NHTSA Complaint #10817723 — 2003 BMW 530IA

I GOT INTO MY CAR. STARTED IT. I PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND TURNED ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEADED TO MY DR. APP. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOME I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I STARTED TO LOOK AROUND MY CAR WHILE STILL DRIVING. AS I LOOKED LEFT BESIDE MY SEAT I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY BACK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR IN THE ROAD AND UNBUCKLED MY SEAT BELT. I LEANED FORWARD AND LOOKED BACK AT MY SEAT WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. I SAW A ROUND HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE GREY LEATHER SEAT WITH A RED GLOW COMING FROM THE HOLE WITH A FLAME. I IMMEDIATELY USED MY FINGER TO TRY TO SNUFF OUT THE FLAME. I THEN NOTICED MY SHIRT WAS ALSO SMOKING WITH A HOLE BURNED THROUGH IT. I PATTED OUT MY SHIRT AND THEN REALIZED THE SEAT WARMER WAS THE PROBLEM SO I QUICKLY TURNED IT OFF. I GOT OUT OF MY CAR TO MAKE SURE MY SHIRT AND SEAT WERE NOT STILL BURNING. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WITH NO TURNS APPROXIMATELY 2 BLOCKS FROM MY HOME.