NHTSA Complaint #10335813 — 2007 BMW X5 SAV

IN MAY 2007, I PURCHASED A NEW BMW 2007 X5 4.8 VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE EXPERIENCED "HIGH BATTERY DRAINAGE" WARNINGS AT LEAST 12 TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE COMPUTER DOESN'T SHOW A HISTORY OF THIS MESSAGE AND IT DOES NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. THE CAR ENGINE ALSO FAILS TO START AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS- THE LIGHTS, RADIO AND AIR TURN ON, BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THE ENGINE STARTS. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 12 TIMES SINCE 11/2007 AS WELL- BUT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE "HIGH BATTERY DRAINAGE" WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP FAILS TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE STARTING WHEN I TAKE THE CAR IN. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) STAYS LOCKED IN ONE GEAR AND THE ENGINE REVS UP WHILE DRIVING, FAILING TO AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR UNLESS THE DRIVER RELEASES THE GAS PEDAL OR PUSHES THE GAS PEDDLE TO "THROW IT" INTO THE NEXT GEAR. IT WOULD ALSO LURCH ON INCLINES, BUT STOPPED EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM (PERHAPS COINCIDENTALLY) WHEN I REMOVED MY CELLPHONE FROM THE CAR'S BLUETOOTH/HANDS-FREE SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN SAID THAT IT COULD NOT DETECT ANY PROBLEMS. BMW USA IS NO HELP EITHER, SINCE THEY RELY ON THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPORT ISSUES TO THEM. IF THE LOCAL DEALERS AREN'T REPORTING THE ISSUES THAT OWNERS EXPERIENCE SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND AN ANSWER, THEN NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND PERHAPS SOMETHING ELSE. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2007 X5 OWNERS FOR THE SAME ISSUES ON WEBSITES SUCH AS EDMUNDS.COM AND OWNERS LOCALLY WHERE I LIVE. PLEASE ASSIST US, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME CLEAR THAT WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR RECOURSE WITH THE BMW DEALERSHIPS. BELOW IS THE DATE OF THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT. *TR