NHTSA Complaint #10416798 — 2006 BMW 330I

I OWN A 2006 BMW 330I. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED. THEN, WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS RED, THE CAR DOES NOT START. I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM IN 2007 AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN 2010, THE YELLOW LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY AND IT IS NOW ON EVERY TIME I ENTER THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN YET AGAIN. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE BMW REGIONAL IS REFUSING TO COVER THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. IT COSTS $1428 TO REPLACE THE PART. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BMW CHANGED THEIR STEERING COLUMNS AFTER 2006 BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM. *KB