NHTSA Complaint #11166168 — 2015 BMW X5

ON 12/14/18 AT 11PM ON A DARK ROAD WITH MY YOUNG KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT AND WIFE AS PASSENGER, WE WERE IN MOTION AT 35 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE DASH INDICATED A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THIS CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION LOCK TO PREVENT TWO-WHEEL TOWING THAT MAKES IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. WE ARE LEFT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A DARK ROAD AROUND A BLIND CURVE AND NO WAY TO MOVE THE CAR, AND A FLAT-BED TOW TRUCK WOULD NOT ARRIVE FOR HOURS. BMW HAS DIAGNOSED A HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE THAT SENT METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM INCLUDING INJECTORS MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $14,000. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS SAME CAR HAD THE SAME REPAIR SIX MONTHS EARLIER BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THIS CAR HAS SUFFERED TWO CATASTROPHIC FUEL SYSTEM FAILURES RESULTING IN DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS BEING STRANDED IN VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THIS YEAR ALONE. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH SUBSTANTIAL INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH AS A RESULT. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE X5 DIESEL HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WITH MANY OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS, SOME OF WHOM STATE FEELING LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. IT IS HIGHLY POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE CASES OF THIS SAME VEHICLE CAUSING TRAGIC ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TIED BACK TO THE FUEL PUMP DUE TO EXCESSIVE VEHICLE DAMAGE OR PERHAPS DRIVER DEATH. BMW HAS REFUSED TO COMMENT, BUT OTHER BMW MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS.