NHTSA Complaint #11175900 — 2014 BMW 535D

THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY DUE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN A CRITICAL COMPONENT WHERE THE DRIVER SHOULD BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN CASE OF AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OR IN AN EMERGENCY WHEN ITS CRITICAL THAT THE DRIVER IS ABLE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR EVEN IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, BATTERY DIES, THE CAR IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR THE CAR FALLS INTO A BODY OF WATER - IN ANY OF THESE CASES THE DRIVER SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY. THE FAILURE OF THIS DOOR ACTUATOR ALSO PREVENTS THE DOOR TO BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED MANUALLY. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AND TO BMW, WITHOUT ANY RECOURSE.