NHTSA Complaint #11677561 — 2012 BMW 328I

Dealer refused to cover DME that failed immediately after recall 24V-608 work. In early June 2025, I contacted my local BMW dealership about an overheat notification I received while driving. They confirmed there was an open recall on the vehicle for a water pump connector (Recall 24V-608). I had the vehicle towed to their location. They sent me a video walkaround that characterized everything looked good, except the water pump connector which had failed. Several days later, I was informed the recall repair had been completed but when they plugged in the new water pump connector, the DME shorted and they had to unhook the battery. Despite my best attempts to get this consequential damage covered as part of the recall work, BMW refused. I was told I had to come pick up the car as-is or pay for repairs. When I looked into the issue further online, I learned that if I had chosen to pick up the car, hook up the battery and attempt to start and drive it, I could have found myself stuck inside the car (electronic locks) with a DME that literally caused the whole car to start on fire. Thank goodness I didn't go that route. After further investigation into the recall issue (24v-608), I have learned the entire basis of the recall was risk of a "thermal event" caused as a result the faulty water pump connector shorting out. BMW never denied this when I brought it up. It is infuriating that BMW is suggesting the DME shorting out is not related to or covered by the water pump recall issue. A risk of thermal event is stated in the recall notice, and the DME literally shorted out DURING the recall repair work. They quoted me something like $5,000-7,000 to have the car drivable again. I'm at a complete loss.