NHTSA Complaint #10628240 — 2011 BMW 335I

UPON DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED (70+MPH) THE CAR SLOWED DOWN (ENGINE BRAKING) TO APPROX 40MPH INSTANTLY. THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE FORCED TO BRAKE FORCEFULLY. AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED BECAUSE IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. THE CAR DISPLAYED "ENGINE MALFUNCTION-DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP". THE CAR WAS WITHOUT POWER - JUST COASTING AT 40MPH OR SO, NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO GET IT OVER TO THE DEALER - FIELDS BMW OF NORTHFIELD, IL. THEY KEPT IT FOR A WEEK - TOLD ME IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION THAT CUT OFF POWER TO THE PRESSURE CONVERTER FOR THE TURBOCHARGER. WHEN ASKED IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AGAIN, THEY SAID POSSIBLY. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-831-1117 SPOKE TO [XXX] EXTENSION [XXX]. I DESCRIBED THE LIFE THREATENING MALFUNCTION AND I ASKED HIM TO TALK TO THE ENGINEERS AND TO GET BACK TO ME ON WHETHER THIS CAN BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE. NEXT TIME WE WILL BE LOOKING AT A FATALITY FOR ME OR OTHER DRIVERS. I ALSO ASKED HIM TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES DUE TO THE PROVEN LACK OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. HE NEVER RESPONDED TO MY REQUESTS - I CALLED TODAY - 8/25 - HE TOLD ME AS FAR AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA IS CONCERNED - THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE POSSIBLE FUTURE LOSS OF LIFE, THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I AM AVAILABLE FOR COMMENTS/CONTACT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR