NHTSA Complaint #11111791 — 2007 BMW 328I

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN AN OVERNIGHT GARAGE FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS WHILE I WAS TRAVELING. WHEN I RETURNED AND TRIED TO START THE CAR, I GOT AN ELV SYMBOL (BASICALLY LOCKED THE VEHICLE AND KEPT IT FROM TURNING OVER). IT ESSENTIALLY DRAINED THE BATTERY WHICH HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO BMWS. BMW KNOWS THAT THIS IS A FAULT ON VEHICLES MADE FROM 2006-2008. THE COST TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IS AROUND $1600. BECAUSE THE COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH VEHICLES IN THESE YEARS, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT SHOULD BE LISTED AS A RECALL.