NHTSA Complaint #10278164 — 2005 BMW 745I

MY CAR WAS REPAIRED BACK IN 9/8/2008 FOR NON FUNCTIONING DOOR HANDLES AND LOCKS. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS THE DOORS HAVE OPENED WITHOUT NOTICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED, SO THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED. I WAS GOING ON A ROAD TRIP WITH MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE, AND DURING THIS ROAD TRIP I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY ON AN EXIT RAMP AND THE DOOR SWUNG COMPLETELY OPEN AND MY DOG ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED AND THEY CHECKED IT AGAIN AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I WAS LEAVING THE DEALER THE DOOR DID NOT WANT TO STAY LATCHED AND KEPT POPPING OPEN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WORKED ON 3-4 TIMES WITHOUT A RESOLUTION. THE DOORS POPPING OPEN ON A VEHICLE DURING USE COULD BE VERY FATAL TO SOMEONE IN THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH THE CAR AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DOORS POPPING OPEN IF THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APROX. 15-20 TIMES SINCE THEY REPLACED THE DOOR HANDLES BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. *TR