NHTSA Complaint #11220458 — 2015 BMW I3

THE I3'S POWER STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL TO THE LEFT RESULTING IN ME DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST OFF THE ROAD. (LOW SPEED, 15MPH). USING FORCE, I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, WITHOUT THE USUAL POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE, STRAIGHTENING OUT THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION AND GOT ME ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALSO MOVING BY ITSELF CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. STRAIGHTEN OUT THE WHEEL AGAIN AND IT WOULD TURN ITSELF TO THE RIGHT AGAIN. THE I3 WAS IMMEDIATELY POWERED DOWN AND RESTARTED/REBOOTED AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. SINCE THIS OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED, THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT WAS REDUCED. HOWEVER, IT THIS WERE TO OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT COULD BE DISASTROUS. NO ERRORS CODES WERE EVER DISPLAYED. I WILL BE INSTALLING A DASH CAMERA TO RECORD THE NEXT TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS IN MANY OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.