NHTSA Complaint #11344282 — 2013 BMW X3

ON AUGUST 1ST, WE EXPERIENCED A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY; THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN IN TRAFFIC, HARD JERKING, SMELLED OF BURNING FUEL OR FUMES. WE THEN TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN TALLAHASSEE WHICH WAS TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. AFTER THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND AFTER THEY EXAMINED IT AND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, THE BRAKES ON BOTH SIDES BECAME EXTREMELY HOT WITH EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKING FROM BOTH BRAKES. THEY EXPLAINED THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY UNUSUAL AND COULD HAVE CAUSED DANGEROUS RESULTS ON THE ROAD. WE WERE TOLD IT WASN'T IN OUR BEST INTERESTS NOT TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IT MORE THAN 2 MILES. WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE IT ACROSS THE STREET WITH CARMAX, THE LIEN HOLDER. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S ISSUE THE BMW DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T HELP US UNLESS WE PAID NEARLY 5K OUT OF POCKET. CARMAX ALSO WOULDN'T HELP UNLESS WE AGREED TO PAY THEM AS WELL. WE ARE OUT OF A MAJOR LOSS CONSIDERING IT'S WAS DEFECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND WE'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS. WE WERE TOLD WE WERE LUCKY AND THAT THE TIRES WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON THE ROAD.! WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER; WE ARE NOT FINANCIALLY STABLE TO INCUR SUCH A FINANCIAL LOSS AS WELL AS LOSING THE VEHICLE. THANKS