What 73 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 528i

A VEHICLE(SUV) ENDED MY CAR IN THE REAR IN A PRETTY GOOD SPEED WHEN I WAS IN THE SLOW TRAFFIC ALMOST STATIONARY(5 MPH). CRASH IMPACT WAS HIGH. HAD TO CALL IN AN AMBULANCE AS MY FRIEND SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT WAS HURT BADLY. AS WE REALIZE AFTER THE CRASH, ENGINE GOT STOPPED & AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DUE TO FAULT IN AIRBAG. ENGINE DID NOT START LATER & THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A FACILITY IN PROSPECTS HEIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED ON A CITY HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LANE. VERY LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS AT THAT TIME AROUND 6PM ON 02/26.

NHTSA ODI 11190282

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 528I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A PUNGENT ODOR WAS PERCEIVED IN THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY SECONDS LATER, THE TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR AND THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S FARM. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS UNUSUAL. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A SPECIALIST WOULD CALL WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11044432