NHTSA Complaint #10621105 — 2014 BMW 435I

ON 7/9/14, I BACKED OUR NEW 435I UP TO OUR GARAGE (OUTSIDE FOR THE NIGHT). THE GARAGE DOOR WAS OPEN, AND THE WARNING SYSTEM LET ME KNOW THAT I WAS CLOSE TO OUR LAWNMOWER. ONCE I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH, I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR, AND IMMEDIATELY THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO FULL SPEED. I WAS ALREADY ON THE FOOT BREAK, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. OUR DRIVEWAY IS CONCRETE AND QUITE SLICK. THE REAR TIRE SPUN UNCONTROLLABLY, CREATED A CLOUD OF SMOKE, AND LEFT A PILE OF TIRE DEBRIS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. I HIT THE KILL SWITCH AND REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR FURTHER. IT IS NOW 8/9/14 AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION. WE WROTE A LARGE CHECK AS A DOWN PAYMENT FOR THE CAR AND ARE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE WE DO NOT POSSESS. I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED BY AN ENGINEER, AND THAT THE REPORT WOULD TAKE TWO DAYS TO COMPLETE. AFTER THAT, THE ENGINEERING TEAM HAS 10 DAYS TO REVIEW THE RESULTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, BMW (CORPORATE IN NJ) HAS ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS FOR EVALUATION. I ASKED FOR ANY RESULTS, BUT WAS TOLD NO INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. *TR