NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Seats complaints
33 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 25, 2023
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats
AIRBAG LAMP REMIANS ON DUE TO FAILED PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. HONOLULU BMW DEALER CLAIMS RECALL 08V384000 WAS PERFORMED JULY 18, 2008- WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME DATE LISTED IN THE RECALL AS BMW'S REPORT DATE TO NHTSA. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND PROCEDURE DID NOT GET PUBLISHED OR BEGIN FOR NEARLY A YEAR LATER. THE R…
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AIRBAG LAMP REMIANS ON DUE TO FAILED PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. HONOLULU BMW DEALER CLAIMS RECALL 08V384000 WAS PERFORMED JULY 18, 2008- WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME DATE LISTED IN THE RECALL AS BMW'S REPORT DATE TO NHTSA. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND PROCEDURE DID NOT GET PUBLISHED OR BEGIN FOR NEARLY A YEAR LATER. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ASKS THAT A SMALL STICKER BE AFFIXED ADJACENT TO THE VIN TAG- THERE IS NO STICKER, NOR IS THERE EVIDENCE OF A STICKER EVER HAVING BEEN THERE ( I KNOW WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAINTED.
NHTSA ODI #11534460
78,000 miles · Nov 24, 2018
SeatsInjury
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER BURNED SKIN AND SCORCHED LEATHER SEAT COVER WHEN TURNED ON.
NHTSA ODI #11153549
5 miles · Jan 23, 2018
Seats
SEAT HEATER ON DRIVERS SIDE IS BURNING THROUGH. IF LEFT ON IT WOULD BURN THROUGH CLOTHES AND BURN SKIN.
NHTSA ODI #11064382
116,491 miles · Jan 9, 2018
Seats
DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING UNIT OVERHEATS WHEN ON HIGH SETTING, TO THE POINT OF BURNING SKIN THROUGH THE SEAT AND CLOTHING. LOWER LEFT LUMBAR AND SEAT BOTTOM APPEAR TO BE IMPACTED. PER SERVICE SHOP, THE SEAT HEATER GRID IS BROKEN, CAUSING 40 DEGREE HIGHER TEMPERATURES THAN NORMAL IN THE LEFT LEG AREA. ONGOING ISSUE, NOT A SINGLE O…
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DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING UNIT OVERHEATS WHEN ON HIGH SETTING, TO THE POINT OF BURNING SKIN THROUGH THE SEAT AND CLOTHING. LOWER LEFT LUMBAR AND SEAT BOTTOM APPEAR TO BE IMPACTED. PER SERVICE SHOP, THE SEAT HEATER GRID IS BROKEN, CAUSING 40 DEGREE HIGHER TEMPERATURES THAN NORMAL IN THE LEFT LEG AREA. ONGOING ISSUE, NOT A SINGLE OCCURRENCE.
NHTSA ODI #11061525
5 miles · Dec 28, 2016
Electrical SystemSeats
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED THE JACKET WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN THIS CAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALERSHIP (SILVER SPRING BMW OF MD) REPLACED THE SEAT UNDER WARRANTY. IN THIS CASE GOT L…
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DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT AND BURNED THE JACKET WHEN THE SEAT HEATER WAS TURNED ON WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED IN THIS CAR. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALERSHIP (SILVER SPRING BMW OF MD) REPLACED THE SEAT UNDER WARRANTY. IN THIS CASE GOT LUCKY IT DID NOT CATCH FIRE OR CAUSE ANY INJURY TO US. THIS SITUATION EASILY COULD HAVE ENDED UP IN A CAR FIRE. I WAS STUNNED TO HEAR HOW LITHELY BMW NA APPROACH TOWARDS MY CONCERN WHEN I CALLED TO LODGE A COMPLAINT. AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL SITUATION DUE TO DISTRACTION THIS BURN CREATED WORST CAR ON FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10937989
109,000 miles · Feb 17, 2016
SeatsFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEATS BECAME HOTTER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEAT COILS BURNED HOLES THROUGH THE LEATHER SEATS AND THE SEAT COVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEATS BECAME HOTTER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEAT COILS BURNED HOLES THROUGH THE LEATHER SEATS AND THE SEAT COVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
NHTSA ODI #10836609
86,003 miles · Jan 29, 2016
Seats
I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATERS TO THE LOWEST SETTING (1OUT OF 3) JUST AS I LEFT WORK. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS AS I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD, I FELT A SHARP BURNING THROUGH MY WOOL JACKET IN MY LEFT THIGH/BUTT AREA. I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I GOT HOME AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT, IT HAD LEFT A BURN AREA IN THE LEATHER. AFTER LOOKING…
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I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEATERS TO THE LOWEST SETTING (1OUT OF 3) JUST AS I LEFT WORK. AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS AS I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD, I FELT A SHARP BURNING THROUGH MY WOOL JACKET IN MY LEFT THIGH/BUTT AREA. I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I GOT HOME AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT, IT HAD LEFT A BURN AREA IN THE LEATHER. AFTER LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WEBSITES AND FORUMS ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. HOWEVER, BASED ON OWNER'S COMMENTS, THE DEALERS AREN'T TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA ODI #10823182
156,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
SeatsInjury
WHILE I DRIVE MY CAR , I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEAT , I START FEELING BURNING PAIN WHILE AM DRIVING ON HIGHWAY , THE SECOND TIME WHEN I FINISHED MY WORK AND I START MY CAR TO HEAD HOME , I START SMELLING BURNING AND MY LEG WAS BURNING SO BAD , I GOT OUT OF THE CAR , AND MY SEAT LEATHER WAS BURNING , I SAW HOLE IN MY SEAT AND THE WIR…
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WHILE I DRIVE MY CAR , I TURNED ON MY SEAT HEAT , I START FEELING BURNING PAIN WHILE AM DRIVING ON HIGHWAY , THE SECOND TIME WHEN I FINISHED MY WORK AND I START MY CAR TO HEAD HOME , I START SMELLING BURNING AND MY LEG WAS BURNING SO BAD , I GOT OUT OF THE CAR , AND MY SEAT LEATHER WAS BURNING , I SAW HOLE IN MY SEAT AND THE WIRES INSIDE WAS BURNED AND SMELLED TERRIBLE , THAT IS SAFETY ISSUE , IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY , I WOULD GET IN AN ACCIDENT
NHTSA ODI #10762727
144,870 miles · Feb 24, 2015
SeatsFire
FOR SOME TIME WE HAD TO KEEP THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER NO HIGHER THAN "1". AT LEVEL 2 & 3 IT BURNED YOU OR FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING STUCK WITH SOMETHING. ON THE DATE IN QUESTION, I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE HEATER ON AGAIN (LEVEL 2 FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN BACK TO LEVE…
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FOR SOME TIME WE HAD TO KEEP THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER NO HIGHER THAN "1". AT LEVEL 2 & 3 IT BURNED YOU OR FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING STUCK WITH SOMETHING. ON THE DATE IN QUESTION, I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILES, WENT INTO A STORE, CAME BACK OUT, STARTED THE CAR, TURNED THE HEATER ON AGAIN (LEVEL 2 FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN BACK TO LEVEL 1. I SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR, THEN A SMELL ALMOST LIKE CIGAR SMOKE. THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE HEATER. THE SMELL SUBSIDED WITHIN 3-4 MINUTES. HOWEVER, IT LEFT A BLACK BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER SEAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER. OBVIOUSLY, CONTINUED USE WILL CAUSE A FULL OUT FIRE RATHER THAN JUST BURNING THE LEATHER. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10690316
98,000 miles · Feb 19, 2015
SeatsInjury
DRIVER SIDE SEAT WARMER WAS SET ON THE MEDIUM SETTING, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THEN STARTED TO FEEL PAIN IN MY LEG, BECAUSE THE HEATED SEATS HAD MELTED THE LEATHER AND BURNED MY PANTS AND MY LEG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10684274
NHTSA investigations
1EA08001 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination
Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Dec 31, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
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