NHTSA Complaint #10425331 — 2007 BMW 525I

TRUNK LOCKING FAILURE. UNABLE TO OPEN TRUNK WITH REMOTE CONTROL OR SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE KEY OVER-RIDE FROM THE TRUNK. BMW USA CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. I HAD TO READ THE MANUAL TO BE ABLE TO OVER-RIDE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. ONCE I OPENED THE TRUNK THE TRUNK WOULD NOT CLOSE. AFTER EXTENSIVE INTERNET RESEARCH AND ELECTRICAL TROUBLE-SHOOTING, I FOUND BROKEN BROWN ELECTRICAL WIRE IN THE TRUNK HARNESS BOOT ABOVE THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. I FOUND SEVERAL CASES POSTED IN THE INTERNET. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW. BMW USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLOW BUT SHE DID NOT OFFER ANY INTEREST TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BMW TECHNICIANS / ENGINEERS TO INSPECT THE DESIGN FLOW AND PERHAPS THEY CAN PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THIS DEFECT BUT SHE WANTED ME TO GO TO THE DEALER AND PAY THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ($150 PER HOUR FEE). I WAS CLEAR THAT I ALREADY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND CAN SIMPLY SPLICE THE WIRES BACK BUT I WAS CALLING BECAUSE I AM CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER BMW DRIVERS. ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE NEXT TO THE BATTERY CAN BE A SAFETY CONCERN! BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER DID NOT OFFER ANY HELP EITHER. *TR