NHTSA Complaint #10061950 — 2003 BMW Z4

MY CAR STALLED ON THE ROAD GOING FIFTY MILES AN HOUR ON UNIVERSITY CITY BLVD. IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA. I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT LUCKILY THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT SCARED IN MY LIFE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE CAR HAD BROKEN DOWN IN NINE MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME BEING MAY 27, 2003. THE SECOND BEING OCTOBER 25, 2003. AND THE THIRD TIME BEING JANUARY 16, 2004 (THIS IS THE TIME IT STALLED GOING 50 MILES ON THE ROAD). THE DEALERSHIP, BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND THE MANAGERS AT HENDRICK IMPORTS WERE ALL AWARE THAT MY CAR HAD STALLED ON THE ROAD! BEING THAT MY LIFE WAS AT ISSUE I WAS UPSET AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. I EVEN LET THEM KEEP THE CAR AN EXTRA FEW DAYS TO MAKE IT SURE THE PORBLEM WAS CORRECTED. THIS IS WHY I DID NOT TAKE ANY PREVIOUS ACTION. NOW ON MARCH 5, 2004 ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE FIRST THREE TIMES. THIS TIME IT STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN MY APARTMENT WHICH IS NOT A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC!! WHAT IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT STALLED AGAIN, I WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS LETTER TO YOU I WOULD BE IN THE GROUND! THEY JUST WANT TO FIX IT AND PUT ME ON THE ROAD AGAIN, BUT I KNOW THE CAR IS UNSAFE BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE. I JUST WANTED TO LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE!! THANK GOD I AM STILL ALIVE TO WRITE THIS LETTER TO YOU!*AK