NHTSA Complaint #10258239 — 2008 BMW M3

THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE M-DCT TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED ON MY VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO A NEAR STOP SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION, AND THEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR TO TRY AND PULL AWAY QUICKLY. IN THIS CASE THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, POTENTIALLY LEAVING THE CAR UNRESPONSIVE FOR A FEW SECONDS WHILE COASTING SLOWLY INTO THE INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEARING DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THIS BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT SAFE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS EXACERBATED BY A PRIOR SOFTWARE UPDATE WHOSE INTENTION WAS TO FIX OTHER PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS OF THE TRANSMISSION. SO THE BEHAVIOR IS CLEARLY NOT GERMANE TO THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF, IT IS INSTEAD THE RESULT OF GLITCHY SOFTWARE WHICH THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RIGHTLY BE OBLIGATED TO FIX. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD ENDANGER THE LIVES OF THE OCCUPANTS OF MY VEHICLE AND SINCERELY HOPE IT CAN BE RECTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. *TR