NHTSA Complaint #10898536 — 2011 BMW X5

AS I WAS DRIVING A CHECK BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, I DROVE FOR APPROX 2 MORE MINS AS I TRIED TO PARK AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. I BLOCKED CITY STREET TRAFFIC FOR OVER 2 HRS BEFORE A TOW TRUCK COULD GET ME. AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION I WAS DRIVING 15-20 MPH. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT ON A FREEWAY OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY BMW THAT THE DRIVE BELT FELL APART, (WHILE I WAS DRIVING) IT WENT INTO THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED THE TIMING CHAIN AND CAM SYSTEM. THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT THE DRIVE BELT WOULD DESTROY THE ENGINE IN A MATTER OF 2 MINS AND/OR IT IS DEFECTIVE DRIVE BELT. THE CAR HAS APPROX 42K MILES. BMW OFFERED FOR ME TO PAY $2800 FOR THEM TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART AND INVESTIGATE THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THIS CAR HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. ATTACHED ARE MY SERVICE RECORDS.