NHTSA Complaint #10690316 — 2004 BMW X3 SEATS

Complaint Details

ODI Number	10690316
Vehicle	2004 BMW X3
Component	SEATS
Date of Incident	February 22, 2015
Date Filed	February 24, 2015
Mileage	144,870 miles
Crash	No
Fire	Yes
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	IL

Consumer Description

FOR SOME TIME WE HAD TO KEEP THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER NO HIGHER THAN "1". AT LEVEL 2 & 3 IT BURNED YOU OR FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING STUCK WITH SOMETHING. ON THE DATE IN QUESTION, I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE HEATER ON AGAIN (LEVEL 2 FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN BACK TO LEVEL 1. I SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR, THEN A SMELL ALMOST LIKE CIGAR SMOKE. THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEATER. THE SMELL SUBSIDED WITHIN 3-4 MINUTES. HOWEVER, IT LEFT A BLACK BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER SEAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER. OBVIOUSLY, CONTINUED USE WILL CAUSE A FULL OUT FIRE RATHER THAN JUST BURNING THE LEATHER. *JS

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