NHTSA Complaint #11142336 — 2002 BMW 325I

ON WEDNESDAY, SEOTEMBER 26 2018 - MY CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE SINCE FRIDAY, SEPT 21. IT HAD RAINED A GREAT DEAL THAT WEEKEND. AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, I WENT TO GET IN THE CAR AND THE WINDOWS WERE BLACK FROM THE INSIDE. I HAD BEEN SMELLING A STRANGE ELECTIRCAL BRUNING SMELL ALL DAY. I DID NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.THEY ARRIVED AND INVESTIGATED. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE DASH WAS STILL ON FIRE INSIDE. THE PILLAR AIRBAG HAD EXPLODED AND MELTED AND HAD SPEWED PLASTIC ON THE FRONT SEATS. THE UPPER DRIVER SIDE CORNER AREA OF THE WINDSHEILD WAS BROKEN FROM THE INSIDE AS THOUGH SOMETHING HAD CATAPLULTED INTO IT FROM BELOW. THE PILLAR BAG INFLATOR WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND WAS BURNT IN THE BOTTOM. THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL HAD DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS