NHTSA Complaint #11047671 — 2014 BMW X5

ON OCTOBER 18, 2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:50PM, MY 2014 BMW X5 SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED IN MY GARAGE - THE FIRE FROM THE EXPLOSION DESTROYED ALL CONTENTS IN MY GARAGE, INCLUDING A SECOND CAR AND THE FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE DESTROYED THE HOUSE AND MOST OF THE CONTENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED IN MY GARAGE; THE GARAGE WAS CLOSED. I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE AT 7:30PM AND THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED AROUND 7:50PM. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION, I HAD JUST PURCHASED IT ON JUNE 27, 2017, IT WAS CERTIFIED WITH 16,000 MILES ON IT AND I ONLY PUT 5000 MILES ON IT WITHIN THAT 3.5 MONTH TIME PERIOD. THERE WERE NO SIGNAL OR WARNING INDICATORS ON, EVER; IT WASN'T EVEN DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CAR DROVE FINE THAT DAY AND NOTHING WAS AMISS. THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS ARE FAIRLY CERTAIN THE ABS CONTROL UNIT (A PART MANUFACTURED BY BOSCH) WAS FAULTY AND SHORTED, THUS CAUSING THE FIRE. THE INVESTIGATOR SAID THIS IS THE 150TH CASE HE'S SEEN OF THIS SPECIFIC CONTROL UNIT STARTING A FIRE. I WAS IN THE SHOWER DURING THE EXPLOSION, MY TWO AUTISTIC CHILDREN, AGES 7 AND 10, WERE SLEEPING. (MY HUSBAND WAS NOT HOME AT THE TIME). THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE WITH MY CHILDREN UNHARMED. THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY TRAUMATIC FOR MY TWO CHILDREN, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE SEVERE AUTISM. WE MOVED INTO A NEW HOME, BUT MOST OF OUR BELONGINGS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED AND WE ARE LITERALLY STARTING FROM SCRATCH. HERE ARE SOME LINKS TO THE NEWS REPORTS: HTTP://WWW.CBS8.COM/STORY/36634964/FAMILY-ESCAPES-HOUSE-FIRE-IN-CARMEL-VALLEY HTTPS://WWW.NBCSANDIEGO.COM/NEWS/LOCAL/HOUSE-FIRE-IN-CARMEL-VALLEY-451540633.HTML I WILL ALSO ATTACHED PHOTOS AND THE FIRE REPORT. THANK YOU