2006 BMW X5 Seats Problems

When I switch on my driver seat for the heated seat it became so hot that the coils burned through my seat and make two round burn holes in the seat and burned my leg

This car has relatively few miles (85k), and has always been operated by a single person. The passenger seat cushion has a sensor mat that activates the passenger airbag. With relatively fewer miles and very few passengers, the passenger seat didn't experience the normal use as likely modeled by BMW. However, during the fall of 2020, (during the height of covid), a warning light stating the passenger air bag had a malfunction. We were in the midst of nursing and the warning light then went out during the first three months of 2021. When it came on again in May, 2021, I asked BMW about it as was told, "That's Campaign 13V-564. The front passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat isn't working. This means, if there's an accident, the airbag protecting the passenger won't deploy." Apparently there as a "safety check" on this in 2014 and the recall closed as of January 2021....so, I was four months past the expiration date of their safety check for this important malfunctioning seat cushion. As advised by a BMW representative, I requested "goodwill assistance" with covering all or some of this repair (estimated at approx $2k). I was just told that BMW will not provide any goodwill assistance with this and there is apparently no one within BMW Customer Relations I can escalate this to. So, I am reaching-out to the NHTSA in hopes someone can assist me in navigating this. It seems to me, an important safety item such as a passenger sensor for airbag deployment on a car with fewer miles (and passengers) than average, experiencing a brief warning that didn't repeat during covid when we were unable to get to a BMW dealership, and for a "safety check" issue that just ended prior to us contacting BMW to repair is something I don't think BMW should be able to dodge.

Airbag light on, passenger airbag off light illuminated. Diagnostic scan showed faulty Front Passenger seat occupancy detector. BMW Issued recall campaign 13V-564 for vehicles manufactured from DEC 05 to sept 06. My vehicle was manufactured 06/06 and is displaying all the symptoms from recall 13v-564 yet BMW USA claims my vehicle is not effected.

MY HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED ME AND MY COAT. I VERY RARELY USED IT AT ALL. I STARTED USING IT AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE 10TH TIME I USED IT WHEN IT OCCURRED.

Mileage: 120,000

WHEN USING THE HEATED DRIVER SEAT, IT BEGINS TO SMOKE AND GIVE OFF A BURNING SMELL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE, I TURNED IT OFF AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT BURNING AND SMOKING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND JUST THOUGHT THE SEAT WAS A BIT WORN IN THAT SPOT. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THIS YEAR AND THERE AREN'T ANY. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT.

Mileage: 145,000

MY HEATED SEAT CATCHED ON FIRE. DRIVER SIDE SEAT LEFT SIDE REAR. I GOT BURNED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT. I REALIZED THAT MY PANTS HAVE A WHOLE AS WELL AS OF THE SEAT

Mileage: 106,000

WHEN PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I NOTICED A BURNING SENSATION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BUTT BURNING MY COAT. I STOPPED THE BMW AND JUMPED OUT . WITH THE COURTESY LIGHT ON I COULD SEE THAT THE LEATHER SEAT HAD A BURN HOLE WHERE I COULD SEE THE ELECTRICITY LIKE MINI LIGHTENING. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND THE BURNING STOPPED. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAD OCCURRED. BMW REFERRED ME TO HAVE THE PROBLEM EVALUATED AND DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND REPAIR WOULD COST ABOUT $1400. BMW IS AWARE OF THEIR SEAT HEATER PROBLEM AS SEE BY NUMEROUS BLOGS ONLINE BUT REFUSES TO RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

Mileage: 150,000

THE DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT OVERHEATS AND BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH. I HAVE EXPERIENCE DISCOLORATION IN SOME OF MY CLOTHING DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND I EXPERIENCED A SLIGHT BURNED ON MY THIGH WHEN THE HEATED SEAT IS TURNED ON. THE ISSUE OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THE LEATHER MOST AFFECTED BY THE HEATED SEAT MALFUNCTION IS THINNING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TWICE ABOUT THE ISSUES, AND I HAVE BEEN IGNORED WHEN I REQUESTED A QUOTE ON THE REPAIR AND WHY THE SAFETY ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 70,000

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT ( CUSHION) CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS. I FIRST SMELLED A BURNING / PLASTIC SMELL. THEN I FELT MY GLUTES AND HAMSTRING GETTING WARM. I LOOKED DOWN ( I WAS DRIVING) AND SAW AN ORANGE EMBER ON THE SEAT. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD, HOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND SAW THAT THE SEAT WAS ACTUALLY BURNING. LUCKILY I HAD A BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE CAR AND PUT OUT THE FLAME AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT. I CALLED THE DEALER- GOT A QUOTE TO REPAIR. BMW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I HAVE A SMALL BURN ON MY LEG, AND A GOOD SIZE HOLE IN THE SEAT. I LIKE MY HEATED SEATS LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST DURING WINTER MONTHS. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE.

Mileage: 120,000

WHILE DRIVING I TURNED ON MY HEATED SEATS AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT AND STARTED TO BURN ME. I PULLED OVER ABRUPTLY, JUMPED OUT OF MY CAR AND NOTICED THAT MY PANTS WAS DISCOLORED/BURNED AND MY SEAT WAS BURNED AND HAD A BURN HOLE (ABOUT 3.5 INCHES) IN IT., THE CAR HAD A PLASTIC TYPE BURN SMELL IN IT. I AM TERRIFIED TO TURN ON THE HEATED SEATS AGAIN.

Mileage: 125

THE HEATERS IN BOTH THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS TOO HOT TO TOUCH AND MELTED THE LEATHER SEATS. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THE HEATERS WERE EVEN ENGAGED AT THE TIME. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WERE DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE OR WARRANTY COVERAGE. WE THEN CALLED THE NATIONAL BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WERE ALSO TURNED DOWN. THE COSTS TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WOULD BE CLOSE TO THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. WE ARE STILL PURSUING THIS WITH LOCAL MANAGEMENT BUT AT THIS TIME, DESPITE RECALLS IN PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THIS SAME SAFETY PROBLEM, WE HAVE BEEN DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE OR RELIEF.

Mileage: 100,000

DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT BURNED THROUGH LEATHER SEATS ON RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT AT RIB CAGE. SLIGHTLY BURNED DRIVER. HAD A ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. LEFT ABOUT A 6 INCH BURN LINE IN THE SEAT. VERY UNATTRACTIVE! *TR

Mileage: 87,131

STARTED X5 UP AND TURNED ON DRIVER 'S SEAT WARMER. LET CAR WARM UP FOR 5 MINUTES AND COMMENCED TO DRIVE AWAY. ONE MINUTE DOWN THE ROAD I SMELL SMOKE LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. I FEEL MY LEFT HIP GETTING HOT AT THE SAME TIME. I STOP CAR AND LOOK DOWN AND SEE A DULL RED GLOW FROM THE SEAT. IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF HEATER AND GET OUT OF CAR. THE DRIVER SEAT WARMER HAD SHORTED AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. HOW HOT WAS IT! MY PANTS HAD BEEN BURNT AND HAD A SMALL RED MARK ON MY SKIN. THINK GOODNESS I WAS NOT SEVERELY BURNED DUE TO THE AREA OF MY PANTS THAT WAS BURNT WAS ALSO THE LEFT BACK POCKET AREA SO THE INTERIOR POCKET FABRIC HELP PROTECT ME. WOW! WILL BMW FIX THIS????? *TR

Mileage: 123,469

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT TURNED ON AND THEREAFTER BECAME DANGEROUSLY HOT AND BURNED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S COAT. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILS, CAUSING AIR BAG TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND AIRBAG LIGHT TO APPEAR ON DASH. IN CASE OF ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WANTS NEARLY 2000 DOLLARS TO FIX, THOUGH THEY SAY IT HAD "ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED IN 2008" WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD; DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THEY HEAR THIS COMPLAINT ALL OF THE TIME. RECALL CAMPAIGN 08V384000 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE FOR SOME BMW MODELS/SEATS, BUT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS ALL MODELS AND YEARS THAT HAVE THE PROBLEM. FOR THE X5 MODEL, FOR EXAMPLE, THE "COMFORT SEAT" IS COVERED, BUT THE STANDARD SEAT, WHICH HAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM (NOT RELATED TO THE COMFORT SYSTEM) IS NOT. PLEASE WIDEN THE COVERAGE OF THE CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND YEARS AFFECTED BY THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 99,000

AFTER EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE FOR WHICH BMW ISSUED THIS RECALL NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 I LEARNED THAT BECAUSE MY 2006 X5 WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER NOVEMBER 30, 2005, BMW IS NOT COVERING UNDER WARRANTY THE VERY SAME DEFECT THAT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 30, 2005 ARE UNDER WARRANTY FOR (EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS). THE EXPLANATION IS "THAT IS THE RECALL POLICY. WE MANAGE THIS VIA VIN NUMBERS". *TR

Mileage: 49,000

DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT SHORTED WHILE DRIVING. IT CAUSED A SMALL FIRE AND BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT WHEN HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

JUST PURCHASED THE CERTIFIED PRE OWNED BMW X5. 2006 MODEL AND HAD IT 1 DAY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. RETURNED CAR TO BMW OF DALLAS TO HAVE REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY 40000 MILES LATER AT 68000 MILES SAME LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT. *TR

Mileage: 30,010

HEATED SEATS WERE GETTING HOTTER THE PAST COUPLE OF USES...UNTIL TODAY WHEN I WARMED UP THE CAR (APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES). I WAS PUTTING MY DAUGHTER IN HER SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH THICK WHITE SMOKE. I REMOVED MY DAUGHTER AND PROCEED TO ASCERTAIN WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. THERE WAS A SWIRLING FUNNEL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. I OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND OBSERVED THE DRIVER SEAT LEATHER BURNING (FIZZLING AMBER FIRE). I LOOKED OVER TO THE SEAT WARMER LIGHT AND IT WAS ON. I TURNED IT OFF AND HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BY BATTING MY HANDS AGAINST THE FIRE WHILE HOLDING MY DAUGHTER IN THE OTHER. THE FIRE LEFT MY HANDS CHARRED AND THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR SMELLING LIKE SMOKE. *TR

Mileage: 65,300

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATING ELEMENT ELECTRICAL SHORT, BURNED HOLE THROUGH LEATHER SEAT WHEN HEATED SEAT IS TURNED ON. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

DANGER! FIRE HAZARD ON 2006 BMW X5. HEATED SEATS GET EXTREMELY HOT ON DRIVER SIDE LEFT SIDE UNDER THE DRIVERS BUTTOCKS AND THIGH. SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC AND FUMES IN CABIN. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

I HAVE A 2006 BMW X5 WITH APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, I TURNED ON THE HEATED SEAT. MINUTES LATER, I FELT A BURNING ON MY LEFT LEG HALFWAY BETWEEN MY KNEE AND HIP AND BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I PULLED OVER AND EXITED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SEAT, THE LEATHER WAS VISIBLY BURNT AND WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. HAD I STAYED IN THE VEHICLE ANY LONGER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED BY THE SEAT AND INJURED. WE ARE CURRENTLY TEACHING MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF SHE HAD BEEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, DISTRACTING HER FROM DRIVING AND INJURING HER LEG POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE BURNING NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE HEATED SEAT. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER QUOTED ME A PRICE OF AROUND $700 TO FIX THE HEATING ELEMENT. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM YET AND DO HAVE THE OLD MALFUNCTIONING PART. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK! *TR UPDATED 12/20/10 *BF RECEIVED INVOICES. UPDATED 12/21/10

Mileage: 58,000

WE OWN A 2006 BMW X5. WITHIN THE LAST WEEK WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON, THE LEFT SIDE OF HE SEAT HEATED UP ALMOST INSTANTLY, AND BURNS THE LEFT THIGH AND BUTTOCKS AREA OF THE DRIVER. MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A 3 INCH BURN ON MAY 15,2010. FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS I WAS AWARE THAT AN AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BURNING ME, AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE WARMER OFF. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON OUR CAR IN DECEMBER. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CHIME SENSOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Mileage: 66,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, HE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS SMOKING AND HIS LEG WAS BURNED. THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE RISK OF HAVING SEAT HEATERS. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

Mileage: 27,000