NHTSA Complaint #10953688 — 2016 BMW 228I

ON FEB 2, 2017 MY CAR (2016 BMW 228I) SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 4-1/2 HOURS. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAT 13,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, AND WAS LAST SERVICED (WHICH WAS THE 1ST SCHEDULED SERVICE) THREE MONTHS PRIOR AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP. I PURCHASED (JAN 2016) THE VEHICLE NEW WHICH WAS SPECIAL ORDERED AND DELIVERED FROM GERMANY (MAR 2016). I HAD NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND DESTROYED IN APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES FROM THE FIRE IGNITION TIME (MUFFLED EXPLOSION AND FLAMES OBSERVED FROM MY LIVING ROOM WINDOWS) AS A RESULT OF THE CAR FIRE, MY TOWNHOUSE HOME ALSO CAUGHT FIRE AND SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. IN ADDITION, MY WIFE'S CAR WHICH WAS PARKED ADJACENTLY WAS ALSO DAMAGED. I BELIEVE THAT 2016 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE 228I MODEL WAS IMPORTED INTO THE U.S., BUT I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET INDICATING SIMILAR FIRE INCIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FOR PERHAPS THE LAST 6-7 YEARS WITH VARIOUS BMW MODEL CARS. I ONLY FOUND THIS INFORMATION (THROUGH A SEARCH) AFTER MY INCIDENT (SEE: HTTPS://BMWPROBLEMS.WORDPRESS.COM/BMWOWNERSBEWARE/). I WAS RECENTLY CONTACTED BY VOICEMAIL BY ABC NEWS INVESTIGATIVE OFFICE INDICATING THAT THEY WERE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING BMW FIRES. AS SUCH, THIS FAILURE APPEARS SYSTEMIC OF AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE FIRE MARSHALL WAS AT THE SCENE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AWAY FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. AT THE TIME, HE INDICATED TO ME THAT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS A PROBABLE CAUSE. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FINAL REPORTING FROM THE STATE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS ALSO INVESTIGATING. IN ADDITION, BMW NA HAS ALSO RESPONDED TO MY REPORTING THE INCIDENT BY INDICATING THAT THEY WOULD ALSO BE SENDING AN INVESTIGATOR. *JS