BMW Facing Lawsuit Over X5 Airbags

[LeMansX5]

BMW Facing Lawsuit Over X5 Airbags

Woman Claims Dealer Tried To Keep Her Silent About Issue

A lawsuit filed against BMW claims the company requires vehicle owners to keep quiet when BMW dealers fix faulty airbags.

Lawyers want their case to be considered a class-action lawsuit affecting thousands of BMW X5 sport utility vehicle owners nationwide.

Lisa Vale, of Miami, said she suffered a chemical burn on her left arm when the driver's side airbag exploded while she was driving.

When she took her car to the dealer, she said BMW told her it would cost her $3,800 for repairs if she didn't sign a confidentiality agreement.

"Finally, I got very upset and I called customer relations, and they said OK, they would go ahead and repair the airbag. But, that I should sign some papers and send them back to them, which ended up being the release and I just didn't think that was right. Why should I have to sign a release to get you to fix something that you should have fixed to begin with?" Vale said.


She said she refused, got the car repaired on her own, and filed a lawsuit against BMW.


"That is a serious problem. We have now filed a lawsuit to prevent BMW from keeping these things secret. We feel that it is unfair and deceptive and we filed a claim on that behalf, and we also want everyone who has paid out monies to have air bag repaired--not covered under warranty-- to be reimbursed their monies," attorney Ervin Gonzalez said.

The X5 is built at BMW’s Greer plant. The company has not commented on the lawsuit so far.

http://www.wyff4.com/automotive/3564246/detail.html