NHTSA Complaint #10514025 — 2006 BMW 330I

MY CAR BEGAN DISPLAYING A "PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAILURE" IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL IN 2008 (BMW ID#57362 NHTSA ID# 08V384000). I HAVE THE EXACT MODEL AND TRIM (2006 330I WITH SPORT PACKAGE) AS THE RECALL, BUT UPON CONTACTING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, THEY STATED MY VEHICLE'S VIN 'DOES NOT QUALIFY' FOR THE RECALL. I FIND THIS RIDICULOUS, AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT (THUS THE RECALL) FOR THE MODEL AND TRIM (SPORT SEATS) THAT ARE IN MY CAR. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY DEFECT BUT BMW REFUSES TO REPAIR IT. INSTEAD, I AM FACING AN $800 REPAIR WHICH IS UNCONSCIONABLE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE CAR! BMW RECALL ID # 57362 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL RECALL DATE AUG 05, 2008 RECALL DATE: AUG 05, 2008 MODEL AFFECTED: 2006 BMW 3-SERIES SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCES: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 NOTES: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC. *TR