NHTSA Complaint #745277 — 1996 BMW 328I

SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR, THE KEY TURNS FREELY (ALL THE WAY AROUND WITHOUT STARTING TE CAR). WHEN I REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN 1998 TO TE BMW DEALER IN COLUMBUS, GA, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL REACTION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS "CHECKING" THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPEN TWO-THREE TIMES A MONTH. YESTERDAY (MAY 12, 2001), I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND STOPPED TO TURN IT OFF. THE IGNITION STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION BUT I COULD PULL MY KEY OUT AND THE ENGINE WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO I HAD TO STALL THE CAR IN ORDER TO GET THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO CUT OFF, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS STILL ON. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO TURN OFF. I BELIEVE THAT THE FREELY TURNING IGNITION AND THE STUCK IGNITION ARE RELATED.*AK