NHTSA Complaint #10608320 — 2001 BMW 325CI

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, I SUDDENLY HEARD A DRAGGING, SCRAPING NOISE THAT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THAT SOMETHING WITHIN THE SPARE TIRE WELL HAD BECOME LOOSE. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FURTHER WITH NO ABATEMENT OF THE NOISE, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A SERVICE STATION WITH A MECHANIC. AFTER CHECKING THE TRUNK, THE CAR WAS ELEVATED AND A WELDING FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL STRAP BRACKET WAS NOTED. THE SOUND CAME FROM THE TANK STRAP BEING DRAGGED ALONG THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DROPPED FROM WHAT THE MECHANIC STATED WAS ITS ORIGINAL "SEAT." THE MECHANIC SECURED THE CABLE AND TANK WITH STEEL TWINE, GAVE ME THE FAILED BRACKET, AND INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ASAP. I TOOK THE CAR AND THE BRACKET TO DEALERSHIP ON 07/03/14. RECEIVED CONFIRMATION THAT THE STRAP BRACKET HAD INDEED FAILED. *TR