NHTSA Complaint #10214960 — 2004 BMW 530I

(NOTE: THIS PROCESS DOES NOT LIST THE 2004 BMW 745I) I PURCHASED MY 2004 745I AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL BMW DEALER IN OCTOBER 2007. SINCE THEN ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE STEERING HAS TOTALLY LOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING A PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE LEFT (COUNTER CLOCKWISE) POSITION. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION AND THERE IS NO ERROR CODE RECORDED IN THE OBDI. ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR TO FREE THE STEERING. ON THE LAST OCCASION THE STEERING WAS RESTORED AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. ON A FOURTH OCCASION THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND SLUGGISH BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL A FEW SECONDS LATER. I HAVE A GREAT FEAR THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN I'M TRAVELING ON THE ROADWAY AND NOT JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY OR A PARKING LOT. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING TO ACCOUNT FOR MY EXPERIENCES. *TR