2001 Bmw X5 Seats Problems
5 owner-reported seats complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (5)
Your driver's seat heating element gets excessively hot, potentially burning the driver and damaging the seat fabric. The heating control on the driver's side appears to malfunction, causing unsafe temperatures. The seat heater may need to be replaced or the thermostat that controls its temperature may require repair.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT JUMPED UP FROM THE SEAT AND HIT HIS HEAD ON THE CEILING, CAUSING HIM TO BECOME DIZZY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FOR THE SEAT BECAME VERY HOT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000. 8/6/12 *CN
FAILURE OF DRIVER SEAT HEATING MECHANISM. HOLE BURNED IN BOTTOM SEAT CUSHION AND BURN TO OCCUPANT'S (ME) LEG. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A SHORT OR BREAK IN THE HEATING ELEMENT. ON-LINE RESEARCH I'VE DONE INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED. I FIRST NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND ULTIMATELY FOUND 2 SCORCH MARKS IN THE LEATHER...1 ON EACH SIDE OF THE SEAT BACK NEAR THE BASE. THE MARKS WERE DARK BROWN AND HARD (FROM THE DRIED LEATHER). *JB
QUOTE FROM DEALER'S REPAIR NOTES: "DRIVERS HEATED SEAT BECAME VERY HOT, BURNING ODER IN VEHICLE, BACK OF SEAT WAS VERY HOT AND LEATHER WAS BURNED". WIFE WAS DRIVING AT TIME. SEAT WAS VERY HOT TO TOUCH,SHE HAD SKIN BURN SENSATION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES, AND WERE FORTUNATE THAT SITUATION WAS NOT WORSE BUT FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT BMW SHOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THIS PROACTIVELY, NOT ON THE AD-HOC BASIS THAT SEEMS TO BE ITS POLICY.*AK