NHTSA Complaint #11206263 — 2017 BMW X5

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 17, 2019, MY WIFE SMELLED AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE BACK SEAT OF OUR BMW X5 2017 MODEL WHILE IT WAS PARKED ON THE STREET OUTSIDE OUR HOUSE. THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF A SMALL HOLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT NEAR THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOLDER. AREA AROUND THE HOLE WAS EXTREMELY HOT. SHE PUT A WET TOWEL OVER THE HOLE AND THE HOT AREA TO CONTROL THE SMOKE AND TO COOL DOWN THE SEAT. OUR BMW IS EQUIPPED WITH REAR SEAT HEATING SYSTEM. ON THE SAME DAY, SHE TOOK IT TO LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR AND AFTER TWO WEEKS, INFORMED US THAT THEY HAVE FOUND NO ISSUES WITH ANY OF THE BMW PARTS AND BELIEVE THAT BURN WAS TRIGGERED THROUGH AN EXTERNAL AGENT. WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR EXPLANATION AS I HAVE FOUND MANY REPORTS IN ONLINE DISCUSSION FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES AND CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE FOUND PROBLEMS WITH SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS. I WOULD LIKE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE THERE IS NO CURRENT OR FUTURE SAFETY ISSUE WITH BMW SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS.