NHTSA Complaint #770538 — 1996 BMW 318TI

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN OFF CAR, KEY MOVED TO OFF POSITION WITHOUT RESISTANCE BUT DID NOT TURN OFF CAR. SWITCH LOCKED IN OFF POSITION BUT KEY WOULD MOVE AND CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. KEY COULD BE REMOVED AND REINSERTED BUT COULD NOT TURN OFF CAR. HAD TO PULL FUSE ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM TO STALL ENGINE AND DISCONNECT BATTERY TO TURN OFF POWER TO CAR. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON IN A LARGE NUMBER OF BMWS. INABILITY TO TURN OFF ENGINE COULD POSE HAZARD IF SITUATION REQUIRED DRIVER TO CUT POWER TO ENGINE. ALSO, BECAUSE ENGINE RUNS QUIETLY, POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE COULD THINK HE/SHE TURNED OFF HIS/HER CAR IN HIS/HER GARAGE BUT DID NOT, LEADING TO POSSIBLE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. DT