NHTSA Complaint #11031869 — 2016 BMW X5

BMW HAS IN MY OPINION DELIVERED CARS WITH A SAFETY RISK DUE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING RISK DUE TO THEIR POOR SOFTWARE. THE METHOD FOR CONNECTING TO AND OPERATING AN IPHONE (AND PERHAPS OTHER PHONES) VIA THE RADIO AND SPEAKERS IS CLUMSY AND DISTRACTING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOFTWARE DEMANDS SIX OR SEVEN INTERACTIONS WITH THE PHONE SCREEN AND CAR CONTROL ROTARY SELECTOR AND CAR SCREEN TO ACHIEVE TUNING AN AM STATION. (THERE IS NO AM BAND IN THE RADIO BECAUSE THE BRAKES ON THIS HYBRID WOULD AFFECT THE AM SIGNAL.) IN MY OPINION, BMW HAS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING SOFTWARE AND IT SHOWS A CARELESS DISREGARD FOR ENSURING THE SAFEST DRIVING EXPERIENCE FOR ITS CUSTOMERS AND CLACK OF CONCERN FOR OTHER ROAD USERS. THE DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING ARE WELL KNOWN. I DROVE A RENTAL FORD ON THE WEEKEND - IT WORKED INTUITIVELY AND FLAWLESSLY VIA APPLE PLAY AND DID NOT CREATE ANY DISTRACTIONS. IN MY OPINION BMW SHOULD BE MADE TO RETRO-FIT THAT SOFTWARE TO THEIR AFFECTED PRODUCTS.