AREA. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AND IS BEING BRUSHED OFF AS "WEAR AND TEAR". THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY WIFE BEING INJURED BY BURNING OR BEING DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING AND ENDING UP IN AN ACCIDENT.