NHTSA Complaint #10495024 — 2006 BMW X3

STARTED THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY THIS MORNING AND LET THE ENGINE IDLE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE DRIVING OFF, I ENERGIZED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT TO THE LOWEST SETTING, AFTER 10 SEC OR SO I STARTED TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND FELT A SHARP PAIN UNDER MY LEFT THIGH. I TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT IMMEDIATELY, SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND GOT OUT OFF THE CAR TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I NOTICED A SMALL BLACK BURN MARK ON THE SEAT THAT WAS VERY WARM TO THE TOUCH. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA TO FILE A COMPLAINT, THE LADY ON THE PHONE TOOK MY INFORMATION AND STATEMENT AS TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER FOR INSPECTION. I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED LATER THIS AFTERNOON BY CONCORD BMW AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER ANY REPAIR COST OF THE DAMAGED SEAT. I ASKED IF THEY WOULD CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA ON MY BEHALF AND ASK THEM TO AUTHORIZE AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE EVENT, HEATED SEATS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO CATCH FIRE AND MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE DRIVING THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED. I WAS TOLD NO, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA ON MY OWN. *TR