NHTSA Complaint #10474410 — 2005 BMW 5 SERIES

ON 12/5/2011 - WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, I NOTICED THE MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD INDICATING A FAULT ON PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THERE WAS NOT ANY INCIDENT THAT I CAN RECALL THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS A COMMON FAULT ON THESE TYPE OF CARS DUE TO A FAULTY MAT SENSOR LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SOME BMW CARS OF THE SAME MODEL (DEPENDENT OF VIN). MY HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY CALLED BMW OF FREMONT (NORTHERN CA) TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF SUCH RECALL. I USE THIS CAR DAILY TO DROP OFF OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL. I HONESTLY THINK THE ISSUE REALLY POSES A SERIOUS THREAT ON MY KIDS SAFETY SINCE THERE IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. LASTLY, I ALSO THINK THAT BMW NA SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT IS BECOMING TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM TO BMW CARS (ESPECIALLY THE MODEL SERIES THAT I HAVE). IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH BMW NA. *TR