NHTSA Complaint #11695052 — 2019 BMW I3

In early September, a "driver retention system" error appeared the dash display of my '19 i3. I searched the issue on line and tried but failed to resolve it. A few weeks later, the seat belt alarm stopped going off when the belt was clasped. At this point, I had no choice but bring it in for a fix. The dealer advised that there would be a $305 fee to diagnose the problem. They found a faulty belt buckle that failed in normal use. To fix it was going to cost another $805.22 to replace the buckle. I had no choice but to authorize this work. I believe safety related equipment should be covered by the manufacturer, beyond the normal warranty for a minimum of 10 years. Using AI, i find conflicting information about who is responsible for safety equipment when it fails. I am writing this to find out the NHTSA regulation that covers this, so when I call BWW customer service for an accommodation or hopefully, a full refund, I have all the information I need to plead my case. Thank you! Bob H.