NHTSA Complaint #11144413 — 2017 BMW X3

I LEASED A 2017 BMW X3 WITH 3370 MILES ON IT SO ALMOST BRAND NEW. I HAVE A 7.6 MILE COMMUTE FROM WORK TO HOME. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 230PM PST SOUTH ON THE 405 (HIGHWAY) IN LOS ANGELES. I PULL UP TO MY HOUSE AND PARK THE VEHICLE ON MY CITY STREET. I PARK TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND LOCK THE DOORS AND WALK INTO MY HOUSE. WITHIN 15 MINUTES, MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKS ON MY DOOR AND INFORMS ME THAT MY CAR IS ON FIRE. WHEN I LOOK OUTSIDE AT MY VEHICLE, IN BETWEEN THE HOOD OF MY CAR AND FRONT WINDSHIELD ARE SPITTING FLAMES OUT ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. IT THEN PROCEEDED TO BURN FAST AND HOT AND THERE WERE 30 FOOT FLAMES THAT HAD RUINED OUR FENCE AS WELL AS SINGED OUR NEIGHBORS TREE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND FINALLY TOOK OUT THE FLAME BUT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUINED. THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP LATER BUT HE REFUSED TO TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE SAW SMOKE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT BACK ON FIRE ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW SIDE. AIRBAGS HAD ALSO STARTED BLOWING UP WHEN THE SECOND FIRE CAUGHT. I HAD PUT MY HEAD INTO THE WINDOW WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING THAT I COULD BUT WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF PULLING MY HEAD OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ANOTHER AIRBAG WENT OFF AND ALMOST TOOK OFF MY HEAD. THERE WAS A DUAL INVESTIGATION WITH BMW AND MY INSURANCE SAFECO. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. INITIAL REPORT SAID THE DEFECT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL LINE. IF THIS CAR WAS IN A GARAGE OR ANY CLOSER TO OUR HOUSE EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES. OUR STORY WAS ON THE NEWS AS WELL. THERE WAS NO KNOWN RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE CHECKED EVERYWHERE. HTTPS://ABC7.COM/LA-FAMILY-DEMANDS-ANSWERS-AFTER-PARKED-BMW-CATCHES-FIRE/4213154/ HTTPS://WWW.NBCLOSANGELES.COM/NEWS/LOCAL/BMW-SPONTANEOUSLY-COMBUSTS-PARKED-ON-LA-STREET-493018841.HTML HTTPS://KTLA.COM/2018/09/13/PARKED-BMW-MYSTERIOUSLY-CATCHES-FIRE-IN-WESTCHESTER/