NHTSA Complaint #11030409 — 2014 BMW X1 SAV

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON PAPER MILL ROAD IN NEWARK, DELAWARE AND HEARD A "KERTHUNK" FROM THE ENGINE. HE PULLED OVER TO THE HARD SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, SAW HE HAD NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING, AND THEN SAW OIL GUSHING ONTO THE ROAD FROM THE MOTOR. A FEW MINUTES LATER, AS HE WAS SITTING IN THE STATIONARY CAR, HE SAW THE HOOD OF THE CAR STARTING TO BUBBLE. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE -- THAT PROCESS TOOK AROUND 15 MINUTES. THE DELAWARE STATE PATROL (OFFICER FERGUSON) ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE BMW DEALER FOR A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT 9 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRE. BMW USA ISSUED A NOTICE IN JULY 2017 ABOUT ISSUES WITH A THERMOSTAT IN THE X1. THE THERMOSTAT WAS THE ONLY PART REPLACED BY THE DEALER DURING SERVICE (NB: THERE HAD ALSO BEEN A NORMAL OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE AT THE END OF AUGUST BY THE SAME DEALER.)