2008 BMW 328XIT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BMW 328XIT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF. WITHIN TWO MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADMITTED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE TWO RECALLS; HOWEVER, HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V676000 AND 17V683000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000.

AS WE WERE PULLING ON TO OUR STREET, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE DASH. SMELLED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE AC MADE SOME WEIRD NOISE AS WELL. WE PROMPTLY STOPPED THE CAR IN OUR DRIVEWAY (ABOUT 100FEET FROM WHEN IT STARTED), STOPPED ENGINE, TOOK OUT KEY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GOING BACK AND FORTH. WINDOWS STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN BY THEMSELVES. WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE CABIN FILLED WITH DARK BLACK/GREY SMOKE. THE CAR THEN SET ABLAZE. 2 LOUD POPS WERE HEARD. THE ENTIRE CABIN CHARRED. THE BACK OF THE ENGINE WAS ALL ABLAZE. FIRE DEPT USED JAWS OF LIFE TO EXTINGUISH CAR. TOTALED. WE DO HAVE VIDEOS OF THE SMOKE STARTING AND ARE AVAILABLE - THEY ARE ON MY WIFE'S PHONE, AS WELL AS LOTS OF PICTURES.