NHTSA Complaint #11415310 — 2009 BMW 135I

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 135I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING HIS VEHICLE FOR SERVICE AT OTTO'S BMW (1275 WILMINGTON PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA 193820) HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROLL OVER CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR WHICH HE DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. I TOOK MY CAR TO OTTO'S BMW FOR A STATE INSPECTION, NOT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, AND OTTO'S DID NOT INFORM ME THAT THE ROC MODULE HAD FAILED. I FOUND OUT THE MODULE HAD FAILED BY USING MY CODE READER. WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR TO TAKE IT FOR THE STATE INSPECTION, I FOUND THE BATTERY HAD DIED. WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY, I FOUND THAT THE ROC MODULE HAD FAILED JUST BECAUSE MY CAR BATTERY DIED. THE ROC MODULE IS A MAJOR SAFETY MODULE, THAT EXTENDS THE HEAD PROTECTION IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THIS MODULE SHOULDN'T FAIL SIMPLY BECAUSE YOUR CAR BATTERY DIES. RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS MANY OWNERS OF BMW'S EXPERIENCE THIS MODULE FAILURE JUST BECAUSE THEIR BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED OR THEIR BATTERY HAD FULLY DISHARGED. I HAVE NEVER OWNED ANY OTHER CAR THAT A MAJOR SAFETY MODULE FAILED JUST BECAUSE THE BATTERY DISCHARGES. EVERY OTHER CAR, I WOULD SIMPLY REPLACE THE BATTERY AND EVERYTHING STILL WORKED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THIS MODULE FAILS, AS THE ROLL OVER PROTECTION DEVICES WILL NOT ACTIVATE IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT, AND THIS CAR IS A CONVERTIBLE. THIS MODULE COSTS OVER $500 AT BMW DEALERS, AND SEVERAL HUNDRED MORE FOR INSTALLATION CHARGES. FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THAT MANY OWNERS FAIL TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE DUE TO THE VERY HIGH COST, OR THEY GO TO A SECONDARY MARKET WHERE THESE MODULES ARE REPAIRED FOR A LOWER PRICE. ALL OF THIS IS SETTING UP OWNERS FOR MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH IF THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT AND THIS MODULE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR THIS OR AT LEAST OFFER A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUT