Heated Seats Burning

[X5 Meister]

For some reason I seem to recall there was a BMW recall or bulletin discussing this issue.

[M_Six]

Only for the E60 so far, I believe.

[JCL]

The recall also extended to the 7 series. It was in the bolster on the backrest. The repair involved a component in the wiring, presumably a current limiting device.

Heated seats have been wearing out for years. They are a carbon pad, and they wear from contact on the side where you get in and out, as noted above. That doesn't make them defective, it makes them worn out. If it happens during the warranty period, you have a case. If not, you have the option of replacing the pad or leaving them turned off.


Recall ID # 04V575000 - SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER

Recall Date DEC 06, 2004
Component:SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Model Affected:5 SERIES
Potential Units Affected:17905
Recall Date: DEC 06, 2004

Model Affected:
2004 BMW 5 SERIES

Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS, UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SIDE BOLSTER THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SEAT'S BACKREST MAY DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY FEEL EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THIS AREA.

Consequence:
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Potential Units Affected:
17905


.

[M_Six]

It may not make them defective, but it makes them a safety hazard, which is enough of a reason for a recall.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by M_Six

It may not make them defective, but it makes them a safety hazard, which is enough of a reason for a recall.

The posts I have seen indicate that turning them off solves the safety hazard, and they don't come on automatically. If an electrical short caused the seat heater to start a fire when there was no power to them, I agree it would be a safety hazard. If turning them off eliminates the hazard then they are every bit as dangerous as a cigarette lighter, which can also burn you.

[X5 Meister]

Personally if it happened to me I'd take it to the dealer and call BMW customer service about it to pay for the repair. How am I to know whether the burn hasn't damaged the airbag sensor in the seat which is most definitely a safety concern that can't just be turned off.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by mgruber

Personally if it happened to me I'd take it to the dealer and call BMW customer service about it to pay for the repair. How am I to know whether the burn hasn't damaged the airbag sensor in the seat which is most definitely a safety concern that can't just be turned off.

If it is under warranty, then I agree completely. For a car that is up to 8 years old, I just don't see why BMW would be responsible. I am not saying that I would be happy as an owner with the heating pad failing, but let's be real here. They are used cars, and things break. That is why regular posters often advise people to get extended warranties, and that is why many of us trade these vehicles off at 4 years, so we don't have to deal with these issues.

If the suggestion is that a failed seat heater can result in an airbag not working, then I suppose the question would be as to how a hot spot on a driver's seat can impact the air bag. There is an airbag sensor on the passenger's seat to check if there is a passenger there. I think the air bag system assumes there is always a driver there, and doesn't check. I could be wrong on that, but I don't see an airbag sensor in the parts book. I did just check my year and model (2003 X5).

Essentially, these pads have been failing for years. It is a nuisance, and repairs are expensive. It tends to happen on the driver's seat bolster, where you sit, and where you slide in. Heavier drivers may make the problem worse, I am not sure. If the vehicle could have a fire, or the off switch doesn't work, then it is definitely a safety issue and should be fixed. Other than that, don't use it, fix it yourself, or get it fixed. It is a convenience feature, and not exactly essential for operation of the vehicle.

I just get a little frustrated with the entitlement attitude. When a part breaks on a vehicle that is several years out of warranty, and the assumption is that the manufacturer is responsible, it essentially means that I have to pay more for my new car because the same manufacturer is spending money on fixing old cars for people who want to sue them.

Just my $0.02

[X5 Meister]

Good note. However it's not an entitlement attitude. BMW just issued a recall letter on passenger seat airbag mats developing microcracks that could render them inoperable.

It's SIB 657506 Airbag Warning Lamp for OC3 Seat Mat Fault

They have extended the warranty on that recall/repair to 10 years, unlimited miles and it affects a lot of different models (E53, E60, E61, E63, E64, E65, E66, E83, E85, E90, E91). Given the complexity of the seats these days I have no idea where the heating pad is relative to the airbag pad relative to the massage pad relative to the cooling pad, etc. etc.! but it does sound like they are taking it seriously and presenting them with a burned seat I can only imagine would get you some extra help. You need to remember that just because there isn't currently a recall or SIB describing a problem doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist. It just hasn't been documented by enough dealers yet. That's the problem with taking an older car to an indy shop. The shop doesn't report their findings to BMW (for obvious reasons...they are not getting reimbursed) and so let's say a problem that arises only during the 5th year of ownership if it was documented enough times might yield an SIB or even a recall which could get a warranty covered repair to at least some extent.

[JCL]

For the airbag issue, BMW reported that they had over 20,000 warranty claims, and they voluntarily recalled the affected vehicles and extended the warranty to 10 years on the airbag system. That seems like an appropriate response to a potential problem in a safety system.

A recall will happen if there is a safety or emissions issue, areas that are covered by additional legislation, not if something wears out. If things wear out after 5 years, after the warranty is expired, and owners try to get BMW to pay for it (essentially, asking for a longer warranty at no charge) then that is the entitlement attitude that I am referring to.

[fr1539]

Originally Posted by jscheneman

Jah Guides, thank you for your reply. The seat gets hot pretty quickly, but it's just that "spot" that gets super hot, even when on the lowest setting. I'm baffled.

Same thing just happened to us, although my wife was burnt right through her skirt,and the leather burned all the way through in two spots. BMW replaced the whole lower seat cover heating element etc,under warranty of course. It would have cost $1350 if I had to pay. I wonder if anyone ever sued for this espically after being burned. It's obviously a big problem thats well known, just like the oil seporator issues in the cold.