NHTSA Complaint #10455503 — 2011 BMW 335XI

ON MONDAY APRIL 9, 2012 WHILE TRAVELING ON HAGEDORN ROAD IN EAST LANSING, MI, (APPROXIMATELY 3800 HAGEDORN ROAD) MY BMW HIT A POTHOLE THAT RESULTED IN A SPLIT REAR RIM, DAMAGED FRONT RIM AND BLOWN TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. THE POTHOLE WAS OF AN 'AVERAGE' DEPTH FOR MICHIGAN. (PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED). INTERESTING IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME (WHILE PURCHASING THE CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2011) THAT THE SALESPERSON TRIED TALKING US INTO PURCHASING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR TIRES AND RIMS. HE MENTIONED THAT HE KNEW OF MANY CUSTOMERS THAT HAD BLOWN TIRES BECAUSE OF MICHIGAN WINTERS AND POTHOLES. I DECLINED COVERAGE SINCE MY LEXUS WITH SIMILAR RIMS AND LOW PROFILE TIRES NEVER HAD A PROBLEM DURING THE FIVE YEARS I OWNED THE CAR IN MICHIGAN. I BELIEVE BMW IS AWARE THAT THEIR WHEELS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN NORTHERN TIER STATES AND THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR PRODUCT. FURTHER, I BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO FINANCIALLY CAPITALIZE ON THIS BY SELLING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE. *JS