NHTSA Complaint #10474681 — 2010 BMW 535I

WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR, I EXPERIENCED A SERIES OF FAULTS IN THE SYSTEM WHERE THE CAR FROZE UP AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF MALFUNCTIONS IN THE ELECTRONIC WARNING SYSTEM. ON 5/22/12, UPON LEAVING MY RESIDENCE, I LOST MOMENTARY CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR STOPPED, JERKED AND THEN I HIT A CURB AND WHEN I RIGHTED THE CAR, I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR ACCELLERATED TO A HIGH SPEED. I TRAVELLED APPROXIMATELY 100' TO WHERE THERE WERE THREE CARS AND ONE MOTORCYCLE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND HIT THE DRIVER OF THE MOTOR CYCLE AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH NEARLY $25,000 IN DAMAGE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING AFTER I HAD RECEIVED THE CAR, AND DURING A COLD START, THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT "JERKED" THE WHEEL TURNED AND THIS TIME I RIGHTED THE CAR. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE CAR DID IT AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. ONE WEEK LATER WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT (AGAIN A COLD START AND WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF MY HOME GARAGE), THE CAR DID THE "JERKING" MOVEMENT AND I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED BMW TO REPORT THE SITUATION AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A FAULT IN THE CAR'S SOFTWARE SYSTEM. BMW HAD THE CAR AT ITS SHOP FOR 10 DAYS, RETURNED IT TO ME AND I'VE NOT EXPERIENCED THE MALFUNCTION SINCE.