Took my 2020 BMW 7 Series into BMW San Diego because there was fluid leaking. Upon diagnosis at the dealership, I was notified I needed to replace the front differential as it was coming apart. The leaking fluid was identified as differential fluid. The vehicle has 54,308 miles on it. My research indicates front differentials should not need replacement until nearly 150,000 miles. A broken front differential is considered to be very bad and makes a car unsafe to drive as it causes severe handling issues, loss of control and potential damage to the transmission. A broken differential can cause the vehicle to lock up or lose steering control. Me and my family have been at risk as it is unclear how long this issue has been happening. The problem has been confirmed by BMW San Diego. The cost to replace was quoted as about $10,251. There are no warning lamps, and there are no messages indicating there is a problem with the vehicle. Not sure when the issue started. Apparently, due to my research I’ve learning many 2020 BMW’s seem to need to have the front differential replaced with mileage between 38,000 and 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11714334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Front Driveshaft between transfer case and front differential, is available upon request. The driveshaft broke at the universal joint, once it broke it damaged the upper and lower oil pan making a hole the size of a softball, as it kept rotating broke transmission casing also draining oil from transmission and engine components. It caused the tires to get soaked in oil and slip and spin out. Luckily no cars or objects were near me at the time, if there were this would have been a big safety concern to the driver and passenger of the car. No warnings were given by this component before it failed, 5 seconds after failure the low oil pressure warning came on, this was after the vehicle spun out. The has been inspected by an independent service center and will be inspected by the insurance company.
NHTSA complaint #11471469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission secure vehicle with parking break when stationary. The vehicle jumps from park to neural by its self randomly and pops up with the transmission warning. Heard it's a common problem should be recalled
NHTSA complaint #11466653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 750I. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic, a wildfire began to approach his vehicle. The contact then stated that white smoke obstructed his vision on the highway. As the contact depressed the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled with the transmission disengaged message on the instrument panel. The contact restarted the vehicle three times before the transmission re-engaged and the contact was able to escape the thick smoke that had covered his vehicle. The contact called the dealer and spoke to a service advisor who stated that the heat from the fire caused the vehicle to stall. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred him back to the dealer for an inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
NHTSA complaint #11436892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE , TOOK A LOOK UNDERNEATH AND IT SEEMS AT THE VERY LEAST THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT AND THE DIFF EXPLODED. I'M HOPING THERE ISN'T ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF , I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON 1, 3 AND SOME 740 MODELS I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NOT MINE ...
NHTSA complaint #11385994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MOST BMW V8 ENGINES INCLUDING MY OWN (N62,N63) HAVE KNOW MAJOR FLAWS WITH VALVE STEM SEALS AND TIMING CHAINS. THESE ISSUES CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO ENGINES AND EMISSIONS SYSTEM. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. VEHICLES END UP IMMOBILE ON THE HIGHWAY OR EMITTING EXCESIVE SMOKE AND FUMES INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. BMW HAS HAD A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS I DONT BELIEVE THATS ENOUGH. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE REPAIRED
NHTSA complaint #11375325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT, AND 'PRND' WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF HOUSTON NORTH LOCATED AT 17730 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 184,000.
NHTSA complaint #11331926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 750I. WHILE DRIVING AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, THE DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT MISFIRED. UPON STARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND EMITTED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND TO CONTACT BMW FOR MORE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #11266087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 750I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED NHTSA. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #11253692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS WHITE SMOKE THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE BACK PIPES OF THE CAR. THE CAR IS BURNING THROUGH OIL. I AM PUTTING A QUART IN EVERY 2 -3 WEEKS. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2009 MODEL. THE 2009 750I HAS BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE ENGINE PROBLEM AND I HAVE A 2012 MODEL. THE SMOKE COMES OUT WHEN I AM DRIVING NOT WHEN IT IS STATIONARY ON THE CITY STREET, HIGHWAY OR WHEREVER. I DON'T FEEL SAFE. I AM GOING TO START DRIVING MORE DISTANCE AND I DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT OF OIL AND CAUSE MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION. THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES SURROUNDING THE CAR. I AM NOT A MECHANIC. BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THIS CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WHEN I BOUGHT IT.
NHTSA complaint #11217885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING UP I-5 , IN THE THIRD LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION MESSAGE ON MY SCREEN I NOTICED THAT ALL ACCELERATION WAS LOST AND KNEW I MUST PULL OUT OF THE ROAD FOR AT THE SPEED ALLOWED I WAS BOUND TO GET REAR ENDED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY LIKE THIS CAR IN BACK OF ME BEGAN TO HONK AS I SIGNALED TO BE ALLOWED MOVE OUT THE ROAD CARS PROCEEDED TO JUST GO FAST AND ALMOST GOT HIT A COUPLE TIMES .
NHTSA complaint #11195381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 2 SEPERATE OCCASIONS, ONCE ON A BUSY STREET AND ONCE ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN DURING DRIVING WITH AND ABRUPT SPEED CHANGE AS IT SLAMS INTO PARK OR LOCKS ALL WHEELS UP WITH NO CONTROL OF THE STEERING OR ANY PART OF THE VEHICLE. ALL ELECTRONICS WERE NOT WORKING AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE FLASHING AS THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND SHUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY WITH AN 88 YEAR OLD WOMAN THE BMW DEALERSHIP SOLD THIS DANGEROUS LEMON OF A CAR TO. THE 1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE NEEDED REPAIRS THAT TOTALED OVER $21,000 , MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. BMW IS AWARE THIS VEHICLE HAS RECALLS & PROBLEMS. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND PUT BACK ON THE ROAD. BOTH INCIDENTS OF THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED SOMEBODY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS RECORD OF INCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint #11193475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE OIL LEAK; ENGINE COOLANT LEAK; BLUE SMOKE THRU TAILPIPE; STRANGE NOISES MAKING CONCERNED TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE ENGINE OIL SIGN HAD ALWAYS COME ON TOO FREQUENTLY FROM THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASE ENGINE OIL COOLANT FREQUENCY DEVELOPED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND CAME TO A STAGE QUESTIONING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11180186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING DOWN 111TH RIDGELAND AV, WORTH IL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME IN. CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A REPETITIVE PROBLEM. IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED BY ZIEGLER BMW IN ORLAND PARK AS BEING THE DIAGNOSTIC OF TROUBLE.
NHTSA complaint #11113265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 750I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY, MADE A LOUD NOISE, AND SHOOK. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #11104044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 750I. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE PARKING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO RESTART. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INADVERTENTLY INTO PARK AND THEN INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT CALLED CROWN BMW GREENSBORO AT (336) 790-9848 (LOCATED AT 3902 W WENDOVER AVE, GREENSBORO, NC 27407) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,555.
NHTSA complaint #11103806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IT UNEXPECTEDLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THE CAR. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. I HAD TO TURN ON THE CAUTION LIGHTS AND RESTART THE CAR. AS I MADE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN AS I WAS TURNING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT PINPOINT TO CAUSE BUT SPECULATE UNMETERED AIR AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE. READING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS A RECALL DESCRIBING MY EXACT PROBLEM BUT FOR 2006 5 SERIES. MY CAR IS A 2007 7 SERIES. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 16V919000. THE RECALL DESCRIBES A PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO MINE. UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO SPEND $187 TO FIND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO DEFINITIVE SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #11084415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 750I. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER (ERHARD BMW OF FARMINGTON HILLS, 38700 GRAND RIVER AVE, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335, (888) 494-0358) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT LATER HEARD A NOISE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
NHTSA complaint #11078639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW 750I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11078719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.