NHTSA Complaint #10463430 — 2007 BMW M5

BMW CONTINUES TO DENY THAT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DISABLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHEN OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. THE FOLLOWING RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2008 FOR 2004-2006 MODEL 5-SERIES VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EXACT PASSENGER SEAT MAT. HTTP://WWW.BMWUSA.COM/STANDARD/CONTENT/CONTACTUS/VOLUNTARYRECALL.ASPX THERE ARE COUNTLESS CLAIMS AND VIDEOS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THE 2007 MODELS AND LATER. IF A SEAT MAT SENSOR SHOULD EVER GO OUT, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME IT WOULD BE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SINCE IT'S THE MOST USED. IN EVERY CASE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE. THIS FLAW IN THE SEAT MAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS OWNERS ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY $1,700 FOR A NEW SEAT MAT (WHICH IS A NEW DESIGN). THEY'RE INSTEAD PURCHASING AN OVERRIDE SWITCH SOLD ONLINE (HTTP://WWW.XENONPLANET.COM/BMW-AIRBAG-SEAT-OCCUPANCY-SENSOR-E36-E46-E38-E39-E53-X5-Z3) TO RE-ENABLE THE AIRBAG, SO THEY CAN SAFELY DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SOLUTION IS THE CAR CAN NO LONGER DETERMINE THE PASSENGERS WEIGHT (IE. CHILDREN) WHICH COULD BECOME DEADLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. EVEN BMW SERVICE MECHANICS KNOW ITS A POOR DESIGN IN THE MAT BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *TR