NHTSA Complaint #11246631 — 2012 BMW X5

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH 250 MILES AWAY FROM HOME THE DRIVE SHAFT ON MY BMW X5 BROKE. I THINK THE RECALL NUMBER IS 17V-138. I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE. THE CAR WAS BUCKING AROUND, SMOKING AND WAS VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. BEFORE THIS THE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY. IT HAPPENED IN AN INSTANT. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF OR MY PASSENGERS. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHO SAID IT WAS CATASTROPHIC. I LOOKED UP ON YOUR WEBSITE AND SAW THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS A RECALL. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS BY BMW. I HAD MY HOME GARAGE GO GET IT. THEY SENT IT TO A BMW DEALER WHO HAD IT OVER 2 MONTHS. THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. IT WAS RETURNED TO MY GARAGE. I DROVE IT ABOUT 10 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ON THE THRUWAY SO THIS WAS VERY SCARY. BMW IS SAYING THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO W THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAKING AND KILLING THE ENGINE AS PARTS WERE FLYING AROUND INSIDE. 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OVER BY MY GARAGE AS I WAS GOING ON A TRIP. I WAS TOLD MY CAR SHOULD HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER CHANGED NEXT TIME IN BUT IT WASN'T URGENT. I AM NOW LOOKING AT A $5000 REPAIR. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS FROM THE CATASTROPHE. BMW SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL THE TOWING CHARGES AND REIMBURSE MY GARAGE FOR LETTING ME HAVE A LOANER FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP. I HAVE PICTURES AND WILL TRY TO UPLOAD THEM.