NHTSA Complaint #10628146 — 2011 BMW Z4

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AUBURN, CA. WE HAD JUST FINISHED LUNCH AND WERE PLANNING TO HEAD HOME. I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO START THE CAR AND WE HEARD A DISTINCT POPPING NOISE. AS I ENGAGED THE TRANSMISSION AND STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD I IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THE BMW HAD LOST ITS BRAKING ABILITY. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR AND RE-PARK THE VEHICLE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE FLAT BEDDED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN SACRAMENTO, CA. THE DEALER TOOK A WEEK TO REPAIR IT AND WHEN I RETRIEVED THE CAR THE REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE POWER ASSIST AND MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED. RECENTLY I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH BMWS AND FOUND THAT BMW HAS BEEN DOING A "VOLUNTARY" RECALL ON 2012S AND 2013S. BMW HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2011 MODELS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE BMW TO IMMEDIATELY INITIATE A MANDATORY RECALL ON ALL BMWS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR BRAKING SYSTEM. IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT SPEED THERE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE INJURY. IF IT HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED WE HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR