10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 99,230 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Upon turning on the manufacturer installed drivers seat heater, the drivers seat heater shorted out causing extreme heat and smoke to rise from the left side of the seat. Although this did not cause a fire, it was extremely close to causing a fire. The heater was turned off, and the smoke and heat subsided. There was a significant electrical burning smell. Contacted a BMW mechanic who stated that this was a common occurrence and a known issue with BMW. He cited a case which caused a customers leather seat to burn and also burned his sports coat. The mechanic stated that this problem happens overtime do to the breakdown of the wiring which is caused by the driver getting into and out of the vehicle. Over time, the wires rub bare causing the deterioration of the wiring and the insulation. The wiring in turn builds resistance with the in ability of the electricity to pass through the damage wiring, which causes the excessive heat.
- Stillwater, MN, USA
I was driving on the freeway and turned the seat heater on. After about 5 minutes into my drive, I started to smell smoke and then saw smoke in the car. I pulled over and saw that the seat was catching on fire. I turned the seat heater off and doused the fire with water.
- Arcadia, CA, USA
- Garden Grove, CA, USA