NHTSA Complaint #11557688 — 2023 BMW I4
POWER TRAIN issue reported to NHTSA
Complaint Details
| ODI Number | 11557688 |
| Vehicle | 2023 BMW I4 |
| Component | POWER TRAIN |
| Date of Incident | |
| Date Filed | |
| Mileage | N/A miles |
| Crash | No |
| Fire | No |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Vehicle Towed | No |
| State | IL |
Consumer Description
My 2023 electric BMW i4 was driving normally on the evening of 11/29/2023. I was near the end of a 30 minute commute when a drivetrain error popped on the screen followed by an error that said "increased steering effort." Within seconds of those messages, without any physical signs of an issue, the car completely lost all power and steering and abruptly stopped in the middle of the street. As the car abruptly broke down, it went into park. It was so abrupt that there wasn't even time to pull over or coast to a safer area. I was stopped in the middle of the street. I couldn't restart the car nor could I shift the car into neutral. The car required a tow to the dealership. This is a SERIOUS safety issue. Had I been on a busier street or highway and suddenly lost all power and steering, I could have gravely injured myself and others. The vehicle has since been inspected by the local service center. They said there is a manufacturing defect with the copper brushes in the electric engine. They said the fix is to disassemble the motor to perform a labor-intensive cleaning. However, what is to prevent this issue from happening again? Especially since no parts are being replaced according to BMW. A car breaking down is one thing. A car abruptly stopping and losing all power and steering is an unacceptable failure. I am scared to drive this car ever again.
Related Complaints for the 2023 BMW I4
Other POWER TRAIN Complaints
#11706959
On [XXX] in Columbia SC, my vehicle reported a drivetrain failure at approximately 1800 and advised me to pullover im...
#11700075
I am reporting a recurring safety issue with my 2023 BMW i4 (VIN: [XXX] ), currently at 28,426 miles. The vehicle has...
#11676127
We had a drivetrain malfunction losing all power to car as we were driving.The car lost all control and drove less th...
#11656435
The only way I could explain it was as if my brakes were failing. After joining the bmw i4 group on Facebook and havi...
#11589917
As I was driving my car into the main avenue out of a parking lot, the car stalled and lost all power, the charge wen...
Recent Complaints for the 2023 BMW I4
#11713771
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving on the freeway. The sun shade was closed but had it been open, the ...
#11705991
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
While merging onto an interstate at speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of motive power and came to a comple...
#11700075
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a recurring safety issue with my 2023 BMW i4 (VIN: [XXX] ), currently at 28,426 miles. The vehicle has...
#11699707
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof of my BMW i4 exploded and shattered while I was driving under light rain on 45-mph road. The explosion wa...
#11683180
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle randomly caught fire after sitting idle for approximately 8 hours. Going to a conference in Aria Las Veg...