NHTSA Complaint #10480842 — 2001 BMW 330CI

I WENT OVER A SMALL SPEED BUMP WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED HEARING THIS METALLIC RUBBING NOISE AS IF I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING BEHIND A CAR. I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE & FOUND A METAL STRIP HANGING & DRAGGING ON THE PAVEMENT RIGHT NEXT TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. THE METAL BRACE WAS APPARENTLY THERE TO RESTRAIN THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. THE FULLY LOADED FUEL TANK WAS HANGING UNDER THE CAR JUST INCHES ABOVE THE PAVEMENT. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE SO I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THIS SEEMED VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AS THIS COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY WHERE I MAY NOT EVEN HAVE HEARD THE NOISE. AT WORST THIS LOADED FUEL TANK COULD HAVE LEAKED OR FALLEN OFF THE CAR STARTING A FIRE. THE CAR IS IN SHOP AT THE MOMENT & THE REPAIR ESTIMATE IS IN EXCESS OF $600. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUES ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER & BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIR BILL. THANK YOU *TR