NHTSA Complaint #11113836 — 2008 BMW 535XI

WEDNESDAY JULY 25TH, 2018, AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE WORK, I STARTED MY CAR WHICH WAS PARKED IN MY COMPANY'S UNDERGROUND GARAGE AND THE INTERIOR BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND MORE SMOKE ENTERED INTO THE CAR. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WENT BACK TO MY OFFICE TO CALL AAA. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MINUTES LATER I WENT BACK TO THE CAR AND IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SMOKE IN THE GARAGE. AS I APPROACHED THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE BUT I COULD TELL THAT THE BOTH THE BACK AND FRONT WINDOW SHIELDS AND THE SUNROOF WERE SCORCHED. MY KEY FOB DID NOT WORK SO I HAD TO OPEN THE CAR WITH THE KEY. WITH THE DOOR OPEN THE THICK SMOKE ESCAPED AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AS A RESULT OF A FIRE. I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER BMW OWNERS IN THE PAST AND THAT THIS WAS A COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE IN LETTING YOU KNOW.