2011 BMW 550I

OUR CAR'S ELECTRICAL PANEL LIT UP BEFORE THE CAR STALLED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME, BMW REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE SECOND TIME, BMW REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. 12 DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED BY BMW, OUR HOUSE BURNED DOWN DUE TO A FIRE ORIGINATING ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE BMW. THAT AFTERNOON, MY HUSBAND HAD COME HOME FROM WORK, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, AND TURNED IT OFF. THE FIRE STARTED WITHIN 30MINUTES OF BEING SHUT OFF AND PARKED. WE RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL INFORMING US OUR BMW WAS UNDER RECALL FOR A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP INJECTOR.

MY 2011 BMW 550I HAS THRICE HAD THIS WEIRD RESPONSE IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. AFTER DRIVING FOR 30M-1H SUDDENLY GOT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING (STIFF LIKE A DEAD BODY) AND BRAKES FOLLOWING WHICH THE CAR STALLED. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THIS WAS A BAD BATTERY WHICH DID NOT MAKE SENSE BUT THE CAR WAS RUNNING THEREAFTER SO I TOOK IT HOME. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED - I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR A FEW MINUTES LATER AND TOOK THE RISK OF DRIVING HOME. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE THE CAR WAS RUNNING THEY COULD NOT RUN ANY DIAGNOSIS. THEREAFTER THE CAR RAN FINE FOR 3 WEEKS AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I COULD RESTART IT BUT THE CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE A FEW FEET BEFORE STALLING. AFTER TOWING IT TO THE DEALER THEY TELL ME THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR BOTH ARE BAD. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BUT THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL ON STEERING AND BRAKES. THAT TO ME IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW NEEDS TO FIX IT BUT THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SEEM TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEY JUST WANT TO FIX THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AND CALL IT "PROBLEM RESOLVED" WITHOUT DIGGING FURTHER. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS EITHER. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE IT COULD GET ME KILLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING THAT CONNECTED TO THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY WAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAUSED THE FUSE BOX AND BATTERY TO MELT. THE CARPET IN THE TRUNK WAS SCORCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIRRORED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ALONG WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500.

I AM CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER/SERVICE CENTER, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT WITH THEIR ACTIONS TO MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, INCLUDING THE REPAIR AND INSPECTION PERTAINING TO A RECALL OF THE N63 ENGINE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES IN THE PAST, INCLUDING SEVERAL "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTIONS" FOR WHICH I BELIEVE HAVE THE DATES AND SERVICE RECORDS THEY RELATE FUEL INJECTORS, BATTERY, PUMPS, ECT.. SINCE JANUARY 2015 I HAVE CONTACTED THE SERVICE CENTER, AUTOGERMANA BMW OF PUERTO RICO, TO REQUEST AN INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO RECURRENT ISSUES AND CONCERNS, THE REPRESENTATIVE INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT THE DEALER HAD RECEIVED NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE "RECALL" OR SERVICE BULLETIN "B001314". IN MARCH THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AGAIN AND THE "RECALL" WAS INCLUDED IN THE SERVICE ORDER BUT THEY ALLEGED THAT THEY DID'T HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE AND THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT ME AS SOON AS THEY BECAME AVAILABLE. THE REPRESENTATIVE EVEN RECOMMENDED AGAINST EXTENDING THE VEHICLE WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND/OR INSPECTED AS IT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW PAST THE 50K MILE WARRANTY AND THE ISSUES HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED, AND AGAIN IT IS AT THEIR SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE OF A NEW "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION". THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD AGAIN INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE MALFUNCTION HAD ANY RELATION TO THE PREVIOUS ISSUES AND /OR THE RECALL, IF IT HAS NO RELATION THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED WITHOUT THE WARRANTY COVERAGE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE SYSTEMATIC NEGLIGENCE OR QUITE POSSIBLY INTENTIONAL IRRESPONSIBILITY. AT THIS POINT LEGAL ACTION IS THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP. I APPEAL TO THE NHTSA FOR RESPONSIBLE ASSISTANCE WITH THESE SERVICE ISSUES AND A RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS.

I BOUGHT THE CAR ON MAY 6, 2015 WITH ABOUT 53K MILES ON IT. DROVE IT FOR ONLY ABOUT 45 DAYS AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND HAD THE CAR JUMPED BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK. THE CARE ENGINE WAS TOTALLY DEAD, NO SOUND NO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE ENGINE LIGHT THAT POPPED ON BEFORE IT STOPPED. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM GWC AT THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR SO INFORMED THEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PLACE (LMC AUTO IN NORCROSS GEORGIA) THAT GWC WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. LMC SAID THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. GWC REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE AND INSTEAD HAD LMC AUTO REPAIR THE ENGINE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, LMC IS STILL REPAIRING THE ENGINE ALMOST 5MONTHS LATER. I HAD CALLED GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION, [XXX], ETC.. TRYING TO GET HELP WITH GETTING THE CAR FIXED. WHEN I TALKED TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA THEY SAID THEY WARRANTY IS UP AT 50K MILES SO THEY CANNOT COMMIT TO DO ANYTHING. I AM AT MY WITS END AND THE CAR STILL DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY CLOSER TO GETTING FIXED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK VIOLENTLY. I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO STOP THE BUCKING. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS NON-RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE THEN INDICATED THAT IT HAD A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND DRIVE 0.5 MILES TO MY DESTINATION. WHILE PARKED, THE PARKING BRAKE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN IT OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN DEFICIENCY WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR HAD TO DO WITH A BROKEN PLASTIC PART ON THE WATER CHANNEL THAT LEADS AROUND THE TRUNK. THE PLASTIC COVER IS SUPPOSED TO SNAP INTO A GROMMET THAT IS IN A HOLE, THUS SEALING THE HOLE FROM WATER. IN MY SITUATION, THE GROMMET WAS MISSING. GIVEN THE DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC PART, THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITHOUT REMOVING THE PLASTIC PART. THE HOLE THAT THE PLASTIC PIECE SNAPS INTO LEADS DIRECTLY INTO THE TRUNK. IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK ARE SENSITIVE ELECTRONIC MODULES THAT CONTROL THE FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND THE PARKING BRAKE. THERE IS NO DRAIN IN THE TRUNK THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT DURING A RAIN STORM. AS A RESULT OF THE DESIGN, I GOT WATER IN THE TRUNK, WHICH RUINED THESE TWO MODULES, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BECOMING DISABLED WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: I) AS A CONSUMER, I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE ELECTRONICS THAT ENABLE THE VEHICLE TO MANAGE FUEL WERE LOCATED IN THE TRUNK; II) THE DESIGN OF THE WATER CHANNEL AROUND THE TRUNK SEEMS INADEQUATE GIVEN THAT ANY FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC SHIELD / GROMMET COMBINATION WOULD LEAD TO WATER IN THE TRUNK AND EXPOSE THESE CRITICAL COMPONENTS. *TR

I HAVE PREPARED A PDF DOCUMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT AS WELL. I CAN SUPPLY IT AT ANY TIME. HERE IS THE SHORT VERSION. 10/17/13: I HAVE THE FAMILY COME WITH ME FOR A RIDE AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO MALFUNCTIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE VEHICLE IS STRUGGLING TO EVEN DRIVE AT THIS POINT AND I AM ON THE FREEWAY TRYING TO MAKE IT TO AN EXIT. THE HESITATION BECOMES WORSE AND WORSE I START TO FEAR THAT I MAY BECOME STRANDED ON A BUSY ROADWAY. I MAKE IT OFF THE EXIT AND HOME. 10/18/13: (D/O VEHICLE MILEAGE: 29,375) I TAKE THE VEHICLE TO CONCORD BMW FOR INSPECTION; [XXX] IS THE SERVICE CONSULTANT AT BMW OF CONCORD. 10/19/13: (P/U VEHICLE MILEAGE: 29,379) [XXX] TELEPHONES ME TO INFORM ME THAT IT WAS A QUICK FIX AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I COME TO SIGN FOR THE VEHICLE AND RELEASE THE RENTAL. NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES AFTER I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IT MALFUNCTIONS IDENTICALLY AGAIN. I CALL BACK TO TELL THEM I AM DROPPING IT OFF, ONCE AGAIN. RETURNED THE VEHICLE WITH (D/O 29,392 MILES) 10/20/13: CONTINUED... 10/21/13: CONTINUED... 10/22/13: CONTINUED... 10/23/13: CONTINUED... 10/24/13: CONTINUED.... 10/25/13: CONTINUED... 10/26/13: CONTINUED... 10/27/13: CONTINUED... 10/28/13: CONTINUED... 10/29/13: CONTINUED... 10/30/13: CONTINUED... 10/31/13: CONTINUED... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR