NHTSA Complaint #10457023 — 2003 BMW X5

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB SHORTS OUT. INSTRUMENT WARNING FOR REAR BRAKE / TAIL LIGHTS ACTIVATES. PROBLEM OCCURS MULTIPLE TIMES DUE TO AN APPARENT FLAW IN THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY CIRCUIT AND PLASTIC THAT FORMS THE SPLIT CIRCUIT FOR POSITIVE (+) NEGATIVE (-) CONNECTION POINTS TO BULB SOCKET LEADS. TO REPAIR - THE METAL ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE BENT OUTWARD (DIRECTION AWAY FROM TAIL LIGHT LENS) TO INCREASE TENSION BETWEEN BULB SOCKET ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND METAL PLATE OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY WEAKENED PLASTIC THAT CAUSES THE METAL PLATE IN TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLE TO LOOSEN CREATING INADEQUATE BACK SPRING TENSION BETWEEN THE PLATE AND SOCKET CONNECTORS. RECALL ON BMW 3 SERIES FOR: NO. 11V-438: LAMPS IN REAR QUARTER PANEL 2002-2005 3 SERIES IS DESCRIBED AS THE EXACT PROBLEM. *JS