I am writing to you as a loyal BMW owner to formally lodge a serious complaint regarding a technical safety failure in my BMW X5 and the subsequent dismissive treatment I received at an authorized service center in New York. The Incident Recently, while reversing, the Driving Assistance and Parking Assistant systems failed without warning. As a result, the vehicle collided with an object, causing damage to the rear bumper. This was not a result of driver negligence, but a direct failure of the safety technology that I trusted to protect my family. Service Center Negligence Upon visiting the service center to address this life-threatening defect, I was met with unacceptable indifference. The service advisor flatly refused to investigate the system failure, stating they would only perform a standard NYC Inspection. I was given a follow-up appointment for May 5th—forcing me to wait weeks to address a critical safety defect. Safety Concerns & Demand for Replacement As a father [XXX], I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle. The integrity of the safety modules has been compromised, and my confidence in this specific car is completely shattered. Repairing a bumper does not fix a failed safety system that could have caused a much more serious accident.And when I provide all of this evidence to BMW North America they Lay to me and asked me to take my vehicle without resolving the problem and the doesn’t care about my family safety INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11742057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forest Hills, NYCrash
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
I am writing to you as a loyal BMW owner to formally lodge a serious complaint regarding a technical safety failure in my BMW X5 and the subsequent dismissive treatment I received at an authorized service center in New York. The Incident Recently, while reversing, the Driving Assistance and Parking Assistant systems failed without warning. As a result, the vehicle collided with an object, causing damage to the rear bumper. This was not a result of driver negligence, but a direct failure of the safety technology that I trusted to protect my family. Service Center Negligence Upon visiting the service center to address this life-threatening defect, I was met with unacceptable indifference. The service advisor flatly refused to investigate the system failure, stating they would only perform a standard NYC Inspection. I was given a follow-up appointment for May 5th—forcing me to wait weeks to address a critical safety defect. Safety Concerns & Demand for Replacement As a father [XXX], I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle. The integrity of the safety modules has been compromised, and my confidence in this specific car is completely shattered. Repairing a bumper does not fix a failed safety system that could have caused a much more serious accident.And when I provide all of this evidence to BMW North America they Lay to me and asked me to take my vehicle without resolving the problem and the doesn’t care about my family safety INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11742057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forest Hills, NYCrash
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
I am writing to you as a loyal BMW owner to formally lodge a serious complaint regarding a technical safety failure in my BMW X5 and the subsequent dismissive treatment I received at an authorized service center in New York. The Incident Recently, while reversing, the Driving Assistance and Parking Assistant systems failed without warning. As a result, the vehicle collided with an object, causing damage to the rear bumper. This was not a result of driver negligence, but a direct failure of the safety technology that I trusted to protect my family. Service Center Negligence Upon visiting the service center to address this life-threatening defect, I was met with unacceptable indifference. The service advisor flatly refused to investigate the system failure, stating they would only perform a standard NYC Inspection. I was given a follow-up appointment for May 5th—forcing me to wait weeks to address a critical safety defect. Safety Concerns & Demand for Replacement As a father [XXX], I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle. The integrity of the safety modules has been compromised, and my confidence in this specific car is completely shattered. Repairing a bumper does not fix a failed safety system that could have caused a much more serious accident.And when I provide all of this evidence to BMW North America they Lay to me and asked me to take my vehicle without resolving the problem and the doesn’t care about my family safety INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11742057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving my 2022 BMW X5 on the highway at approximately 78 mph when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly applied the brakes without any obstruction or vehicle in front of me. A warning appeared instructing me to release the brakes while driving. This created a dangerous situation and could have caused a rear-end collision. The vehicle has approximately 34,000 miles. This appears to be a malfunction of the automatic emergency braking system. This happened on 2 seperate occasions.
NHTSA complaint #11728841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbia, MD
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
My lane keep assist shuts off every time I drive the vehicle. I reported this in February and was told it was just due to the weather (snow). I brought the vehicle back in a few weeks later to the same dealership and was told there’s something in the steering wheel that needs replaced and they needed to order it. They never called me back to tell me the part was in and did not reply to my inquiries. I took the car to a different dealership in August and again asked them to fix the lane assist. They again told me there was something called an agitator in the steering wheel and would need to see if they had any in stock or would order. After almost 3 weeks of being in the shop when I picked it up the assist shut off again 5 minutes down the road. I reported to BMW North America and did nothing about it. The GM from the original dealership emailed me to ask if I was satisfied with their service and reported the issues, no response. Nobody seems to be willing or able to fix this safety feature I have paid extra money to have.
NHTSA complaint #11696957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fridley, MNCrash1 injured
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
On 06-02-2024, at approximately 1430 hours, I was stopped in Traffic, because of a Red Traffic light and I was the last Vehicle in line. In less than a minute later, I was hit by another Vehicle. The other Vehicle left approximately 183' of Skid Marks on the Road and I determined that Vehicle was traveling at approximately 60 MPH, before it hit me, when I was stopped in Traffic. The damage was moderate. I have the Executive Package on my BMW X5, which has a 4 way Camera system, that records an incident, when an impact occurs. After the impact, the Camera system is to record 20 seconds before the impact, as well as 20 seconds after the impact. I was not sure how to retrieve the Video, so I had to call BMW Genius and the Employee had to walk me thru the steps to retrieve the Video. The Camera system was set up for Automatic Recording, as well as Manual Recording, but no Video of the accident was ever recorded. The only Video that was Recorded and saved, was from January 13, 2024, when I was showing my Wife, how to manually record something. According to the person who hit me, he said "I could not stop, because I had a bad Wheel" and that person also included that Statement in the Accident Report. Since the Accident, I sustained lower left Back pain, left Hip pain and upper left Leg pain in the Muscles. According to my X-Ray Images of my left Hip, the Head of the Femur Bone is flattened, due to the impact sustained following the collision. According to my Doctor, I have Bone Spurs, which causes me pain when standing, walking, sitting and Complete Hip Replacement is now required, to eliminate my pain. My Lawyer suggested that I file a complaint with the NHTSA, because the Camera system should have recorded the collision and that would have given us a clear view and understanding, on what the other Driver was doing before the collision. BMW is at fault for the Camera system, which did not record the accident, when it was set up for Automatic and Manual.
NHTSA complaint #11604532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We were driving at about 45 miles per hour (not using adaptive cruise control) and the emergency braking system suddenly kicked in, slamming on the brakes even though there was nobody in front of us slowing down and there was no hazard. It created a dangerous situation as the car in back of us could have rear-ended us.
NHTSA complaint #11582823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gaithersburg, MDCrash
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I was pulling into a parking spot. I was riding slowly into the correct position. Immediately the car went into full acceleration. Knocked the parked car in front about 8 feet, turned and knocked another car on the side. I stood on the breaks, it went another 10 feet and engine stopped. I never heard this level of acceleration of engine ever before. The airbags for me and my passenger did not open. I think this spurious acceleration is a control system defect.
NHTSA complaint #11561575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, CO
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
2022 BMW X5 Adaptive Cruise Control (a very expensive option) will not reliably stop or accelerate your BMW. It is dangerous and unsafe and should be eliminated until it will brake safely. I have a video that I was unable to upload. This system if left to stop your vehicle will crash a occupants into a stopped vehicle. Always brakes to late. Scares all occupants. Not safe to use in traffic, not safe on the highway, it’s not safe, period. How is BMW permitted to sell an advanced cruise control system, that is to safely stop and accelerate a bmw if it doesn’t? If it can’t stop a vehicle autonomously with a driver actively engaged, what distinguishes this from standard cruise control that requires a driver to be fully engaged. In 2022, and since 2000, this is not advanced cutting edge technology. DONT BY A BMW, THEY DONT CARE IF THEY ARE SELLING A DANGEROUS SYSTEM. I WOULD NOT USE THIS SYSTEM IF IT WAS FREE. Brakes have to work 100% of the time. Anything less when it comes to braking your vehicle is VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #11538183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, IL
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
East bound on US 20 and Barrington Road in Hanover Park IL. I was in the right lane and had stopped at the light, about 3rd or 4th car back. There was a semi-truck in the middle lane (on my left). Assisted Driving/Adaptive Cruise Control (Cruise Mode 2) was active. The car automatically accelerated from the light. When I entered the intersection, the car sounded a warning alarm and braked very hard momentarily, but did not stop the car. I was quite startled and did not notice an alert in the dash. Braking was so hard and so sudden I felt lucky that I was not rear ended by the car behind me. There was nothing in my path. Just beyond the intersection there is a rail road overpass. The road curves slightly to the right just beyond the intersection and is slightly downhill to go under the overpass. There was a freight train on the overpass, all tanker cars I believe. My speculation is the car's sensors "saw" the freight train as a potential collision, perhaps cross traffic. and the car's safety systems were applied.
NHTSA complaint #11535441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East bound on US 20 and Barrington Road in Hanover Park IL. I was in the right lane and had stopped at the light, about 3rd or 4th car back. There was a semi-truck in the middle lane (on my left). Assisted Driving/Adaptive Cruise Control (Cruise Mode 2) was active. The car automatically accelerated from the light. When I entered the intersection, the car sounded a warning alarm and braked very hard momentarily, but did not stop the car. I was quite startled and did not notice an alert in the dash. Braking was so hard and so sudden I felt lucky that I was not rear ended by the car behind me. There was nothing in my path. Just beyond the intersection there is a rail road overpass. The road curves slightly to the right just beyond the intersection and is slightly downhill to go under the overpass. There was a freight train on the overpass, all tanker cars I believe. My speculation is the car's sensors "saw" the freight train as a potential collision, perhaps cross traffic. and the car's safety systems were applied.
NHTSA complaint #11535441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, IL
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
East bound on US 20 and Barrington Road in Hanover Park IL. I was in the right lane and had stopped at the light, about 3rd or 4th car back. There was a semi-truck in the middle lane (on my left). Assisted Driving/Adaptive Cruise Control (Cruise Mode 2) was active. The car automatically accelerated from the light. When I entered the intersection, the car sounded a warning alarm and braked very hard momentarily, but did not stop the car. I was quite startled and did not notice an alert in the dash. Braking was so hard and so sudden I felt lucky that I was not rear ended by the car behind me. There was nothing in my path. Just beyond the intersection there is a rail road overpass. The road curves slightly to the right just beyond the intersection and is slightly downhill to go under the overpass. There was a freight train on the overpass, all tanker cars I believe. My speculation is the car's sensors "saw" the freight train as a potential collision, perhaps cross traffic. and the car's safety systems were applied.
NHTSA complaint #11535441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Troy, MICrash
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
I was trying to park my car on March 11, 2023 at noon, and I noticed a sudden uncontrolled acceleration even when my foot was off the accelerator pedal. Parking collision front sensors failed to provide an early warning, and automatic emergency brake did not engage leading to a minor collision with the vehicle parked in front. The situation occurred so rapidly that I did not have enough time to react quickly and apply brakes. I managed to apply brakes to avoid a serious incident, but it was not quick enough to even avoid this minor collision. I have reported this to BMW USA, however the car has not been inspected by a dealer or an independent service center after the incident. There were no warnings displayed prior to this incident, however I have had consistent issues pertaining to the operation of front sensors. I had BMW certified dealer inspect front sensors, and according to them the sensors do not provide an early warning as per the design but they have adjusted the sensitivity. The adjustment did not improve the situation, and I provided that feedback to the service center as well. The sensors did fail at twice prior to this incident, and the dealer inspected that as part of sensor sensitivity adjustment. I drove this vehicle to the BMW certified dealer more than twice to have the front sensors and other things inspected prior to this incident. Nevertheless, this uncontrolled acceleration is something that I have never experienced before, and I am traumatized to even drive this vehicle comfortably. All the automated systems designed to prevent or avoid collision did not engage leading me to not trust anything.
NHTSA complaint #11514189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was trying to park my car on March 11, 2023 at noon, and I noticed a sudden uncontrolled acceleration even when my foot was off the accelerator pedal. Parking collision front sensors failed to provide an early warning, and automatic emergency brake did not engage leading to a minor collision with the vehicle parked in front. The situation occurred so rapidly that I did not have enough time to react quickly and apply brakes. I managed to apply brakes to avoid a serious incident, but it was not quick enough to even avoid this minor collision. I have reported this to BMW USA, however the car has not been inspected by a dealer or an independent service center after the incident. There were no warnings displayed prior to this incident, however I have had consistent issues pertaining to the operation of front sensors. I had BMW certified dealer inspect front sensors, and according to them the sensors do not provide an early warning as per the design but they have adjusted the sensitivity. The adjustment did not improve the situation, and I provided that feedback to the service center as well. The sensors did fail at twice prior to this incident, and the dealer inspected that as part of sensor sensitivity adjustment. I drove this vehicle to the BMW certified dealer more than twice to have the front sensors and other things inspected prior to this incident. Nevertheless, this uncontrolled acceleration is something that I have never experienced before, and I am traumatized to even drive this vehicle comfortably. All the automated systems designed to prevent or avoid collision did not engage leading me to not trust anything.
NHTSA complaint #11514189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The rear cross traffic warning basically does not work. This is very dangerous as I have been in the process of back out of a parking space and there will be a car right behind me or approaching very close to my car, and I get no warning at all. It also does not warn me where a person is walking behind my car. The BMW dealership said I needed a software update, but that did not fix the problem. The rear cross traffic warning has never worked. I had my car for almost one year and have never gotten a warning. After researching this issue online, I found out this is a common problem with all BMW owners. This is extremely dangerous! I have owned less expensive cars that had great rear cross training warnings. Very frustrating!
NHTSA complaint #11510245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I purchased a 2022 BMW X5 on AUG 29th as a birthday gift to myself and never imagined that less than three months later, I would have a near mishap that could have ended my life and others nearby. On Nov 26th, as I was driving my vehicle, I received a notification not to proceed driving and to pull over because the system noticed a brake system malfunction. At that moment, I proceeded with caution to a safe location and the breaks begin to resist below my feet. I immediately called roadside assistance to send a tow truck. Afterward, I phoned BMW Honolulu to make them aware of my situation and asked for a loaner vehicle and was told I would not be able to get one. However, after stressing how important I needed one, I was given a BMW 340i series below the standards of my purchase. I was briefed that my brake booster needed to be replaced. Receiving this information caused me to lose confidence in the vehicle and the company's ability to provide me with a safe and secure product. To add, I was mentally affected given the critical severity this issue could have caused me, my family, and others. I scheduled a meeting with sales manager Wallace Ma at Bavarian Motoren Works Honolulu on Thursday, Dec 1st to make him aware of my intentions to involve the corporate office so I could give him an opportunity to make things right within the scope of his position. During our meeting, I stressed how important it was that I am given a new vehicle mimicking the same features while duplicating my initial agreement. On Dec 2nd Mr. Ma contacted me via phone to let me know he'll move forward with handling the issue locally in the dealership to avoid long delays and processes with corporate. On Dec 3rd, we agreed on the 2023 BMW X5 that mimicked my initial vehicle. However, once again, BMW failed and the new vehicle did not have all the same features. On Dec 21st, I contacted corporate and spoke with Destiny who informed me that corporate could not do anything.
NHTSA complaint #11501382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
New 2022 BMW X5M with a little over 200 miles on it. Received a message stating, "driver assistance support reduced". This driver assistance package controls many of the safety features listed above, and then some (could only select 3 from the list above, but affects more). Sad part is, after minor research, I find this has been an ongoing problem with BMW for years, and has not been addressed as the problem still occurs in their cars.
NHTSA complaint #11444453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
New 2022 BMW X5M with a little over 200 miles on it. Received a message stating, "driver assistance support reduced". This driver assistance package controls many of the safety features listed above, and then some (could only select 3 from the list above, but affects more). Sad part is, after minor research, I find this has been an ongoing problem with BMW for years, and has not been addressed as the problem still occurs in their cars.
NHTSA complaint #11444453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, TN
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
New 2022 BMW X5M with a little over 200 miles on it. Received a message stating, "driver assistance support reduced". This driver assistance package controls many of the safety features listed above, and then some (could only select 3 from the list above, but affects more). Sad part is, after minor research, I find this has been an ongoing problem with BMW for years, and has not been addressed as the problem still occurs in their cars.
NHTSA complaint #11444453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.