NHTSA Complaint #10508440 — 2006 BMW 325XIT

WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SERVICE INDICATOR, NO SEATBELT INDICATOR, AND "PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED" INDICATOR ARE ALL ILLUMINATED. IN MY VEHICLE'S CURRENT STATE, IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A PASSENGER PRESENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VEHICLES AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM. A FAULTY OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT IS SUSPECTED. THIS ISSUE MATCHES THE BMW RECALL LISTED AS: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000. ACCORDING TO BMW NORTH AMERICA & LOCAL BMW DEALER, THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE VIN NUMBER OR PRODUCTION DATE RANGES THAT WERE INITIALLY SANCTIONED UNDER THE RECALL. IN THE OFFICIAL RECALL DETAILS, THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND SEAT TYPE ALL MATCH THE SPECIFICATIONS OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER DISCOVERING THE RECALL INFORMATION, I CONTACTED BMW REPRESENTATIVE BY TELEPHONE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THE REPAIR MUST BE DONE AT AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THIS VEHICLE'S PRODUCTION DATE IS LISTED AS 03/2006. BMW STATES THAT THE AFFECTED 3-SERIES STANDARD SEAT VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED BETWEEN FEB 1, 2005 - NOV 30, 2005. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT SENSOR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS VIOLATES VEHICLE AIR BAG REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE NHTSA. SINCE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, THE COST SHOULD BE COVERED 100% BY THE MANUFACTURER, BMW. BMW NEEDS TO EXTEND THIS RECALL TO ALL MODEL PRODUCTION DATES THAT ARE EXHIBITING THIS FAILURE. *TR