NHTSA Complaint #11138943 — 2007 BMW 328I

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, (TODAY'S DATE IS 10/8/18) MY DRIVERS SIDE REVERSE LIGHT WENT OUT. WITH IT BEING A LIGHT THAT ISN'T REALLY A NECESSITY OR SAFETY HAZARD, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY URGENCY REPLACING. LAST NIGHT I DECIDED TO PEEL THE COVER OFF THE TRUNK TO ACCESS MY TAIL LIGHT, AND ONCE REMOVED, THE ENTIRE BULB HOUSING FALLS OUT OF THE TAIL LIGHT. THERE IS A LOT OF MELTED PLASTIC (IT WAS VERY VERY HOT) IN THE TAIL LIGHT. I EXAMINE THE BULBS, NONE BEING BURNT OUT. NO WHERE ON THE PART THAT THE LIGHTS ACTUALLY GO INTO HAS ANY HEAT DAMAGE (BURNT AND CRACKED PLASTIC). I THEN CONTACT MY MECHANIC WITH A VIDEO ASKING HIM WHAT I NEED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE NOW THAT I SEE MY TAIL LIGHT IS LITERALLY MELTED. HE SAYS HE'LL HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT AND WILL COME BY IN THE MORNING. HE WAS 'BAFFLED' AND SAID THAT IT IS ENTIRELY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT, AFTER INSPECTING THE CONNECTOR, AS WELL AS ALL THE WIRING. I THEN HAD HIM, (OUT OF CURIOSITY) CHECK AND SEE IF THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO DEFECTED. I GET ON GOOGLE AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY EXACT CAR, AND NUMEROUS PEOPLES VEHICLES HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES BUT THERE ISN'T A RECALL?? EVEN PEOPLE'S CARS THAT ARE TURNED OFF??? I HAVE TWO TODDLERS AND JUST TRAVELED 750 MILES AWAY 1500 MILES FROM HOME AND BACK. I AM VERY ANGRY AT THE FACT THAT THEY AS WELL AS MY OWN SAFETY WAS IN DANGER THE ENTIRE TIME AND WE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF. AND I'M EVEN MORE ANGRY THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN TAKING MY NIECE TO AN APPOINTMENT TOMORROW MORNING (I DO HAVE TO FIND OTHER MEANS TO GET HER THERE) AND MY CAR JUST COMBUSTS, HAD I NOT CARED TO REPLACE THE BULB, MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE WHILE TYPING THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY BMW IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE.