NHTSA Complaint #10594998 — 2011 BMW 528I

IN JULY OF 2013 WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES STEERING. IT WOULD PULL VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER, CAUSING CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING OFF OF THE ROAD. WE TOOK IT TO OUR BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. WE WERE CHARGED $1773.14 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT.THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THAT WE MUST HAVE HIT A "POTHOLE", WHICH WE HADN'T. WE LIVE IN AN URBAN AREA WITH WELL MAINTAINED ROADS. I WAS ALSO NOT CLEAR ON HOW HITTING A POTHOLE, PRESUMABLY WITH ONE WHEEL, COULD BEND BOTH CONTROL ARMS. I SPOKE WITH AN INSURANCE ADJUSTER, TO SEE IF THE "DAMAGE" MIGHT BE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. I WAS TOLD "NO". THE ADJUSTER ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE HAD OWNED SEVERAL BMW'S HIMSELF, AND THEY WERE KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS. HE STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S UPPER CONTROL ARMS, HAVE 3 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS, AS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX. BY MARCH OF 2014 THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT BACK TO BMW TO HAVE IT RE-ALIGNED AND THEY ADVISED THAT MY TIRES, WERE TO WORN TO DO THE ADJUSTMENT. ON APRIL 19 2014 WE TRADED THE VEHICLE, AS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE PROBLEMS. I REQUESTED AND SAVED THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, AND VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWS NO DEFINITIVE BENT PARTS TO THE NAKED EYE. I BELIEVE THAT BMW HAS A SAFETY CONCERN WITH THOSE UPPER CONTROL ARMS, THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I CHECKED A FEW BMW BLOGS ONLINE, AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WILL GIVE MY CONTROL ARMS TO YOUR AGENCY FOR INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSES IF YOU DESIRE. I DO FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY RESULT IN FUTURE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES AND DO REQUEST YOU INVESTIGATE. *TR