NHTSA Complaint #824270 — 1998 BMW 740

CONSUMER HAD ACCIDENTALLY LOCKED HERSELF IN HER CAR; CONSUMER WAS GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE WHEN SHE DROPED HER KEY, SHE THOUGH SHE DROP IT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, UNAWARE THE REMOTE KEY FELL BETWEEN THE DOOR AND DOOR FRAME WHEN SHE CLOSED THE DOOR; SOMEHOW THE REMOTE KEY ACTIVATED THE SECURITY MODE: SHUTING DOWN ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE, AND LEAVING THE CONSUMER LOCKED IN AND NO WAY TO GET OUT. CONSUMER WAS LOCK IN VEHICLE FOR MORE THEN TWO HOURS BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. TWO FACTORS HELPED THE CONSUMER; 1ST. SHE WAS NOT IN A REMOTE AREA AND THE 2ND. BECAUSE THE REMOTE KEY PREVENT THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ALL THE WAY; LEAVING A SMALL CRACK BETWEEN THE DOOR ALLOWING CONSUMER TO YELL FOR HELP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED,BUT INFORMED THE CONSUMER SHE SHOULD HAVE CARRY A EXTRA KEY. THE MAIN CONCERN WOULD BE WHAT WOULD OR COULD HAPPEN IF THE CONSUMER WAS LOCATED IN A REMOTE AREA?