NHTSA Complaint #10747673 — 2015 BMW 328XI

JUST AS I WAS DRIVING OFF THE EXIT RAMP FROM THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, I LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING STEERING WHEEL, BRAKES AND THROTTLE. FORTUNATELY THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP BEFORE IT ENTERED THE ROAD, ALTHOUGH THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY WHO SOON SHOWED UP WAS CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WAS IN A DANGEROUS LOCATION. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER TO ANY PART OF THE CAR, INCLUDING HAZARD LIGHTS, WINDOWS OR DOOR LOCKS, OR EVEN THE LATCH TO OPEN THE HOOD. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART THAT FAILED WAS CALLED THE FEM, FRONT ELECTRONIC MODULE. I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY, OR EVEN WORSE, AT NIGHT, IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS NO FAILSAFE FOR THE FAILURE OF A PART LIKE THIS, AND THAT BAD QUALITY CONTROL ON AN ELECTRONIC PART CAN SO EASILY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.