NHTSA Complaint #11121989 — 2012 BMW X5

PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE A STORE AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE, ON MY RETURN THE PARKING BRAKE COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED AND THE "PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION" SIGN SHOWED UP. ALL 4 TIRES GOT LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO GET THE SUV TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR WHICH COSTED ME ABOUT $2000. IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL WHEN THE SUV GOT STUCK AS I HAD MY KID AND FAMILY WITH ME. SHOP HAD TO REPLACE THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM SHOW UP SO FREQUENTLY RECENTLY. THE PART SUPPLIER WHO SENT THE NEW PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR MENTIONED THAT THEY USED TO SHIP UPTO 5 PIECES PER MONTH BUT NOW THEY ARE SHIPPING HUNDREDS PER MONTH. SO IT SEEMS THAT ITS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM, AND I WANT TO BRING THIS TO NHTSA'S ATTENTION SUCH THAT IT CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND CAN HELP OTHER DRIVERS WHO MAY FACE THIS PROBLEM IN FUTURE.