NHTSA Complaint #10779594 — 2011 BMW X6

ON 10/02/2015, I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL. SUDDENLY, THERE'S THIS LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. THE ROAD WAS VERY SMOOTH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT COLLIDE WITH ANY POTHOLES OR ANY ROAD OBJECTS. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DID A QUICK INSPECTION, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SO I GOT BACK ONTO THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING. DURING ACCELERATIONS AND GOING ABOVE 40MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND I STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL BUT MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH AND ASKED SEVERAL MECHANICS, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VEHICLE IS GOING BAD, AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BMW X6. I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OR ELSE IF THE DRIVE SHAFT HAPPENS TO BREAK ON THE FREEWAY, IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHICH ME AND MY KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ADDITIONALLY, AT 54K MILES, THE VEHICLE'S VALVE STEM SEALS HAS ALREADY GONE BAD, (THEY USUALLY DON'T GO BAD UNTIL 120K MILES) THE ENGINE OIL IS LEAKING TOWARDS COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND BURN OFF THROUGH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE IS EMITTING AN EXTREMELY TOXIC, SULFURIC SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST, YOU CAN SMELL IT FROM FAR AWAY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. I HAD SEVERAL NEIGHBORS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL. NOT ONLY THAT THIS IS BAD FOR OUR HEALTH DUE TO THE CANCER-CAUSING CARCINOGEN IT IS ALSO BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. BMW HAS LONG ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND ISSUED A "CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE" WHICH THEY REFUSED TO CALL IT A RECALL. IN FACT, THEY REPLACED MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ON MY VEHICLE, BUT THE CUSTOMER CARE PACKAGE DID NOT FIX THE TOXIC, SULFURIC SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT FALSELY ADVERTISE AND SOLD US AN UNSAFE VEHICLE FOR NEARLY $85,000. *TR