NHTSA Complaint #10175234 — 1995 BMW 325IS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, A NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM SUPPORT. THE BOLTS THAT ATTACHED THE WHEEL WERE FRACTURED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS TO ALERT THE CONTACT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THE REPAIR MUST BE COVERED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED WHO COINCIDED WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AT HIGHER SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN FATAL CONSEQUENCES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH DEFECT. THE VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE CONTROL ARM THAT SECURED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO THE SUB FRAME HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB FRAME. THERE WERE 3 BOLTS THAT SECURED THE CONTROL ARM TO THE SUB FRAME AND ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD SHEARED, WHILE THE OTHER TWO HAD RIPPED COMPLETELY FROM THE SUB FRAME; NOT ONLY HAD THE BOLTS RIPPED FROM THE FRAME, BUT THEY PULLED THROUGH THE FEMALE SECTION TO WHICH THEY WERE BOLTED. UPDATED 07/16/07. *JB