NHTSA Complaint #10747397 — 2012 BMW 335I

ON SATURDAY 8/8/15, I WAS PARKING MY BMW 335I CAR TO GET GROCERIES, AND WHILE ENTERING THE PARKING SPOT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE SHIFT CONTROL WAS LOCKED IN DRIVE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. LASTLY I FINALLY HIT THE STOP ENGINE BUTTON, AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED, BUT NOT AFTER I HAD BUMPED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME IN MY PARKING SPACE. AS I WAS RESTING AGAINST THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER AFTER STOPPING THE CAR'S ENGINE INTO PARK, AND RE-STARTED THE CAR. THE ENGINE IDLED AT 7000 RPM, TOTALLY RACING AGAIN. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND SAT THERE FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES. I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN, AND IT FINALLY IDLED NORMALLY AT 800-1000 RPM, PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND BACKED OFF THE BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I GOT OUT, AND SAW NO DAMAGE THANKFULLY, BUT WAS VERY AFRAID OF THIS OUT OF CONTROL CAR BEHAVIOR THAT I EXPERIENCED. I NOW KNOW TO HIT THE STOP BUTTON IF THE BRAKES JUST DON'T WORK WELL ENOUGH IF THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN. I AM CONTACTING MY DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE IN THE 335I, AND SEE IF THEY CAN EFFECT A REPAIR.