NHTSA Complaint #10545380 — 2008 BMW 1 SERIES

THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE TRUCK LID, CRACKED AND FELL OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY BMW DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH IS STILL VALID) AND THAT BIT WOULD COST 360 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID A SEARCH ON LINE AT HTTP://WWW.1ADDICTS.COM/FORUMS AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER 1 SERIES BMW OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS SOME DID HAVE THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED BY BMW WITHOUT CHARGE AND OTHERS DID NOT. ON THE FORUM I ALSO LEARNED BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BROKEN TAIL LIGHT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1 SERIES BMWS BETWEEN 2008 AND 2011. GIVEN THIS IS A BRAKE LAMP THIS ISSUE ALSO PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. I CALLED DIRECTLY TO BMW AT 1-800-831-1117 AND SPOKE WITH A COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE. AFTER EXPLAINING THE ISSUE HE ADVISED ME THAT BMW DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY WOULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT MY EXPENSE. I CONTEND THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S FLAW AND BECAUSE IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE FIXED UNDER A RECALL. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVE MY ISSUE WITH BMW. *JS