NHTSA Complaint #10471730 — 2003 BMW X5

WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT ABOUT 80 MILES PER HOUR, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, IT WAS NECESSARY TO DIS-ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR A SLOWER VEHICLE. WHEN I THEN APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE GAS PEDAL, IT SUDDENLY FELT UNSTABLE AND WOBBLY. I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN STEADY PRESSURE ON IT AND MAINTAIN MY SPEED IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SITUATION. FORTUNATELY I WAS JUST 20 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION, AND I WAS ABLE TO VERY CAREFULLY AND REPEATEDLY RE-POSITION MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. UPON ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, I EXAMINED THE GAS PEDAL, ONLY TO FIND MOST OF IT HAD DETACHED FROM THE FLOORBOARD - A THIN, FLIMSY WEB OF PLASTIC THAT HELD THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD HAD SPLIT AT THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ONLY ABOUT 15 OR 20% OF THE ATTACHMENT REMAINED. HAD 100% OF THE ATTACHMENT FAILED, I WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE LOST ALL ACCELERATOR CONTROL IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEED, A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE DESIGN OF THIS GAS PEDAL IS DEFECTIVE, WHICH LED TO THE PROBLEM AT ONLY 33500 MILES! I COMPLAINED TO BMW U.S.A WITH NO SATISFACTION. I CLAIMED THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN, WHICH CONSTITUTES LIFETIME RESPONSIBILITY OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THEY DID NOT AGREE. I ALSO FEEL THE EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS PRESENT IN THE DESERT SOUTHWEST WHERE I LIVE MAY HAVE ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT IN THE HOPE IT MAY PREVENT A SIMILAR, POSSIBLY MORE SERIOUS FAILURE FOR SOMEONE ELSE OWNING A BMW. I HAVE RETAINED THE FAILED GAS PEDAL AND CAN PROVIDE PICTURES TO YOU IF YOU LIKE. *TR