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2006 Bmw X5 Seats Problems

13 owner-reported seats complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
4
Fires
Jan 2009Dec 2020
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

criticalSEATS
FireFiled: Mar 2024

Your heated driver seat became dangerously hot and burned through the seat material, creating two holes and causing burns to your leg. This indicates a malfunction in the heated seat heating element that caused it to overheat uncontrollably. The heating element coils need to be inspected and likely replaced to prevent further injury.

NHTSA #: 11576615
criticalSEATS
FireFiled: Dec 2020

Your heated seat caught fire and caused burns to you and your coat. This happened on only the tenth time you used the heated seat feature. The seat heating element appears to have malfunctioned and overheated dangerously. Repair would likely require replacement of the heating element or the entire seat assembly.

NHTSA #: 11382832
mediumSEATS
Filed: Nov 2018

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.

NHTSA #: 11154350
mediumSEATS
Filed: Sep 2016

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.

NHTSA #: 10904745
mediumSEATS
Filed: Apr 2016

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.

NHTSA #: 10854671
mediumSEATS
Filed: Nov 2015

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.

NHTSA #: 10788433
mediumSEATS
Filed: May 2015

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.

NHTSA #: 10716597
mediumSEATS
Filed: Feb 2011

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

NHTSA #: 10380224
mediumSEATS
Filed: Oct 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10362752
mediumSEATS
Filed: May 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10330857
mediumSEATS
Filed: Jan 2010

2006 BMW X5. SEAT HEATER TURNED ON. SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER IN CABIN. SMOKE. BURN TO DRIVER BACK LEG. *TR

NHTSA #: 10298940
mediumSEATS
FireFiled: Jan 2009

I'VE RECENTLY (LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO), PURCHASED A 2006 BMW X5 WITH HEATED SEATS. JUST THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 30F, I TURN ON THE HEATED SEATS TO THE NUMBER II POSITION AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I START SEEING SMOKE/STEAM RISING UP FROM MY PELVIC AREA. I COULD SMELL IT WAS ALMOST LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEATS AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND AFTER INSPECTION, THE LOWER SEAT LEFT SIDE BOLSTER HAD A BURN MARK IN IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. ALTHOUGH THE CAR COMES WITH ONLY A 90DAY/3000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY FROM THE PURCHASING DEALER, I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED THEM ABOUT IT BUT I CERTAINLY PLAN TO BUT WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL DENY COVERAGE FOR ANY REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10253933
mediumSEATS
FireFiled: Nov 2008

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.

NHTSA #: 10249841

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