Complaint 1283017
2003 BMW 325I • AIR BAGS • incident May 16, 2016
Complaint Summary
AIR BAGS
Owner Narrative
EVER SINCE THE TAKATA AIR BAG ALERT WAS ISSUED BY NHTSA AND BMW, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE, [XXX] FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT. AFTER MUCH DELAYS AND CORRESPONDENCE INCLUDING TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, ALMOST A YEAR AFTER FIRST NOTICE, SHE HAD A DEALER, CREVIER BMW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG WITH ANOTHER TAKATA AIRBAG AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE UNTIL A CORRECT REPLACEMENT WAS AVAILABLE. SEE BELOW EMAIL OF APRIL 26, 2016. "GOOD AFTERNOON [XXX], I AM FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU YET ONCE AGAIN ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE 'RIGHT' REPLACEMENTS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE) OF THE TAKATA AIR BAGS FOR MY 2003, E46. AS YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN 19 MONTHS SINCE THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (RECALL CAMPAIGN N0. 14V-428, SEPTEMBER 2014) AND MONTHS SINCE YOU WERE KIND AS TO ARRANGE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION FOR ME AT CREVIER BMW DEALERSHIP. I AM STILL VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THE ACTUAL REAL SOLUTION. I AM SURE THE NHTSA WOULD NOT BE HAPPY TO HEAR OF SUCH LONG DELAY AND LACK OF ANY INFORMATION FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA AS TO WHEN CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT A SOLUTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. [XXX] " AFTER MORE DELAYS IN GETTING A REPLY, SHE IS NOW REFERRING ME TO YOUR WEBSITE: "GOOD MORNING [XXX], THE MOST UP TO DATE DETAILS ON TAKATA IS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. KIND REGARDS, [XXX]" I AM ABSOLUTELY FRUSTRATED WITH BMW AND THEIR DELAYING TACTICS AND TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU INTERVENE ON MY BEHALF, COMPEL BMW TO PROVIDE A REAL AND APPROPRIATE SOLUTION AND STOP THESE DELAYS. OTHER MANUFACTURES SUCH AS HONDA HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED AND TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BUT BMW SEEMS TO DISCARD THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IGNORES YOUR DIRECTIVES. IN THEIR LETTER OF JUNE 19, 2014 TO YOU, THEY COMMIT TO REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART BUT DO NOT DO SO. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.