MY 1999 BMW 540I SPORT CAUGHT FIRE 12/19/08 WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME. I NOTICED FLAMES ABOUT 1:30 AM COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE HOOD. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR TO DINNER THAT NIGHT AND IT WAS PARKED AND LOCKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE THE FLAMES THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY HOUSE. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNED AND MELTED. ONLY THE REAR TRUNK AREA WAS LEFT. I COULD FIND NO MENTION OF THIS TYPE OF FIRE OCCURRING ON THE WEBSITES OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. NO RECALLS THAT I COULD FIND. MY CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED WHILE I HAD IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD GOOD RECORDS ALSO. I HAD ONLY OWNED IT ABOUT 6 MONTHS. IT WAS BOUGHT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
NHTSA complaint #10252453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING IN MASSACHUSETTS ON 495N AT ABOUT 5:30PM I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. CHECKED MY GAUGES AND ALL SEEMED WELL, THOUGHT IT MAY BE A WOOD BURNING STOVE IN THE AREA I JUST KEPT DRIVING. I TURNED OFF RT495 AND ONTO RT 119. ABOUT A MILE DOWN RT119 I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE BUILDING UP INSIDE THE CAR, I THEN REALIZED MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BEFORE I CAN PULL OFF THE ROAD THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNED MY EYES AND I WAS CHOKING A LOT. I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK, SHUT THE KEY AND JUMPED OUT THE CAR. A CAR BEHIND ME PULLED OVER AND SAID HE WAS FOLLOWING ME AND SMELLED MY CAR BURNING AND TRIED TO SIGNAL ME. LITTLETON, MA FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED SHORTLY AFTER. FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY IN THE TRUNK AND OPENED THE HOOD TO LOOK FOR FLAMES. NOT SEEING FLAMES THEY DID SEE HEAVY SMOKE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY CAR WAS TAKEN AWAY ON A TOW TRUCK TO BMW IN NASHUA, NH. BMW DETERMINED THAT A FAULTY/FAILED ELECTRO MECHANICAL THERMOSTAT HAS CAUSED THE FIRE AND THE DAMAGE ESTIMATED SO FAR TO BE ABOUT $4,000.00 THEY TOLD ME THIS IS A PROBLEM SEEN BEFORE AND THEY HAD NO SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED BUT DID SAY IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN! WHILE MY INSURANCE COMPANY (COMMERCE INSURANCE) REFUSES TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS FOR DAMAGES, THEY CLAIM IT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY PART AND THAT BMW IS RESPONSIBLE. BMW TELLS ME THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS PART IS JUST A FAILED PART. I THINK WE ARE DEALING WITH SOMETHING MORE SEVERE THAN A FAILED PART. IT'S JUST A GOOD THING I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD IN TIME BEFORE I WAS OVERCOME BY THE SMOKE AND TOXIC FUMES FROM BURNING WIRES IN THE CAR. REALIZING THIS CAN HAPPEN AGAIN, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THAT CAR ANOTHER DAY AND HAVE NOT DECIDED TO GET IT FIXED OR CRUSHED.
NHTSA complaint #10212302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. BROUGHT MY CAR TO FIRESTONE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA AND HAD THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED - WORK COMPLETED BY FIRESTONE - 2-5 DAYS LATER WENT TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW TO HAVE COOLANT RESEVOIR REPLACED WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW THERMOSTAT (JUST REPLACED AT FIRESTONE) AND WATER PUMP AND THAT I HAD A MAJOR ENGINE LEAK (LATER WAS TOLD I HAD A MINOR ENGINE LEAK NOT WORTH REPAIR AT THAT POINT) - HAD WATER PUMP REPLACED. - RECIEVED VEHICLE FROM BEVERLY HILLS BMW WITH THE ENGINE COVER REMOVED AND VEHICLE NOT CHECKED AS ASKED - THIS TOOK 3 WEEKS! 2. THE PROBLEM: WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE HWY 2 HOURS FROM MY HOUSE AN EXPLOSION OCCURED IN THE ENGINE BAY OF THE VEHICLE. 4 PEICES OF THE FAN HAD SHOT THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE MAKING A LARGE 1 INCH SLIT ACCROS THE ENTIRE HOOD AND APPROX 1 INCH HOLE THE WHOLE LENGTH. ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED! PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT MY FAN WAS COMPLETLY GONE (THE PLASTIC PARTS HAD COMPLETLY EXPLODED FROM THE FAN CLUTCH AND GONE THROUGH THE HOOD AND LOOK TO HAVE TORE MANY HOSES INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY) AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING OUT (MY COOLING SYSTEM HAD BEEN COMPLETLY REPLACED WHITIN THE LAST 4 WEEKS). 3. TOWED THE CAR TO HARLOFF BMW WHERE THEY SUSPECTED THAT BEVERLY HILLS BMW FORGOT TO TIGHTEN THE FAN WHEN THEY REMOVED IT FOR SERVICE TO THE WATER PUMP. BEVERLY HILLS BMW REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CAR AT HARLOFF BMW AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW WHERE I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND NOT TO WORRY. WAS TOLD TODAY THAT THIS IS MY FAULT AND THAT THEY SAID MY FAN WAS GOING BAD (NOT TRUE - HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THIS AND NOW THEY SEEM TO HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SAY OTHERWISE FRAUD?). DAMAGE: THE HOOD, MANY INTERNAL ENGINE BAY PARTS I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER CASES OF THIS. EITHER BMW IS NOT SERVICING THIS PART OR THAT THEY CUT SOME CORNERS IN DESIGNING THE ENGINE FAN THERE IS NO WAY THAT AN ENGINE FAN SHOULD EVER EXPLODE THROUGH THE ENGINE HOOD!!!
NHTSA complaint #10144815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE: ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH SEIZED AND THE FAN TURNED AT WATER PUMP RPM. THE FAN FLEW APART, FLINGING ALL BLADES OFF THE FAN HUB. THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR HOME ON A 25 MPH STREET IN THE EVENING WITH OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE: EXPLODING FAN CHOPPED THROUGH THE RADIATOR, COOLANT TANK, BOTH RADIATOR HOSES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOSES, POWER STEERING HOSES, PUNCHED HOLES THROUGH HOOD AND OUT THROUGH BOTTOM ENGINE COMPARTMENT COVER, BROKE BOTH AIR DUCTS FOR FRONT BRAKE COOLING AND DESTROYED THE MAIN FAN SHROUD. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR OUR CPO EXTENDED WARRANTY VEHICLE ASSISTANCE. THE OPERATOR RECOMMENDED ADVISED OUR COVERAGE PROVIDED FREE TOWING TO NEAREST DEALER AND THAT THE INCIDENT WOULD LIKELY BE COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. SOUTH BAY BMW CHARGED ME $150 TO REVIEW THE SITUATION AND THEN ADVISED THE SITUATION WAS NOT COVERED. I HAVE ASKED FOR SOME EXPLANATION WHY THIS IS NOT COVERED AND NONE IS OFFERED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TODAY TOLD ME THEY HAVE AN "INTERNAL DOCUMENT" WHICH STATES THIS IS NOT COVERED, BUT SHE CANNOT FAX OR SHOW IT TO ME. MY WARRANTY BOOKLET STATES IT IS A COMPLETE LISTING OF NON-COVERED ITEMS AND THE FAN AND CLUTCH ARE NOT LISTED AS NOT COVERED. THE DEALER HAS NOT OFFERED TO REPAIR THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS ADVISED IT WILL BE $4800 PLUS BODY SHOP EXPENSES TO REPLACE THE HOOD. I FIND THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FAN EXPLOSION TO BE INEXCUSABLE. I ALSO DEMAND TO KNOW WHY MY BMW WARRANTY BOOKLET IS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE SECRET DOCUMENT HELD BY SOUTH BAY BMW.
NHTSA complaint #10142201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR CRACKED, DISABLING CAR ON HIGHWAY. ALSO CAUSED XENON LAMP FAILURE. REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT ON BMW E-39 SERIES CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10109932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
1) CHECK COOLANT LEVEL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TWICE IN 1 WEEK. KUNI BMW CONDUCTED MY FACTORY INSPECTION II SERVICE ONLY 2 MONTHS BEFORE THIS OCCURED. ) RADIATOR CRACKED WHERE THE UPPER HOSE ENTERS THE RADIATOR, LEAKING FLUID INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND GROUND. 3) REPLACE THE RADIATOR. THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT ON THIS VEHICLE - WHY DOESN'T BMW DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10105902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILED ON MY 1999 BMW 540 AT 54,700 MILES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. THIS SAFETY PROBLEM: - DISABLES THE VEHICLE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHERE THE PANIC COULD ENDANGER OTHER DRIVERS, TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE DEAD OF WINTER BY YOURSELF. - STEAM FROM FAILED RADIATOR BLOCKS VISION OF THE ROAD, OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE. - FAILURE CAN NOT BE PREDICTED BY VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE RADIATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10102410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2001 BMW 540I AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES; RADIATOR CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS; SIGNIFICANT STEAM RESULTING IN OBSCURRED VIEW OF THE ROADWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES; CAR TAKEN TO LOCAL REPAIR CENTER; AWAITING COST ESTIMATE AND FULL DAMAGE REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10100661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
VARIOUS PROBLEMS INVOLVING 1998 BMW 540IA WHICH WAS BROUGHT USED. *MR BMW HAD BEEN IMPORTING VEHICLES FOR SALE, FITTED WITH A RADIATOR THAT HAD PLASTIC ENDS AS WELL AS SUPPLY AND RETURN UNDER APPROXIMATELY 21 P.S.I. THESE RADIATORS SUDDENLY RUPTURED UNDER LOAD WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE DRIVERS TO SWERVE ON IMPULSE AT IMPACT OF THE RUPTURE. THE RADIATOR WAS LIKELY TO RUPTURE AT ABOUT 80K MILES. *SC
NHTSA complaint #10089862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR/OVERFLOW TANK ON MY 1997 BMWS 540IA CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 85,000 MILES. THE RADIATORS IN BMWS ARE KNOWN AS A WEAKNESS AND CONTINUALLY FAIL ON OWNERS. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE REMEDIED!
NHTSA complaint #10043859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
AT 71888 MILES THE RADIATOR OF MY BMW 540I BROKE BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE OUTLET.I HAD READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE ROADFLY MESSAGE BOARD. I READ THAT THE RADITORS BROKE AROUND THE HOSE AND THEY ONLY LASTED ABOUT 50,000 MILES. WHEN I READ IT, I WONDERED IF I WAS DUE, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I WAS SETTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT AND AS I DID I SAW STEAM COMING OUT OF THE FENDER WELLS. IT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER CAR, BUT SOON REALIZED IT WAS MINE. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS THE RADIATOR AND THE PLASIC HOUSING BROKE AROUND THE HOSE.THIS IS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL FLAW IN A AUTOMOBILE THAT OTHERWISE IS PRETTY DARN GOOD. I DON'T SEE WHY BMW CAN JUST PROVIDE AN ALL METAL RADIATOR, OR BEEF UP THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HOSE TO RESTAND THE STRAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10043678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE RADIATOR HOSE CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR FAILED COMPLETELY. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND SPLIT UNDER COOL WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE RADIATOR, AND REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR OVERFLOW CONTAINER. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE USE OF PLASTIC IN THIS APPLICATION RESULTED IN HEAT STRESS OVER TIME, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE STILL BEING ASSESSED AT THIS TIME. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TOO MANY CUSTOMERS, HOWEVER, THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS ORIGINAL. THEREFORE, I CAN EXPECT TOTAL COOLANT FAILURE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THIS SEEMS IMPRUDENT, AND I HAVE NO RESPONSE FROM BMW ON THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10038996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD BE COMMENCED.
NHTSA complaint #10036683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RADIATOR DEFECT -- PLASTIC NECK OF RADIATOR CONNECTING TO UPPER HOSE BROKE AT POINT OF CONNECTION WHILE AT MODERATE SPEED, SPRAYING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE AND WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING RISKS OF FIRE AND HAZARDOUS IMPAIRMENT OF VISABILITY. THIS DEFECT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND A RECALL SHOULD BE COMMENCED.
NHTSA complaint #10036683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.