general problems of the 2005 BMW X3

The contact owns a 2005 BMW X3. While driving approximately 35 mph, the contact noticed a burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and noticed smoke coming from the front seat lumbar cushion of the driver's seat. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to taylor BMW (4180 washington rd, evans, GA 30809, (706) 868-6400) where it was diagnosed that the front driver's seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

The driver seat heating element burnt a hole through the leather seat. This happened while I was driving and wearing my seat belt. I felt the heat through my clothes and I was afraid it would catch my clothes on fire. I pulled over unstrapped my seat belt and examined the seat to find the hole burnt through.

Passenger air says off when a passenger is in seat ## VIN passed ## BMW X3 2005 ##.

Both seats. Purchased this vehicle with 183k miles. Was getting cold out, turned on the heated seat function and noticed a burning smell upon driving down the country roads from my house. The side of the drivers seat melted through. Could see it glowing inside of the seat. Someone had done a seat repair previously to cover this issue. Approx. 1 year later I was driving down the highway when my passenger had turned on his heated seat. He started yelling and noticed the seat had burned through the leather. Luckily no accidents were caused.

I own a 2005 BMW X3, purchased new 5-5-05. On 12-19-11, while at the dealer for service, tech advised that during short test, he noted faulted pass seat mat sensor. Dealer replaced pass seat mat sensor and enabled. At no time were prior recalls on this issue mentioned nor was I provided documentation concerning any extended warranty. On 5-14-15 (note the date) the srs warning light on the dash came on and remained lit while the pass seat air bag light would not go off. Took car to dealer 5-19-15. They confirmed the same seat mat sensor they replaced on 12-19-11 was again faulty. However, this time they would not replace as it was beyond the heretofore "extended warranty" by 14 days. Took vehicle to local shop who replaced seat mat sensor. Faulty seat mat sensor retained for possible testing. This is a significant safety issue that BMW is ignoring. How many more complaints need to be made before this issue is resolved? do people need to be injured (or worse) before BMW is held accountable? with seat bag recalls being in the news daily, how much bad publicity does BMW want before they actually do what is right?.

While driving my BMW X3 2005, I turned my seat warmer on and it ended up burning a hole through the seat. My pants were burned and so was I. Luckily I had turned the seat warmer off without any additional damage or shock during my drive.

The heated seat was so intense it burned through the seat and burned my leg. I originally thought the area affected was a burn hole in the seat from a cigarette, afterwards I realized that the burn hole had been created by an heating element that was exposed in that area and burned through the leather and then my leg. We've been afraid to drive the car for other electrical issues. I contacted both the dealership and the manufacturer and no one has helped me to this date.

Upon turning on my driver side heated seat within 2 minutes of driving started to smell a burning and then a burn/shocking sensation on left thigh. Adjusted while driving then realized my seat was burning me on the left leg. Pulled over and got out of car and saw my seat was smoldering (smoke and burning). Realized it must be the heated seat. Turned off seat warmer and waited for 5 minutes and realized had a small hole through my pants. After seat cooled, drove home and inspected a burn hole better at home and put ice on a 1st to 2nd degree burn on my left upper thigh.

Driver seat heat mat got too hot causing smoke, damage to clothing, and skin injury in less than a minute after turning the system on high. The seat had been functioning normally the day before. The seat cover is visibly damaged at a single point about the size of a quarter. The spot is on the left seat pan bolster 2/3's back from the front edge of the seat pan.

I turned on the heated seat feature on my 2005 BMW X3 and about 5 minutes later my leg started to get very hot. I reached down with my hand and it was so hot that it burnt my hand. I started to smell smoke and quickly turned off my heated seat. When I got home I looked on my driver seat and noticed a small brown burnt spot on the left side cushion of my driver side seat. Thankfully I noticed it right away, if it was on any longer I'm not sure what would have happened! this is very dangerous and I could have been badly burnt.

Driver side heated seat heats up to the point of injury. Unusable.

When I use the heated seat on the drivers side, there is a hot spot that gets so hot if you don't roll onto your right hip you will get a serious burn.

While using the heating device for the seats I smelled something burning and felt heat on my pants. I turned the heating device off. There was a small burn stain left on the seat, which has turned into a small hole.

The drivers seat warmer caught fire and burned on the left hand side of the seat. The seat warmer wires were exposed and burned the seat and through my pants.

I was driving the vehicle and turned on the driver side heated seat. I turned it on to the first setting which is the highest. After about 2 minutes I started to smell something burning. Then I also felt my leg burning. The heated seat had heated up so much that it melted a small hole in the leather where my left outside thigh would touch the seat. I am unable to use the heated seat anymore because I am afraid of getting burned worse.

I used the heated seat function for the drivers seat in my 2005 BMW X3 and it rapidly heated up becoming unbearable to sit on. I immediately turned it off and stopped the car and got out because the seat was too hot to sit on and because there was a burning smell coming from under the seat. After a while the smell dissipated and the seat was cool enough to use. I have not used the heat function since and am waiting for my BMW dealer to check it and get back to me.

I had just started the car and the airbag light came on in the instrument cluster. The passenger air bag on/off light was also illuminated. From that time on both lights are on and I'm concerned that we don't have a passenger airbag. I'm guessing it has something to do with that sensor that tells if someone is sitting in the passenger seat.

On christmas morning, December 25, 2012, the driver of the vehicle started the car, activated the seat warmer, and we immediately detected a burning odor in the car. We drove less than approx. 1/2 block and pulled over to determine the problem. The seat warmer was so hot that it had begun to burn a hole in the bottom seat cushion. The burn hole stopped because we identified the defect quickly and immediately turned off the warmer. I have reported the defective seat warmer to BMW.

The contact owns a 2005 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph with the heated seat warmer in activation when suddenly the heating element began to penetrate the contact's clothing with an excessive amount of heat. The contact immediately deactivated the heated seat warmer. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who advised that the driver's seat would need to be replaced in order for the heated seat warmer to operate properly. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

I have a 2005 X3! this morning my driver side seat nearly went up in flames!! so scary!! lucky I wasn't in traffic or on the highway, I was able to jump out and address the problem. Is there a recall number for the heated seats yet? I have seen allot of issues with the BMW 04-08 X3 heated seats. Most people are getting burnt and this could be very dangerous for us owner while driving. Something need to be done, lucky it was me driving and not my wife. Thank you.

Seat warmer caught on fire! while parked in the driveway with the engine running, I turned on both manufacturer-installed front seat warmers (outside temp. 36 degrees farenheit) for my son and I. I felt a pinching on upper left thigh / buttock. Thought it was a bug. Shifted in the seat, and felt it again, more painful this time. Lifted myself from the seat a bit to look at the seat and see what was poking or pinching me, saw smoke coming out of a new hole on the left side of the seat. Looked through the hole, and saw flames and smelled burning. Immediately, turned off the seat warmer, got out of the vehicle, reached over and turned off the vehicle. The seat smoldered for another couple of minutes. Called my spouse to check if it was still smoldering, but it had stopped. Took the vehicle to the dealer to get it checked out.

My wife's heated driver seat burned a hole in the vinyl sat cover and through her sweater. Dealer says this is not covered by warranty, but it appears to be a common problem for the X3. An internet search reveals several complaints. Additionally, a recall was announced for the BMW 5 and 3 series for the same issue. I hope the ntsb conducts a quick response. Thanks.

Heated drivers seat burned through leather and scorched drivers pants.

BMW driver heated seat causes severe burnes.

2005 bmx X3 seat warmer on the driver's side burnt through the seat and burnt my leg. The dealer refuses to recognize this is a product defect and will replace the seat.

My drivers seat burned a hole through the leather and singed my pants. Almost caught on fire and I almost lost control of my vehicle. The car filled with smoke and I now have a pea sized hole in my seat. The heating element apparently has shorted out inside the seat. I read there have been other occurrences of this on these vehicles on some of the websites but there is no recall out, but there should be. This is extremely dangerous. Occurred on 12/31/2009 on my bmx X3 2005. I called the dealer and they said the seat would need to be replaced at my cost of $1500.