NHTSA Complaint #10553071 — 2006 BMW X3

SEAT HEATING SYSTEM ISSUE: WITHOUT ANY EARLIER WARNING SIGNS THE DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATED VERY QUICKLY (WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF TURNING ON THE SEAT HEATERS) TO THE POINT OF BURNING THE DRIVERS SKIN. A BURNING SMELL OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. THE DRIVER HAD TO GET UP FROM THE SEAT RAPIDLY TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS BURNS. THIS MADE BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A CONTROLLED STOP VERY DIFFICULT. THE DRIVER WAS HALFWAY UP FROM THE SEAT WITH THE SEATBELT HOLDING THE DRIVER BACK. THIS COULD HAVE LEAD EASILY TO AN ACCIDENT AS IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL A VEHICLE IN THAT POSITION. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AT A SLOW SPEED AND OPERATED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. HOWEVER, THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT OR INJURIES AT A HIGHER SPEED AND/OR MORE POPULATED AREA WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH GREATER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT UNDER THE UNITED STATES CODE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY (TITLE 49, CHAPTER 301). INTERNET RESEARCH AND MULTIPLE COMPLAINS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE CONFIRM THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *TR