NHTSA Complaint #10451079 — 2011 BMW 535I US

UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STANDSTILL, THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY FROM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED TO WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY MOVES FORWARD. THE HESITATION IS PRESENT WHEN MOVING, BUT NOT NEARLY AS PRONOUNCED AS FROM A STOP. THE ACCELERATION DELAY IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. LIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC URBAN AREA WITH LOTS OF HILLS(SAN FRANCISCO), THE DELAY HAS CAUSED ME AND MY FAMILY TO COME CLOSE TO MANY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY FOR LEFT TURNS AND AM NEARLY T-BONED WITH MY WIFE FEARING FOR HER LIFE. THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME. IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT BMW FAILS TO ADDRESS. TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, BUT THE PROBLEMS REMAINS. TOOK IT IN AGAIN. THIS TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER INSISTED IT WAS TURBO LAG. TEST DROVE WITH A TECHNICIAN AND AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, HE ADMITTED THAT OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED AS WELL AND THAT THIS WAS A SOFTWARE DESIGN FLAW. SAID THAT THERE WAS NO FIX AVAILABLE, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS A DEFINITE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN A 1-SERIES AS A LOANER AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT EVIDENT. TO ME, BMW HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WILL RESULT IN MAJOR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SHOULD I HAVE AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. *TR