NHTSA Complaint #780655 — 1997 BMW Z3 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Complaint Details

ODI Number	780655
Vehicle	1997 BMW Z3
Component	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Date of Incident	September 1, 1998
Date Filed	October 2, 1998
Mileage	N/A miles
Crash	No
Fire	Yes
Injuries	1
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	Yes
State	NY

Consumer Description

AFTER VEHICLE WAS VACUUMED IT WOULD NOT START; THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND THE DRIVER TURNED THE KEY AGAIN TO START IT, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DRIVER QUICKLY TRIED TO TURN THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION,THEN THE LIGHTS DIMMED. THE KEY BECAME IMMOVABLE IN THE START POSITION, AND SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR FROM ALL THE VENTS. STUNNED, THE DRIVER OPENED THE DOOR TO RUN FROM THE VEHICLE, BUT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND KNOCKED THE DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS. THE DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM THE VEHICLE AND REVIVED IN TIME TO GET THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL DISCONNECTED. EMS ATTENDED TO THE DRIVER'S INJURIES.

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