NHTSA ID Number: 11101211
Incident Date: 2017-11-13
Manufacturer's Name: BMW
of North America, LLC
Vehicle/Equipment Make: BMW
Vehicle/Equipment Model: 328I
Model Year: 2009
9999 If Unknown Or N/A
Vehicle Identification Number: WBAUT935X9A
Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 95267
Vehicle Speed:
Number Of Occurrences:
Was Vehicle Towed: No
Consumer Location: LONG BEACH, CA
Summary of Complaint
SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR FAULTY. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SO TOOK TO BMW DEALER. (AS AN ASIDE THIS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER (WI 3-4 MONTHS) AIR BAG REPLACED DUE TO TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL). TOLD RELATED TO SEAT MAT SENSOR, WHICH WAS UNDER/IN PASSENGER SEAT. NOT TOLD THAT COULD DISABLE FRONT AIR BAG. NOT TOLD THAT MULTIPLE BMW MODELS INCLUDING 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 MODELS HAVE SAME DEFECT, INCLUDING THE 3 SERIES, AND THE 328I MODEL, AND THE 5 SERIES,AND IN PARTICULAR, MODELS WITH CLIMATE OR SPORT SEAT (LIKE MINE). TOLD REPLACEMENT COST WELL OVER $1,000. DECLINED SERVICE THINKING IT WAS JUST A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT NOTICE ISSUE (AND SEATBELT WORKED), NOT REALIZING IMPACTED SAFETY. WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON AND CAME ON MORE FREQUENTLY, TOOK CAR TO A NON-BMW REPAIR SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION, WHICH TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH BMWS AND THAT DEFECT PREVENTS PASSENGER AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING. CALLED BMW DEALERSHIP BACK AND RESTATED WHAT OTHER REPAIR SHOP HAD SAID AND THIS TIME SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME MAY BE SUBJECT TO RECALL, BUT WHEN HE LOOKED UP VIN NUMBER THIS PARTICULAR MODEL NOT INCLUDED. THIS TIME BMW SERVICE PERSON ALSO TOLD ME THAT ISSUE WILL DEACTIVATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGING FULL AMOUNT. CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT BMW USA TO COMPLAIN AND WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING ALL OF THESE ISSUES WITH OTHER MODELS/YEARS CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT ASSUME THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRING HERE. REALLY??? THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SHAME ON BMW.
Check if your BMW has a Recall
Complaint 11101211 Documents
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CRASH: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH
FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE
INJURIES: 0
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED
DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Was Medical Attention Required: No
Was Incident Reported To Police: No
Date Of Incident: 2017-11-13
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Added To File: 2018-06-11
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2018-06-11
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Was Original Owner: No
Product Type: Vehicle
V = Vehicle T = Tires E = Equipment C = Child Restraint
Specific Component's Description: AIR BAGS
Anti-Lock Brakes: No
Cruise Control: No
Number Of Cylinders:
Drive Train Type:
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]
Fuel System:
FI = Fuel Injection TB = Turbo
Fuel Type:
BF = BiFuel CN = CNG/LPG DS = Diesel GS = Gas HR = HybridElectric
Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]:
(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:
Tire Size:
Location Of Tire:
FSW = Driver Side Front DSR = Driver Side Rear FTR = Passenger Side Front PSR = Passenger Side Rear SPR = Spare
Type Of Tire Failure:
BST = Blister BLW = Blowout TTL = Crack OFR = Out Of Round TSW = Puncture TTR = Road Hazard TSP = Tread Separation
Was Defective Tire Repaired:
Was Part Original Equipment:
Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)
Type Of Child Seat:
B = Booster C = Convertible I = Infant IN = Integrated TD = Toddler
Installation System:
A = Vehicle Safety Belt B = Latch System
Dealer's Name:
Dealer's Telephone Number:
Dealer's City:
Dealer's State:
Dealer's Zipcode:
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:
CAG = Consumer Action Group CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition EVOQ = Hotline VOQ EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING INS = Insurance Company IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site LETR = Consumer Letter MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF) VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire
Incident State Code:
Vehicle Operator's Name:
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