NHTSA Complaint #10538646 — 2000 BMW 3 SERIES

I WAS PREPARING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN "NEUTRAL" AND DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE OR MOTION. THE REVERSE NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR ON A LIMITED BASIS OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS. A SHORT TIME PRIOR TO THIS, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE CAR WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 25 MPH AND 30 MPH DRIVING FORWARD. IT WAS SUBTLE AND ACTUALLY BEGAN TO GO AWAY. I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY UNUSUAL STRESS, NOISE, OR DIFFICULTIES WHILE GOING INTO REVERSE PRIOR TO FINDING IT COMPLETELY GONE TODAY. I FEEL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND DID NOT INVOLVE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. I FEAR THAT IT COULD HAVE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN GREAT BODILY HARM, HAD I NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. I FEAR FOR WHAT THIS MAY COST TO REPAIR OR EVEN EVALUATE, SINCE MANY ONLINE HAVE EXPRESSED A SIMILAR SITUATION RESULTING IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF REPAIRS. *JB