NHTSA Complaint #11089840 — 2008 BMW Z4

A FAILED FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MAT CAUSES THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG 'ON-OFF' LAMP TO BE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. IN AUGUST 13, 2008, BMW ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MAT INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MODEL YEAR 2004-06 VEHICLES. MY SIMILARLY AFFECTED 2008 VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL ALSO STATES THAT IN THIS SITUATION, BMW RECOMMENDS CUSTOMERS NOT TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALER, I WAS ADVISED OF A $152 SHOP DIAGNOSIS FEE AND A LIKELY REPAIR COST OF $1800. THIS IS A PROHIBITIVE COST FOR A FACTORY DEFECT ON A 73 YEAR OLD SENIOR CITIZEN LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY.