NHTSA Complaint #10887535 — 2011 BMW X3 SAV

I FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE GEARSHIFT WHICH IS ELECTRONIC. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 50 YEARS AND EVERY CAR OR TRUCK I HAVE OWNED OR DRIVEN THE SHIFT LEVER WHEN PUSHED FORWARD ON THE CENTER CONSOLE OR UP ON THE COLUMN GOES INTO PARK. IN THIS BMW WHEN YOU PUSH THE SHIFT LEVEL ALL THE WAY FORWARD THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE NOT PARK, A SEPARATE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED TO ELECTRONICALLY PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK.I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO BOTH THE DRIVER (WHO CAN THINK THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AS I HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN DROPPING SOMEONE OFF OR IN A DRIVE THROUGH) AND THEN EITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER STEPS OUT AND THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE NOT PARK AND COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.IT IS ALSO A HAZARD TO A PERSON OR VEHICLE BEHIND THE VEHICLE THAT THE DRIVER THOUGHT WAS IN PARK. THIS SETUP IS NOT INTUITIVE AT ALL AND GOES AGAINST ALL LOGIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN OWNED FOR A SHORT TIME AND I CANNOT GET USED TO THIS SETUP AS I HAVE OTHER VEHICLES (INCLUDING A 2004 BMW X3) THAT HAVE THE CONVENTIONAL SHIFT PATTERN. THIS SHIFT PATTERN AND SHIFTER IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND I FEEL UNSAFE.