NHTSA Complaint #10679970 — 2008 BMW 335I

AN OIL LEAK FROM THE TOP MOUNTED OIL FILTER HOUSING SPILLED ONTO THE RUBBER ACCESSORY BELT CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND DISINTEGRATE. THE RESULT WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWERS, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CHARGING AND POWER STEERING. THIS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING CREATED A SITUATION WHERE THE AUTO WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE LOSS OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING, CAUSED AN EVENTUAL COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF POWER AND SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE LEAVING ME ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY. THIS WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THIS OCCURRED AT ONLY A 65,000 MILE ODOMETER READING. *TR