NHTSA Complaint #10703660 — 2014 BMW X5

VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AT LESS THAN 5 MPH CAREENING SIDEWAYS DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE WHILE INCREASING SPEED UNTIL CRASHING HEAD-ON INTO A RETAINING WALL. A CD OF THE INCIDENT TAKEN FROM VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IS ENCLOSED. CONDITIONS: LIGHT SNOW, TEMP . MID 30'S. INITIAL CRASH TAKES PLACE @ 12;11 PM. SECONDARY CRASH (DURING ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE) TAKES PLACE @ 12:14 PM. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FULL TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE, TRACTION CONTROL AND THE BMW X DRIVE SYSTEM TOUTED BY THEM AS THE BMW ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, XDRVE, ENSURES BMW HAS THE BEST POSSIBLE TRACTION AT ALL TIMES, ENHANCING AGILITY AND KEEPING YOU SAFELY ON TRACK. IN REALITY THIS VEHICLE WAS SO UNSTABLE DURING THIS INCIDENT THAT RECOVERY WAS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A NEW STRAP AND UTILITY TRACTOR. THIS ROADWAY HAD BEEN PLOWED AND SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATED BY FOUR OTHER VEHICLES-INCLUDING A FEDEX DELIVERY TRUCK WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWO HOURS. COLLISION DAMAGE, GREATER THAN $5,000. PROPERTY DAMAGED, TO BE DETERMINED. WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS VEHICLE AND URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE. MY WIFE IS NO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE A FATALITY WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT HAS EXHIBITED SIMILAR LOSS OF CONTROL ON OTHER OCCASIONS DURING LIGHT SNOW. ....UPDATED 04/02/15 *BF