NHTSA Complaint #11219776 — 2016 BMW X3

WHEN AT A STOP (LIGHT OR STOP SIGN), TRANSMISSION SWITCHES TO PARK FROM DRIVE. DOES NOT HAPPEN IN SPORT MODE JUST STANDARD AND ECONO. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO KNOWN TREND WHEN OR WHY OCCURRING. THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A SAFETY RISK TO BOTH THE OCCUPANTS AND OTHER DRIVERS. IF CAR FORWARD MOTION FROM A STOPPED POSITION IS DELAYED DUE TO HAVING TO SWITCH FROM STANDARD TO SPORT AND FROM PARK TO DRIVE, CAR IN REAR COULD ASSUME SUBJECT CAR WILL BE TIMELY WITH MOVING FORWARD AND STRIKE THE SUBJECT CAR OR THE DRIVER OF SUBJECT CAR (WITH PROBLEM) PANICS AND HAS A DELAY IN MOVING INTO TRAFFIC, THIS SITUATION COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE OR CYCLIST OR PEDESTRIAN STRIKE. APPEARS THAT TREND IS WELL KNOWN BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH. ENCINITAS, CA. BMW HAS SEEN CAR ON THREE OCCASIONS AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE TRIGGER FOR CONDITION (IE. ROOT CAUSE IS UNKNOWN). HOWEVER, A BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. AND, ENCINITAS BMW HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH WONDERFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE. HOWEVER, I FEEL A MORE FOCUSED AND EXPANDED STRATEGY IS NEEDED BY BMW TO IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSE. I'M REPORTING THIS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL WIDESPREAD /SIMILAR CONDITION THAT OTHER BMW OWNERS MAY BE FACED WITH. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP EXPEDITE ADDRESSING THIS SITUATION. I'M WORRIED THAT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER (DRIVERS OF CAR) COULD BE EXPOSED TO A SERIOUS BAD EVENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTION DESCRIBED ABOVE. AND OTHER PERSONS MAY BE EXPOSED AS WELL. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).