NHTSA Complaint #10341453 — 2003 BMW 325I

WE OWN A BMW 325I SERIES 2003 SEDAN. WHILE MY DAUGHTER STARTED THE CAR SHE NOTED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. SHE WAS ONLY AROUND 4 BLOCKS AWAY SO PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND DURING THE DRIVE SHE EXPERIENCED HER BRAKES GRABBING AND STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WE TOOK THE CAR THAT NIGHT TO BMW TO DROP OFF FOR EVALUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE XENON HEADLIGHT FAILED AND TOOK AT THE STEERING SYSTEM PANEL AND HAD TO BE ALL REWIRED. HE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WIRING OF THE XENON HEADLIGHT TO EFFECT A STEERING PANEL WHEN THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. THE EFFECT ON THE STEERING PANEL IS IMMEDIATE AND GIVES NO TIME TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS 1800.00. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. 2 MONTHS LATER THE BLINKER HEADLIGHT NEXT TO THE XENON HEADLIGHT FELL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CAR HELD BY A WIRE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BMW 325I SERIES HEADLIGHTS THAT TO ME IS A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE DRIVING. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FOLLOW UP TO THE MAKE AND MODEL. I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE MY NAME FOR YOU TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE SERVICE RECORDS ON THESE EVENTS FROM OUR BMW DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU. *TR