NHTSA Complaint #10474579 — 2008 BMW 335I

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN EFFORT TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT REGARDING A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE OCCURRING ON CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 31ST, I HAD TAKEN MY CAR (2008, 335I) TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, I NOTICED ALL MY SETTINGS WERE LOST. LATER, WITHIN THE HOUR, I NOTICED THAT I COULD NO LONGER UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE REMOTE DOOR OPENER OR FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. I COULD ONLY ENTER AND EXIT (VIA THE DRIVER DOOR) USING THE MANUAL KEY. IN ATTEMPTING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, I HAD REVIEWED NUMEROUS SITES/BLOGS AND DISCOVERED THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ACTUATOR CAUSING A FUSE TO CONTINUE TO BLOW. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY (9/4). THEY WERE TOO BUSY TO SCHEDULE ME THE NEXT DAY. ON TUESDAY, THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR (AS MANY HAVE REPORTED). THE DEALERSHIP ALSO CONFIRMED THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS. I AM VERY SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. INCASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WATER HAZARD AND/OR FIRE, ONLY THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. ALL OTHER PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS TO EXIT OUT THE DRIVER DOOR. IN CASE OF A FIRE, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR