NHTSA Complaint #10142201 — 2000 BMW 540IA

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.*JB