NHTSA Complaint #10595557 — 2008 BMW X5 SAV

WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH AND ABOUT TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AN ORANGE WARNING SIGN CAME UP THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD A RED SIGN CAME UP STATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED AND I COULD HEAR THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE FAN. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED FOR ABOUT 15 MIN. AND WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE FAN WAS STILL LOUD AND THE RED ENGINE OVERHEATED SIGN CAME UP AGAIN. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP AND SAID THAT THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR IS AROUND $1700.00. THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE 4 YEAR, 50000 MILES WARRANTY AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I AM SEEING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM 2008 BMW X5 OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE AND HAD THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE - WHEN DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY LOSING ALL POWER IN THE VEHICLE, VERY FEW DRIVERS WOULD BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA CONSIDER THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FROM A RECALL PERSPECTIVE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL HARM IT CAN DO TO THE LIVES OF MOTORISTS WHO MAY NOT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID A SERIOUS CRASH. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE BASIC SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD THE NEEDFUL TO HELP OWNERS FIX THE ISSUE PROACTIVELY, BEFORE IT CAUSES HARM TO MORE MOTORISTS. *TR