NHTSA Complaint #10715571 — 2011 BMW 528I

I AM EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM. AFTER GETTING NOWHERE WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, I ESCALATED THE MATTER TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, BUT THEY DECLINED TO ASSIST. I FEEL THEY ARE NOT TAKING THE MATTER SERIOUSLY AND MY SAFETY IS AT RISK. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE REPEATEDLY RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM: I DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND LEAVE IT PARKED. WHEN I COME BACK TO LEAVE FOR LUNCH, THE CAR WON'T START ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CRANKS AND THE BATTERY IS FINE. THE ONBOARD SYSTEM DISPLAYS THE SAME FUEL SUPPLY WARNINGS. AFTER HOURS OF REPEATED ATTEMPTS (OR UP TO A DAY LATER IN ONE INSTANCE), THE CAR DOES EVENTUALLY START. (ALL OF THIS CAN BE CONFIRMED INDEPENDENTLY. I TOOK PHOTOS/VIDEOS TO SHOW THE BMW TECHNICIANS, AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SENT TOW TRUCKS.) THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP ATTRIBUTED IT TO A FAULTY CONTROL MODULE, SAID IT WAS A "COMPUTER GLITCH" AND CLAIMED TO FIX IT BY REPROGRAMMING IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE SAME CONTROL MODULE, BUT THIS TIME THEY REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR IF IT COULD BE THE FUEL PUMP INSTEAD BUT HE SAID THEY TESTED IT AND IT WAS FINE. THE DAY AFTER I PICKED UP MY CAR, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. I ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION BUT THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE ONE. I THEN CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA DIRECTLY BUT THEY REFUSED TO INSPECT THE CAR OR EVEN PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIR ATTEMPTS. IF THE FUEL SUPPLY PROBLEM IS DUE EITHER TO THE CONTROL MODULE OR THE FUEL PUMP, THEN THESE PARTS APPEAR TO BE PRONE TO FAILURE EVEN WHEN NEW (IN THE CASE OF THE NEWLY REPLACED CONTROL MODULE) OR TESTED AS WORKING FINE (IN THE CASE OF THE FUEL PUMP). IF IT IS DUE TO SOMETHING ELSE, THEN WE SHOULD FIND OUT WHAT IT IS.