NHTSA Complaint #11429433 — 2016 BMW M235I

Rear brake light failure due to faulty wiring. Identical to the details located in this article (https://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/01/bmw-recalling-241-000-3-series-models-over-faulty-tail-lights/) for which the NHTSA had issued a recall for older BMW models in the past. This issue is common and wide-spread amongst bmw models produced between 2014 - mid 2016. After which BMW modified the wiring harness for the brake lights to fix the electrical shorting failures. This failure renders the entire housing inoperable - Brake light, turn signal and reverse lamp. Summary: OVER TIME, RESISTANCE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MAY CAUSE ONE OR MORE REAR LAMP FUNCTIONS (TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND/OR TURN-SIGNAL), WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S BODY PANEL, TO STOP WORKING. Consequence: INTERMITTENT LIGHT OPERATION REDUCES THE ABILITY TO WARN OTHER MOTORISTS OF THE DRIVER'S INTENTIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. I have attached a BMW TSB (SI_B63_05_17) which outlines that BMW was aware of this issue as early as October 2017 but did not issue a voluntary recall for an issue that warranted a recall in the past. My brake light housing failed as a result of the faulty ground wire 8 months after the extended warranty on these parts lapsed resulting in an estimated $1140 in repairs for a critical safety component for which I cannot operate the vehicle safely without. The vehicle is currently with a BMW dealership for inspection and repair. Warning messages appeared after the component had completely failed while driving. Incident occurred in early August 2021.