TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ERROR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
2003
TIRES:SIDEWALL
2003 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SPONTANEOUS CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED ON HIS DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE FAILED,CREATING A VOID AROUND THE OUTSIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE, ABOUT MID-WAY BETWEEN THE BEAD AND TREAD LINES. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE SIDEWALL PILES SIMPLY GAVE WAY AND WITHOUT THAT INTERNAL STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY, THE TIRE SUDDENLY LOST AIR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DISCOUNT TIRE STORE FOR AN INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT OBSERVE ANY ROAD TRAUMA OR EXTERNAL REASON FOR THE SUDDEN FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE VIRTUALLY NEW. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED, THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON DUNPLOP'S PART. DUNLOP REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE, BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AND THE TIRES HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO.