NHTSA Complaint #10489189 — 2006 BMW X5

MY VEHICLES REAR DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE LOCK GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR STOPPED WORKING ON THE 12TH OF DECEMBER 2012 AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING TODAY 18 DECEMBER 2012. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED WORKING THIS MORNING WHEN I DROPPED MY DAUGHTER OFF FOR SCHOOL. SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE BACK SEAT AFTER MULTIPLE UNLOCKING ATTEMPTS OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAD TO HAVE HER CLIMB INTO THE FRONT SEAT IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THAT IS TERRIFYING TO THINK THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY, FIRE, OR ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHER BMW MODELS. I AM ASSUMING AND CONCERNED THAT MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL DO THE SAME. MYSELF AND FAMILY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER CONSUMERS THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES. ITS JUST NOT SAFE. I HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE OLDER WITH MORE MILEAGE AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH DOORS NOT OPENING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAZARD. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND I AM WAITING ON A REPLY ON HOW THEY PLAN TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. *TR