NHTSA Complaint #10523496 — 2008 BMW 528I

I HAVE A 2008 BMW 528I WITH 56,000 MILES WITH A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY (THE FULL FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO). THE VEHICLE COMPUTER IDENTIFIED 3 FAULTS AND THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER TAIL LIGHT CLUSTER IS NON-OPERATIONAL. I ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR; I WAS SURPRISED WHEN THE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (CPO) AND WILL COST $400+ TO REPAIR. THE REAR LIGHTS ARE A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT FOR ANY AUTOMOBILE AND MUST BE OPERATIONAL AT ALL TIMES. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE CPO WARRANTY. I CHOSE TO CONTACT BMW AND CHALLENGE THE WARRANTY COVERAGE BASED ON THE COMPONENT CRITICALITY. BMW DID NOT AGREE WITH MY POSITION AND STATED THE REPAIR WILL NOT BE COVERED BY BMW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY I IDENTIFIED THAT A WIRE HAS SHORTED AND MELTED SEVERAL PLASTIC PARTS RELATING TO THE TAIL LIGHT CLUSTER. BOTH THE LIGHT HOUSING AND THE WIRE ADAPTER ARE NO LONGER OPERATIONAL DUE TO THE BURNED AREA. I AM LUCKY THIS ELECTRICAL SHORT DID NOT START A FIRE BECAUSE IT IS LOCATED CLOSE TO THE BATTERY AND GAS PORT. I PERFORMED A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE AND REALIZED SEVERAL OTHER BMW 5-SERIES OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VERY SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *TR