NHTSA Complaint #11150446 — 2018 BMW X3

2018 BMW X3 M40I: UPON START UP THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS A WARNING 'SEATBELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.' THE CAR THE ENTERS A LIMP MODE AND SAYS TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST BMW SERVICE CENTER AND THAT SOME SAFETY FEATURES ARE UNAVAILABLE. POWER ASSIST STEERING NO LONGER WORKS, AND THE VEHICLE DEFAULTS TO 4WD MODE. ADDITIONALLY, IT FURTHER STATES AIRBAG FUNCTIONALITY IS LIMITED, AND CRASH AVOIDANCE IS UNAVAILABLE, BUT THAT DRIVING IS STILL POSSIBLE! WHAT'S DISTURBING IS THAT I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER LATE MODEL BMW OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE FEW THAT HAVE HAD IT RESOLVED SAID IT'S A SENSOR FAILURE IN ONE OF THE FRONT SEATS. THIS SENSOR IS TIED TO THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND THE AIRBAG. BMW SERVICE CENTER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS MALFUNCTION ON MY X3 ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHOUT SUCCESS. I AM WORRIED THAT MY AIRBAGS OR SEATBELT WILL FAIL IN A COLLISION.