Recently, in the last 30 days multiple critical safety components of my BMW vehicle have malfunctioned without warning, posing significant risks to my safety and that of other road users 1. **Horn System Failure**: The horn system of my BMW has ceased to function across all driving conditions, including park, reverse, drive, and when the vehicle is stationary. This abrupt failure indicates a potential electrical and mechanical malfunction, as there have been NO accidents and airbag deployments. This is very alarming and confusing how does a the horn on my vehicle just STOP working. 2. **Risk to Safety**: The failure of the horn system poses a serious hazard in emergency situations where signaling warnings or alerts to other road users is crucial. This not only jeopardizes my safety but also endangers the safety of others on the road. 3. **Seatbelt Issues**: Additionally, the seatbelts in my vehicle are experiencing difficulty clicking and seem to have restraint issues. This further compromises passenger safety in the event of a collision or sudden braking. 4. **Steering Wheel Problems**: Furthermore, there are issues with the steering wheel, which may affect the vehicle's handling and control, posing additional safety risks while driving. **Confirmation and Inspections**: I have promptly consulted with East Bay BMW, located at 4350 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton, CA, where Danny Martinez serves as the Service Advisor, reachable directly at 925-621-8236. Even after thorough examination, the service advisor expressed shock and confusion regarding the malfunction of the horn, recognizing its crucial role in ensuring driver and passenger safety. Additionally, I am aware of several recalls related to steering wheel issues in the 2013 BMW models. Given my reliance on this vehicle for transportation to and from college, I urgently seek assis
NHTSA complaint #11572144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to bring to your attention a safety defect in the 2015 BMW 528i that needs to be investigated. The vehicle has a defect in the design of the occupant protection system, involving both the seatbelt and airbag systems. The battery in the 2015 BMW 528i is located in the trunk just interior and below the rear bumper. In a rear-end collision the battery may become disabled and relies on a capacitor for back up power. Per BMW specifications the capacitor only holds power for 150 seconds. In a resulting frontal impact, the airbags will not deploy if the battery power has been disrupted and the capacitor has also run out of power before the frontal impact reaches a threshold to deploy the airbags. A corresponding flaw in the occupant protection system is the adaptive load limiter disposal firing. Per BMW specifications, the adaptive load limiter had a disposal firing at 250 seconds after the initial load limiter is activated. This disposal firing allows for additional spool out of the seatbelt. This has catastrophic consequences when the front airbag has not deployed and the driver is released from the seatbelt due to the additional spool out and is allowed to come into contact with the steering wheel. Both the power defect and the adaptive load limiter defect impacts the safety performance as it relates to the passenger as well. This accident scenario was recently put to a jury in Alexander v. BMW of North America, LLC, 7:18-cv-03065-JD in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, Spartanburg Division. In Alexander, the load limiter deployed at 18 ms, the power was disrupted at 120 ms, the adaptive load limiter then fired at 268 ms, and the capacitor lost power at 270 ms. The airbag was not able to be fired and the additional spool out allowed Ms. Alexander to strike the steering wheel. The jury returned a verdict for the Plaintiff and found that the system, including the airbag and seatbelt system, was defective.
NHTSA complaint #11511183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 528i. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was overheating. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred and the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where the battery and spark plugs were replaced however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times. The solenoid and the PCV valve were replaced. The contact stated that the seat belt and driver's side headlight harness connector were replaced. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal to the floorboard and the vehicle surged. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed to shift into drive and there was smoke coming out from the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light and the warning message "Transmission Malfunction" illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer, Hendrick BMW Certified Pre-Owned South Charlotte (9029 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273) where the gear shifter was replaced however, the failure persisted. The second dealer informed the contact that the transmission, the solenoid, and the mechatronics unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11464580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ON AND IT PULLS TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS LOCKED WHERE IT WON'T EXTENDED OUT TO BUCKLE AND THE CAR DOG WALKS BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #11384325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING ON 12/29/2019. LOOKS LIKE IT'S COVERED BY THIS SERVICE BULLENTIN HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2014/SB-10056703-9690.PDF HOWEVER, AFTER CONTACTING BMW, BMW REFUSED TO COVER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE
NHTSA complaint #11296863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAG SENSOR FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NOT WORKING. REPLACED ONCE WHILE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. SAME SENSOR MALFUNCTION AGAIN. BMW WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS I PAY, COST OF REPLACING SENSOR OVER 4,000.00. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW SINCE SAME PART IS AGAIN NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #11165539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM IT HAS A MALFUNCTION WHERE IT WILL NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE NOTIFIES NOT ONLY THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BUT ALSO THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS
NHTSA complaint #11102110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 528I. WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CENTER BMW, 5201 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA complaint #11097681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR HAS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUCTION SINCE FABRICATION.WAS NEVER HANDLED. I AM NEW OWNER AND TRYING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MODELL AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT BUT MY VIN DOESNT FALL UNDER IT. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10980259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE PART # BMW 61319354047 WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS AND ALL AIRBAG SYSTEMS TO BE DISABLED. VEHICLES MANUFACTURED USING THIS ASSEMBLY OF POOR QUALITY CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, FAILURE OF AIRBAGS,SEAT BELTS RESTRAIN & ABS SAFETY SYSTEMS, MAKING THE CAR UNSAFE FOR OPERATION UNDER ANY FEDERAL ROAD OR CONDITION. COMPLETE AIR BAG SYSTEM DISABLING
NHTSA complaint #10955118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE SEATBELT LIGHT TURNED ON. I DID NOT HIT A BUMP OR ANYTHING. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE TRIED SITTING DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND PUT ON MY SEAT BELT TO SEE IF IT WILL GO AWAY BUT NO LUCK. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT GO AWAY EVEN IF I BUCKLE THE DRIVERS SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT.
NHTSA complaint #10946824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2008 528I AND I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE SAYING THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, OR AIR BAG HAD AN ERROR REGARDLESS OF A PASSENGER PRESENT OR NOT ANY TIME THAT CAR IS TURNED ON. I RESEARCHED IT AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON BMWS AND I FEEL AS ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CAR AND THE REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10917423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAT .OCT 15 , 2016 AFTER I PARK THE CAR THE NEXT DAY I HAVE THE MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY PANEL AND DASH BORD." PASS.RESTRAINT SYSTEM"- FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAIN SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER.CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT". THIS MESSAGE IS STILL ON CAR IS RUNNING GOOD BUT MY BLUETOOTH DO NOT WORK OR THE PHONE DUE TO THIS INCIDENT,LAST YEAR WAS RECALL FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM -PASSENGER SIDE BUT WAS COVER BY THE RECALL. I DNO'T HAVE A PASSENGER OR ANYBODY WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PASSINGER SIDE .I WAS READING ABT THE SAME INCIDENT RIGHT HERE IN CT ON SAFERCAR.GOV.
NHTSA complaint #10916606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER RESTRAINT /AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON TO NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER STATES THAT THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENT ，BUT ONLY A MINOR SCUFF ON THE REAR NUMBER WAS OBSERVED. DEALER STATED THE MINOR SCUFF HAS CAUSED THE SYSTEM LIGHTS TO STAY ON AND WILL NOT COVER THE COST UNDER THE WARRANTEE . CAR ENGINE ON ，LIGHT REMAINS ON WHEN STOPPED AND MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #10788047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 528I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT DEVICE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10735948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT SYSTEM INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA complaint #10607868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.