NHTSA Complaint #10386451 — 2001 BMW 325CI

2001 BMW 325 CI WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE WHEN THE GAS TANK STRAP ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE OFF FROM THE REAR SECTION. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUMPS OR OTHER ISSUES THAT CAUSED THIS INCIDENT. THE GAS TANK HUNG DOWN A FEW INCHES FROM THE ROAD. WE GOT THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND LEARNED THAT WE NEEDED BOTH A GAS TANK STRAP AND A BRACKET FOR THE UNDERBODY. REGARDING THE BRACKET, BMW HAS NO SUCH PART LISTED IN THEIR SPECS. THE ONLY OPTION APPEARS TO BE RIGGING THE STRAP AND WELDING IT TO ANOTHER PART OF THE UNDERBODY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THIS COULD BE A CATASTROPHIC DANGER IF THE TANK WERE TO LOOSEN, DRAG ON THE GROUND AND ULTIMATELY CATCH FIRE. FORTUNATELY FOR MY WIFE, SHE WAS LESS THAN A MILE FROM OUR HOME WHEN IT OCCURRED. I'M SHOCKED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL GIVEN THE COMMON REPORTING OF THE EXACT FAILURE. I WOULD BE SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A LESS THAN EXACT REPAIR. THANK YOU. *TR