NHTSA Complaint #10345851 — 2010 BMW 335XI

MY 2010 BMW 335XI (3,500 MILES) SUDDENLY STALLED ON WA HIGHWAY 520, ON THE LAKE WASHINGTON BRIDGE IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DUE TO HPFP FAILURE. THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WARNING ON THE NAV DISPLAY, STATING THAT ONLY LIMITED ENGINE POWER WAS AVAILABLE, WHEN TWO SECONDS LATER THE ENGINE STALLED, LOSING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AS WELL. I WAS GOING APPROX. 25 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ENTERING THE BRIDGE THAT HAS NO SHOULDER. I WAS BLOCKING ONE OF TWO EASTBOUND LANES AND POSED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND GO FOR APPROX. 50 YARDS BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. DOING SO 4-5 TIMES I REACHED THE MIDSPAN TURNOUT AND STOPPED IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SPOT. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN A DOT TRUCK APPROACHED AND PUSHED ME OFF THE REMAINDER OF THE BRIDGE. I WAS IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE POSITION FOR APPROX. 30 MINUTES! THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THE PROBLEM WAS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, THE PUMP WAS REPLACED. WHEN I CALLED BMW TO COMPLAIN, THE REP SAID SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I JUST READ AN ARTICLE AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. A BRAND NEW CAR STALLING ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING IS EXTREMELY UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. *TR