What 73 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 BMW 528i

On [XXX], Century West BMW in North Hollywood, CA performed recall 20E-A01 B120921 (DME reprogram/connector update) on my 2013 BMW 528i. Within 30 minutes of leaving the dealership, the car displayed a red “engine overheating – stop immediately” warning while I was in a crowded intersection with my child in the vehicle. This created an immediate danger to us and to surrounding traffic. Prior to the recall, the vehicle had no history of overheating. When I returned the next morning ([XXX]), the service advisor admitted they had no timestamp or documentation of the coolant bleed procedure. Instead of proving the recall was performed correctly, the dealership attempted to shift blame onto unrelated issues such as the thermostat or an oil leak, even sending me a video of the oil leak but providing no proof of proper recall completion or verification. This negligence placed me, my child, and the public at serious risk of injury and could have caused catastrophic engine damage. The fact that the vehicle overheated almost immediately after recall work indicates the recall was not properly completed or verified, and the car was returned to me in an unsafe condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11687089

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine and entering the cabin through the vents. The engine warning light was illuminated. There were unknown messages displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11633687

The electrical connector of the engine coolanta pump could become damaged. Small drops of liquid from the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system could drip down onto the electrical connector of the pump.

NHTSA ODI 11621878

I AM 70 YEARS OLD, DRIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND MY VEHICLE STOPPED! I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE WAS A LAWSUIT SETTLED ABOUT FAULY TIMING CHAINS IN 2021. MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY IT, NOT DUE TO MILEAGE BUT AGE. IT IS DANGEROUS FOR A CAR TO SUDDENLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO CALL THE POLICE TO STAY BEHIND MY CAR WITH LIGHTS FLASHING SO IT WAS NOT HIT. LOUISIANA WAS UNDER AN EXTREME HEAT WARNING AT THIS TIME. THE CAR COULD NOT BE STARTED AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR A WREAKER, IN EXTREME HEAT. BMW DID NOT RECALL THESE VEHICLES NAMED IN THIS SUIT. NO ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO LARGER CITIES FOR HEALTHCARE. I AM THANKFUL THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON AN INTERSTATE WITH SIX LANES. IN MY OPINION, RECALLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO OWNERS. IT PUTS DRIVERS AT RISK IN AREAS OF HIGH TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11530219

The car is from 2013. BMW USA does not want to cover the warranty due to the defective turbo feed oil line, part that it was replacing and I never received information from BMW about it. A few days ago I called and they told me that the car was manufactured in 2012 and had its First service in December 2012 I do not apply for the 10-year or 120,000-mile warranty. Really???rs absurd. They should check this out. My car has been smoking for more than 2 years and I never knew about it. Please help with the warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11516194

Error Codes : 1. E11480 No Message (Alive Counter Safety 0xD7) Receiver Instrument Cluster Transmitter Airbag 2. E11482 Message (Alive Counter Safety 0xD7) Not Current Receiver Instrument Cluster Transmitter Airbag 3. B7F685 Under Voltage . 4. E114DB Instrument Panel: Demand Based Service Message, Message From CBS Subscriber (BBV) Missing 5. E114DC Instrument Panel: Demand Based Service Message, Message From CBS Subscriber (BBH) Missing 6. E11421 Message Demand Based Service Message From CBS User Has Failed DRIVETRAIN MALFUCTION when drive sport mode The Trunk always Open for no Reason when unlock the car.

NHTSA ODI 11474654

My BMW suddenly started making a weird sound. I took it to BMW and they could not tell me exactly what happened. However they told me that a new engine was needed. I contacted headquarters and they referred me back to the local BMW. The Local BMW said that there's no way for them to know what caused the engine problem but they were recommending a new engine. I had no choice but to purchase a new engine, still to this day I have not idea why the engine failed. I strongly believe its something they are failing to admit is wrong with their engine that causes problems.

NHTSA ODI 11433977

AT LEAST 7 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS I HAVE HAD A WEIRD ENGINE PROBLEM. AFTER PARK THE CAR FOR AWHILE IT FAILED TO START WITH NO REASON. AFTER ONE HOUR OF TRYING TO START, ENGINE START AS USUAL. CAR HAVE BEEN TEST BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WHOLE WEEK AND NO CODES OR FAILS HAVE BEEN DETECTED. MOST OF THESE FAILS HAVE HAPPEND AFTER PARK THE CAR, A COUPLE OF TIMES ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER BEEN EVALUATED FOR THE DEALERSHIP, CAR HAS FAILED TWICE. SAME AS ALWAYS IT STARTS AGAIN AFTER TRYING SEVERAL TIMES. LAPSE BETWEEN FAILS IS 3 TO 4 MONTHS APART. FAIL HAPPENS ONLY ON THE CITY SO FAR.

NHTSA ODI 11389138

I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2013 528I BMW WITH LESS 90K MILES AND LESS THAN 8 YEARS OLD. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I RECEIVED A DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION THAT ABRUPTLY STOPPED THE CAR. I GOT TO FIND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DONE. I CALLED BMW TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THAT ISSUE, I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT MANY BMW OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND HAD TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED. IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR TRAFFIC INCIDENT ACCIDENT,

NHTSA ODI 11383392

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 BMW 528I IN APRIL 2019 WITH ~65K MILES AT THE TIME. THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING SLUGGISH. PER BMWS REQUEST I DROVE IT TO BMW SERVICE CENTER. FAULT CODES F133B04 AND F133E10. THEY PERFORMED CALIBRATION, TESTED AND SENT ME ON MY WAY AND NO MORE WARNING DISPLAYED. JUNE 2020 LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE (OIL CHANGE, CBS) AND INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYING. OCTOBER 2020 LOW OIL PRESSURE AND DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATORS COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME, BUT THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPS WHILE PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO BMW AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS TIMING CHAIN AND OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE, PLUS FAULTS WITH THE VANOS UNIT (FC 1C0102, 1C2002, 1C0301, 130F11, 130E11, 131401, 130308, 130304, 130108, 131501). TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER THEY WANT ME TO PAY $3,100+, BUT THAT IS NOT FIX IT. I STILL OWE $8K ON THE CAR AND NOW IT'S REQUIRING A ENGINE WORK THAT WILL POSSIBLY EXCEED WHAT I OWE ON THE CAR. MY CAR HAS 83K MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT BE INOPERABLE. THE TIMING CHAIN & OIL PUMP CHAIN DRIVE WAS KNOWN BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2016, BUT WAS NOT DISCLOSED. ALL OF MY SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE AT BMW. BMW SERVICED MY CAR WHEN THE INDICATOR CAME ON IN 2019, YET DID NOT GO FURTHER TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT THEY KNEW EXISTED. BMW NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX MY CAR FOR FREE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE" WITH 83K MILES ON IT SHOULD BE LANDFILL BOUND. INSTEAD OF ISSUING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, BMW SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR JUST STOPS AND LOCKS UP - NO WAY TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO AT LEAST MOVE IT SO THAT IT IS NOT A HAZARD. SOMEONE OR MANY PEOPLE COULD DIE IF A CAR DOES THIS ON THE HIGHWAY. BMW DO THE RIGHT THING.

NHTSA ODI 11366118

WHILE DRIVING A MESSAGE OF DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION POPS UP ON THE IDRIVE SYSTEM. SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ALONG WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. HAPPENS OCCASIONALY THEN I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND LOCK THEN UNLOCK AND RESTART. SOMETIMES THE MESSAGE WILL POP BACK UP AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11359896

DRIVING ALONG THE 8 FREEWAY, DRIVING STRAIGHT, BUT SLIGHTLY UPHILL, OUTSIDE SAN DIEGO, THE ENGINE DIED VERY SUDDENLY. WE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BMW OF EL CAJON, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAD FAILED, A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAD PLUGGED THE OIL PUMP, AND THE ENGINE LOST TIME, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 89,190 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11341346

IISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH I UNDERSTAND TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY BMW'S DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD A LOSS OF POWER ALONG WITH LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT.TOOK THE CAR THE A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE RESULTS WERE THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH CAM ADJUSTER SOLENOIDS AND PHASERS. ESTIMATED COST ALMOST $5K. CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 40 DAYS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS IS/HAS HAPPENED TO MANY BMW OWNERS OF 2012-2015 CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11340672

MY ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR AND THEN THE DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT.I TRIED TO RUN A SELF DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR AS THIS IS A FEATURE BUILT IN AND THE ENGINE OIL CHECK WOULD ONLY GO UP TO 15% AND CUT OFF. I TOOK IT INTO BMW OF BLOOMFIELD FOR SERVICE MENTIONING THIS TO THEM. THEY CHANGED THE OIL AND CLEARED THE CODES GOT THE CAR BACK. FAST FORWARD TO JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION LIGHT COME ON AND THE CAR STOPS ON ME. JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 1 MONTH AGO AND THE DEALERSHIP IS ADVANTAGE BMW OF HOUSTON

NHTSA ODI 11319772

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WAS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE CLOSEST CERTIFIED REPAIR SHOP. AFTER THE REPAIR RAN THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT HAD SEIZED. THEY ALSO QUOTED ME AT $9,900 FOR A NEW ENGINE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11280278

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED AND CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE. REPLACED AIR PUMP TO CONTROL ENGINE VACUUM, MADE CAR DRIVEABLE, COST $1200. DID NOT STOP DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGE FROM COMING ON. TOOK CAR IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE ISSUE. TIMING CHAIN IS ABOUT TO GO OUT. CAR IS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN WILL COMPLETELY FAIL. I GOOGLED THE ISSUE TO SEE IF IT IS COMMON AND FOUND OUT IT'S EXTREMELY COMMON WITH THE N20 ENGINES. THE ERROR MESSAGE COMES ON EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE MY CAR, AND IT HAS AFFECTED THE PERFORMANCE.

NHTSA ODI 11270653

PRE MATURE TIMING CHAIN AND VANOS FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11268233

THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON APRIL 19TH. WHILST CLIMBING AN UPHILL ON A MULTI LANE ROAD, I FELT I WAS LOSING POWER, CONFUSED AND WORRIED, I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDER AND HARDER ONLY TO REALIZE I WAS RAPIDLY SLOWING DOWN, AND THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED REVVING! LOOKING AT THE DASH, THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY HAD SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WAS COASTING UPHILL STEADILY LOSING SPEED. WAS IN THE CENTER LANE, HIT THE HAZARD LAMPS AND TRIED TO CHANGE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER FOR SAFELY. CAR IN THE ADJACENT LANES PARALLEL TO ME, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ALL FLASHERS GOING WERE NOT FRIENDLY AT FIRST TO LET ME CHANGE AND THANK GOD, I SOMEHOW FORCED MY WAY IN AND JUMPED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ENOUGH TO SAY, I AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WERE SCARED OF BEING REAR ENDED OR SIDE SWIPED AND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MULTI CAR COLLISION THAT WAS ALL AVOIDED FROM MY QUICK THINKING ON MY HEELS AND BIT OF LUCK ON MY SIDE. I TOWED MY CAR TO BMW DEALER. DEALER FOUND LOW OIL PRESSURE CODES, ON FURTHER DEBUGGING FOUND BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDE, AND INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDE. ONLY SOLUTION NOW IS TO SWITCH TO A NEW ENGINE COSTING APPROXIMATELY $17K. SINCE I HAVE 120K MILES. I LEANT ABOUT MY WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR TIMING CHAINS AND OIL PUMP. MY REQUEST FOR ANY ASSISTANCE UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN DECLINED BY BMW BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 120K MILES VS. 70K MILES WARRANTY PERIOD. WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT, I AM BAFFLED AT THE FACT THAT, BMW KNEW THIS PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE BUT DID NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IF I HAD KNOW I WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AT MY COST AND POTENTIALLY SAVED THE ENGINE. AT LEAST THEY SHOULD HAVE UPDATED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO INSPECT THE TIMING CHAIN DEGRADATION.

NHTSA ODI 11233680

THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON APRIL 19TH. WHILST CLIMBING AN UPHILL ON A MULTI LANE ROAD, I FELT I WAS LOSING POWER, CONFUSED AND WORRIED, I PUSHED ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDER AND HARDER ONLY TO REALIZE I WAS RAPIDLY SLOWING DOWN, AND THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED REVVING! LOOKING AT THE DASH, THE TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY HAD SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR WAS COASTING UPHILL STEADILY LOSING SPEED. WAS IN THE CENTER LANE, HIT THE HAZARD LAMPS AND TRIED TO CHANGE OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER FOR SAFELY. CAR IN THE ADJACENT LANES PARALLEL TO ME, NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE ALL FLASHERS GOING WERE NOT FRIENDLY AT FIRST TO LET ME CHANGE AND THANK GOD, I SOMEHOW FORCED MY WAY IN AND JUMPED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. ENOUGH TO SAY, I AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WERE SCARED OF BEING REAR ENDED OR SIDE SWIPED AND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MULTI CAR COLLISION THAT WAS ALL AVOIDED FROM MY QUICK THINKING ON MY HEELS AND BIT OF LUCK ON MY SIDE. I TOWED MY CAR TO BMW DEALER. DEALER FOUND LOW OIL PRESSURE CODES, ON FURTHER DEBUGGING FOUND BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDE, AND INFORMED ME THAT ENGINE WAS DAMAGED FROM THE BROKEN TIMING CHAIN GUIDE. ONLY SOLUTION NOW IS TO SWITCH TO A NEW ENGINE COSTING APPROXIMATELY $17K. SINCE I HAVE 120K MILES. I LEANT ABOUT MY WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR TIMING CHAINS AND OIL PUMP. MY REQUEST FOR ANY ASSISTANCE UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN DECLINED BY BMW BECAUSE THE CAR HAS 120K MILES VS. 70K MILES WARRANTY PERIOD. WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT, I AM BAFFLED AT THE FACT THAT, BMW KNEW THIS PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE BUT DID NOT NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. IF I HAD KNOW I WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE TIMING CHAIN AT MY COST AND POTENTIALLY SAVED THE ENGINE. AT LEAST THEY SHOULD HAVE UPDATED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO INSPECT THE TIMING CHAIN DEGRADATION.

NHTSA ODI 11233682

HAD 100,000M WARRANTY. AROUND 110K NOTICE "ENGINE OIL PRESSURE" LIGHT FOR FIRST TIME. ADDED A BIT OF OIL AND LIGHT WENT AWAY. CAME ON AGAIN, TOOK IT INTO DEALER. THEY REPLACED AN OIL GASKET AND ANOTHER GASKET. LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITHIN 5 BLOCKS OF DEALER. THEY KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS, SAID ENGINEERS AT HEADQUARTERS SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. NOW, I DRIVE CARS UNTIL 260K MILES AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE DRIVES THEM AFTER ME. NEEDING A NEW ENGINE AT 110K MILES IS AWFUL. THEY WANT TO PUT IN A NEW 'SHORT ENGINE", CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, CAM FOLLOWER,AND TURBOCHARGER. I'VE HAD MY OIL CHANGED AS OFTEN AS I SHOULD, NOW TELL ME, HOW IS THIS NEEDING ALL OF THAT MY FAULT?? I STILL OWE 2.5 YEARS ON CAR. THIS IS A LANDFILL PROBLEM RIGHT HERE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY BMW.

NHTSA ODI 11228409

I HAVE GOT THE VEHICLE AROUND DECEMBER AND I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO DAYS THENE I START EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR BEFORE WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE. THE CAR PURCHASE WAS A GUY THAT WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER I STARTED CALLING FOR QUESTIONS THE GUY ENDED UP DISAPPEARING AND NOBODY WOULD HELP ME. THEY ALSO FALSE ADVERTISE THE VEHICLE SAYING IT WAS A 528 X DR, GAVE ME THE INCORRECT MILEAGE AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE ME A WARRANTY BUT I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY HELP . SO I CONTACTED THE BMW DEALERSHIP GOT IT TOWED THERE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I WILL BE DRIVING IN THE CAR WOULD JUST SHUT OFF SOMETIMES THEN THE DASHBOARD TELLS ME DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. SO I HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY CRANK THE CAR AND IN ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES IT WOULD START. ONE DAY ON THE WAY TO WORK I WAS DRIVING IN THE WHOLE CAR JUST SHUT OFF IT WAS SAYING LOW OIL PRESSURE AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION TRY CRACK THE CAR WOULDN'T CRANK . LET IT SHUT FOR A WHILE ONE DAY I SPRAYED SOME STARTING FLUID IN A AIR FLOW SENSOR IT CRUNK BUT STILL HAS A HARD KNOCK AND NOISE IT SAYS LOW OR PRESSURE AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11209426

I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATOR SHOWED UP, THEN I LOST ALL POWER AND HAD TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I EVENTUALLY GOT IT TOWED TO BMW OF VISTA, CA. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT HAD LOCKED UP. FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WASN'T DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE NOT WAS IT LOW ON OIL. THEY QUOTED ME AT $13,500 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHEN SEEMINGLY IT WASN'T ME NEGLECTING THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THAT BMW SHOULD FIX SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF IT JUST HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 107000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA ODI 11207661

ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL STATING TO GET TO A SAFE AREA, WHICH I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO. ONCE THE CAR STOPPED IT SWITCHED TO PARK. I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN. BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING YOU CAN NOT PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS CAUSED DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE CAR TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. THE BMW N20 ENGINE HAS A KNOWN FLAW WITH THE OIL AND TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW SERVICE CENTER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED FROM THE CHAIN AND THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A VALUE OF $18,000. THE VEHICLE HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. BMW NA STATES THAT THE CAN NOT ASSIST IN COST SINCE IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE ALREADY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS FAULT ONCE. ALL MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN COMPLETED BASED ON THE SERVICE INTERVALS. THE CHAIN SERVICE CHECK IS NOT UNTIL 150,000 MILES. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A ONCE REPUTABLE CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD LET THEIR CUSTOMERS STRANDED ON THE ROAD AND THEN AGAIN IN THE SERVICE CENTER WITH A REPAIR BILL WORTH MORE THAN THE VEHICLE ITSELF. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESOLUTION OF THE CURRENT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN THIS MATTER AS MY CAR SITS UNUSABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11207240

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

LAST WEEK MY ALMOST FIVE YEAR OLD 528I SEDAN WITH 97,000 MILES DIED ON A MAJOR EXPRESSWAY WITH ALMOST NO WARNING. THE FIRST WARNING OF LOW OIL PRESSURE CAME ON AND I CALLED THE DEALER WHO SAID PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM DUE FOR MY 10,000 MILE CHECK UP AND IT IS A QUIRK. FOUR DAYS LATER THE SAME MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED FOLLOWED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITH A MESSAGE OF 'DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION WITH MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE.' I WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN EMERGENCY PULL OFF WHEN THE CAR DIED. THE DEALER TELLS ME MY ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND SAID THERE WERE SHARDS OF METAL IN MY OIL THUS INDICATING THE ENGINE SEIZED.

NHTSA ODI 11170648