2007 BMW X3 Sav Interior & seats Problems

TAKATA RECALL - MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL AND NO ONE HAS A REMEDY FOR IT. NOT THE DEALER, MANUFACTURER OR TAKATA. THE ISSUE IS THAT I NEED MY CAR AND THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION FROM TAKATA AND BMW THAT THERE CURRENTLY IS NO REMEDY. MY QUESTION IS SINCE I AM STILL DRIVING MY CAR, IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT, IS THE LIABILITY OF MY PASSENGER MY RESPONSIBILITY? I CANNOT LET THE CAR SIT PARKED UNTIL A REMEDY IS AVAILABLE AS THIS WOULD RUIN THE CARS ENGINE. BMW AND TAKATA HAVE NO REMEDY AND HAVE GIVEN NO ETA WHEN ONE WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. BMW WILL NOT GIVE ME A LOANER UNTIL THIS REMEDY IS FIXED. SO FOR NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR, WHICH IS UNFAIR AS I STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR INSURANCE AND REGISTRATION.

NHTSA ID

11073937

Incident

Nov 19, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE CONTACT STEPPED AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING, THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED FOR THE SEAT TO COOL DOWN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC WIRING FOR THE SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10984819

Incident

Jan 4, 2017

Mileage

58,000 mi

2007 BMW X3 WITH JUST UNDER 80,000 MILES. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM BURNED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND BURNED THE THIGH OF THE DRIVER WHILE THE SEAT HEATER WAS IN USE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE ON PAVED CITY STREETS. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF BEFORE THE UPHOLSTERY ACTUALLY CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10954297

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

Mileage

79,113 mi

IN COOL CLIMATE ON NOVEMBER 1, 2016. TURN ON MY HEAT SEAT, THEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNED, THEN I FELT SHARP BURN ON LEFT BUTT CHEEK. THEN I KNEW SOMETHING WRONG WITH HEAT I TURNED OFF, , ON NOVEMBER 7, 2016, I TRIED AGAIN,,, BURNING SMELL IS SO BAD, THE HEAT STILL BURNED ALMOST THROUGH OUT SIDE LAYER OF SEAT

NHTSA ID

10926115

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

HEATED DRIVERS SEAT STARTED TO BURN ME LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. BURNING SMELL. I SHUT IT OFF, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO BURN THROUGH SEAT IF I HAD NOT. CAN FEEL THE WIRE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD "HELP" WITH THE COST OF REPAIR, BUT I HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE FIRST. WILL TAKE THIS TO ME REGULAR MECHANIC FIRST.

NHTSA ID

10919827

Incident

Oct 27, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

A WARNING CODE IS TRIGGERED THAT AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE AIRBAG. THE WARNING CODE IS PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH FLASHES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHETHER THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT OR NOT. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED OR NOT. BMW HAS A RECALL FOR EARLIER YEARS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT NOT FOR THIS YEAR WHICH ALSO HAS QUITE A FEW OF THESE FAILURES. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND NEED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSORS THAT AFFECT THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

10853832

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING I TURNED ON DRIVER SEAT HEATER. IT SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNING SO I TURNED IT OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THAT SOMETIMES IT BURNS A HOLE IN THE SEAT. I TURNED MINE OFF BEFORE IT COULD DO THAT. THEY UNHOOKED IT SO THAT I CAN'T ACCIDENTALLY TURN IT ON.

NHTSA ID

10853148

Incident

Jan 23, 2016

Mileage

119,000 mi

BMW X3 HEATED SEAT BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT. IF HEATED SEAT IS TURNED ON, VISIBLE SPARKS OR FIRE WILL COME THROUGH HOLE. HOLE IS DIRECTLY BELOW DRIVER'S LEFT THIGH. BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT THE X3. THE X3 IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10852535

Incident

Mar 27, 2016

Mileage

110,000 mi

MY PASSENGER SEATS SEATBELT LIGHT COMES ON AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THERE IS JUST A PURSE IN THE SEAT. IT BEEPS OVER AND OVER UNTIL YOU CLICK THE SEATBELT WHEN NO ONE IS IN IT. I KNOW THAT IT FEELS WEIGHT. BUT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AROUND 45 LBS. NOT 10LBS. I WILL KEEP A WATCH ON THIS TO SEE IF ITS HAVING AIRBAG ISSUES WITH A ADULT SITTING IN IT. JUST LIKE THE RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL, ALREADY .WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS BEFORE THE NEW PARTS ARE OUT TO FIX THIS RECALL?? LITTLE TO LATE.

NHTSA ID

10852317

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAS MANY TIMES STARTED OVER HEATING AND YOU CAN SMELL THE ELECTRICAL BURNING. GETS REAL HOT. I HAVE HAD TO TURN IT OFF IT GETS SO HOT AND I ALWAYS AM LOOKING FOR ELECTRICAL FIRE WHEN I SMELL IT. ITS REAL STRONG. THIS IS DANGEROUS, COULD START A FIRE WHILE MY CAR IS WARMING UP IN THE SNOWY WINTERS. WHAT IF THIS CAUGHT FIRE UNDER ME AND BURNT MY LEGS OR BODY BEFORE I COULD GET PULLED OVER. REGARDLESS ITS FAULTY AND DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

10852313

Incident

Jan 28, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

DUE TO COLD WEATHER, ENGAGED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. NOTICED A SHARP PAIN IN MY LEG AND THEN BEGAN TO SMELL AND SEE SMOKE. FORTUNEATLY, I WAS QUICKLY ABLE TO REALIZE THE SEAT HEATER APPEARED TO HAVE A SHORT IN IT, AND TURNED OFF BEFORE BURNING THROUGH THE LEATHER AND SETTING MY CLOTHS ON FIRE. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING THEY ARE WILL TO DO. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIUOSLY HURT OR KILLED. THE ENGINE WAS IDLING WHEN SEAT HEATER WAS ON. I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND DRIVING DOWN STREET WHEN I NOTICED. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD SEAT HEATER ON AND THEN STEPPED AWAY FROM VEHICLE AS IT WAS WARMIMG UP, I AM CONFIDENT THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE OR AT LEAST SEVERLY DAMAGED IT.

NHTSA ID

10821939

Incident

Jan 21, 2016

Mileage

147,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MINUTES WITH DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON, SMELLED ELECTRICAL SMELL, FELT PAIN IN LEG, THEN FELT SHOCK/BURN. NOT SURE WHICH. TURNED OFF SEAT HEATER. ELECTRICAL SMELL COMES AND GOES. SMALL BURN HOLE IN SEAT. NOT ABLE TO USE SEAT HEATER ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID

10821479

Incident

Dec 28, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY X3 AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS, I ACTIVATED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE MINUTES LATER, MY UPPER LEG BEGAN FEELING VERY HOT AND IT STARTED SMELLING LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I LOWERED THE SEAT HEATER TEMPERATURE FROM THE HOTTEST SETTING TO THE LOWEST/COOLEST SETTING, AND THE TEMPERATURE REMAINED THE SAME - WAS EXTREMELY HOT. A SHORT TIME LATER, I ALSO SAW SMOKE. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, I SAW A HOLE ON THE SEAT WHERE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED THROUGH. IT HAD ALSO BURNED THROUGH THE COAT I WAS WEARING CREATING A HOLE. CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE THE SEAT HEATER AND SEAT, AND THEY REFUSED SAYING THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. CALLED BMW NA AND RECEIVED A SIMILAR RESPONSE.

NHTSA ID

10818344

Incident

Mar 6, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT HEATERS. ONE OF THE HEATING ELEMENTS FAILED, OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT SURFACE. IN DOING RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES. BMW DID DO A RECALL ON THE X5, BUT DOES NOT SHOW A RECALL ON THE X3. ON VARIOUS SITES, THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES WITH OWNERS, SOME WITH THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. I FOUND COMPLAINTS ON THE FOLLOWING SITES; CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, BIMMERFEST.COM AND ARFC.ORG. JUST ON CARCOMPLAINTS, THIS COMPLAINT IS SHOWN 23 TIMES; MADBURY, NH, PORTLAND, OR, WESTFIELD, IN, DERWOOD, MD, TAMPA, FL, ANNAPOLIS, MD, LOUISVILLE, KY, BERGENFIELD, NJ, HOLDERNESS, NH, LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH, LAUREL, MD, NOVI, MI, CROMWELL, CT, PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS, HILLSBOROUGH, NC, DALY CITY, CA, ALEXANDRIA, VA, SAGINAW, TX, BETHESDA. MD, PITTSBURG, PA, SELAH, WA. SAME ISSUE WITH EACH. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WAS CONTACTED AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS "IT'S A PART OF WEAR AND TEAR....NO OFFER TO ASSIST" FROM BMW NA. YET, THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED TO ARISE AND BMW NA DID REPLACE THE HEATER ELEMENT AND SEAT SURFACE IN SOME INSTANCES, MAKING THE REPLACEMENT A MATTER OF PREFERENCE OR DISCRIMINATION, OR DEALER'S OPINION OF THE CAR OWNER VERSUS CORRECTING THE MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT PROBLEM. I WOULD REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OF NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS MATTER AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDOUS OVER-HEATING/ FIRE THREATS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN JUST GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND SMELL THE BURNING LEATHER AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATING SYSTEM BEFORE A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

10810681

Incident

Nov 27, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

WHILE IDLING FOR LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES WITH THE SEAT HEAT TURNED ON, I SMELLED SMOKE BUT WASN'T SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM AND IGNORED IT. AFTER DRIVING HOME I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER DRIVER'S SEAT AND AN EXPOSED WIRE WAS SHOWING THROUGH THE HOLE. LUCKILY MY JACKET DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE MID 20S AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10700867

Incident

Mar 19, 2015

Mileage

44,410 mi

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND ALSO REALIZED MY UPPER LEG WAS IN PAIN. TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND INVESTIGATED AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION. THERE WAS A SCORCH MARK IN THE SEAT NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT BOLSTER. LUCKY THIS DIDN'T CAUSE A FIRE OR BODILY INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676948

Incident

Jan 19, 2015

Mileage

68,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAS 2 BURN HOLES WHERE THE HEATER HAS BURNED THROUGH. OFTEN THERE HAS BEEN A BURNING SENSATION WHERE THE HOLES ARE. UNTIL IT ACTUALLY BURNED THROUGH WE JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS OVERLY HOT. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I AM SURPRISED THAT BMW HAS NOT RECALLED THIS ITEM ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672316

Incident

Jan 9, 2015

Mileage

108,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT SWITCH WAS TURNED ON WHILE DRIVING. FEW MINUTES AFTER SWITCH TURNED-ON, BURNING SMELL WAS FELT INSIDE THE CAR. STOPPED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE ENGINE (FIRST GUESS). IT WAS NOT FROM THE ENGINE. SAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN REALIZED THE FUME WAS COMING FROM THE SEAT. THE DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNED, MY PANT BOTTOM WAS BURNED AND MY BUTT WAS ALSO BURNED (NOT SERIOUS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10669963

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

73,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND DIMMED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TEST PLAN INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ BMW AGREED TO PAY HALF OF THE CHARGE FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 08/21/14

NHTSA ID

10610355

Incident

Jun 15, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE HEATED SEATS DRIVER'S SIDE BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MY CLOTHES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561249

Incident

Jan 19, 2014

Mileage

96,000 mi

WHILE RIDING IN CAR, PASSENGER (MY WIFE) TURNED ON SEAT HEAT AND IT GOT VERY HOT, BEGAN TO SMOKE AND BURNED 2 HOLES IN VINYL SEAT BACK NEAR RIGHT BOLSTER. IT BURNED A HOLE IN HER SWEATER, BUT WE REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF SEAT HEAT IMMEDIATELY AVOIDING A BURN TO HER SKIN. HOPING IT WAS A FLUKE, I ATTEMPTED A VINYL UPHOLSTERY REPAIR WITH A KIT, BUT IT TOO MELTED AWAY WHEN I TESTED THE SEAT HEATER. I WILL NOT RUN THE SEAT HEATER AGAIN ON EITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE UNTIL THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BY BMWNA. THIS IS VERY CLEARLY A SERIOUS AND WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN FIRE AND/OR INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553527

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

112,450 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATING ELEMENT GOT SO HOT THAT IT STARTED TO SMOKE, BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER AND BURNT MY WIFE'S COAT AND LEG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552859

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

53,000 mi

HEATED SEAT WAS ON "MEDIUM" SETTING, WITHIN ONE MINUTE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL THEN FELT PAIN IN LEFT LEG. HEATED SEAT ELEMENT BURNED THROUGH SEAT MATERIAL AND BURNED PANTS! NO REAL INJURY BUT SEAT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THROUGH THE LEATHER AND MY PANTS. SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513546

Incident

May 25, 2013

Mileage

111,000 mi

MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST GOTTEN IN THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATERS AND NOT EVEN 2 MINUTES LATER, HE STARTED SMELLING SMOKE...HE TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THERE WAS A PEA SIZED BURN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. HE ALSO HAD A BURN MARK ON HIS JEANS THAT WENT THROUGH TO HIS WALLET. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT WE HAD OUR 3 DOGS IN THE CAR HEADED TO THE VET AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEMS. I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIXING... *TR

NHTSA ID

10509437

Incident

Apr 19, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR, THEN WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER FELT A BURNING PAIN ON THIGH. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF SEAT WARMER AND TRIED TO PULL OVER. FOUND THAT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER HAD BURNT A HOLE THRU THE LEATHER SEAT COVER AND BURNED MY PANTS. THIS COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED A WRECK! *TR

NHTSA ID

10504294

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

78,653 mi