NHTSA Complaint #11405711 — 2002 BMW X5

CAR WAS PARKED. I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY CAR WITH THE KEY FOB AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I UNLOCKED THE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND AFTER GETTING IN THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THE GMIII CONTROLS THE CENTRAL LOCKING AS WELL AS OTHER ITEMS LIKE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, SUN ROOF, AND REAR UPPER AND LOWER HATCH. I ORDERS A NEW ONE AND WHEN I TOOK THE OLD ONE OUT TO REPLACE IT I FOUND THAT IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW FUSE 14. IT APPEARS A THYRISTOR OR TIAC GOT TO HOT AND SET THE BOARD AND CASE ON FIRE. I HAD SMELT A PLASTIC SMELL EARLIER WHILE DRIVING SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN BURNING BEFORE I PARKED. I AM ATTACHING PHOTOS.