What 20 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 BMW 335i

SUBJECT: Catastrophic Steering Failure and Erroneous Safety Recall Notification - 2014 BMW 335i 105,000 milles INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: While driving, the vehicle completely lost steering control. The electronic steering rack disengaged due to a failure in the aluminum mounting bolts. This incident resulted in a near-fatal accident in which the vehicle almost left the road and fell into a ravine. I have 360-degree camera video showing my steering wheel locking up and me struggling to survive. If you contact me, I can provide the video evidence. TECHNICAL BASIS: This failure matches the criteria described in BMW Technical Service Bulletin TSB 01 15 16 (and the previous NHTSA recall 14V-632), regarding corrosion and shearing of the aluminum bolts of the EPS (Electronic Power Steering) system. SAFETY REPORT VIOLATION (CRITICAL): The primary concern of this investigation is a significant discrepancy in the safety reports. When checking the official NHTSA.gov portal for this specific VIN, the system shows "0 open recalls." Similarly, the BMW recall portal also shows 0 open recalls. However, a thorough search of the history through third-party vehicle audit systems reveals four ACTIVE SAFETY RECALLS that have never been addressed: Driver's Front Airbag (Takata): High risk of shrapnel. Inflatable Side Curtain Airbag: Deployment failure. Fuel Pump: Risk of sudden engine stalling. Exterior Lighting/Reflectors. DAMAGES: As a result of this mechanical failure and BMW's failure to accurately report the open safety recalls for this vehicle, I have been diagnosed with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and am currently under medical treatment. I have my medical diagnosis, which states that I developed PTSD as a result of my accident. I now depend on my mother to drive; the mere thought of getting into a car causes me intense fear. I cannot drive without being afraid. The vehicle is currently insured and available for inspection as evidence of this catastrophic failure.

NHTSA ODI 11716516

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WAS READING THAT IT HAD GAS, THEN SUDDENLY IT CAME TO A STOP, ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAD DIED MAKING THE CAR THINK IT HAD GAS WHEN IT IN FACT HAD NONE. THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TANK FOR $2700, THIS ISSUE IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN LEAVE ANYONE STRANDED ANYWHERE. THIS CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND THIS ISSUE CAN BE FOUND ON BMWS MUCH OLDER THEN THAT. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY KNOW IT IS DANGEROUS AND THEY CHOOSE TO CONTINUE MAKING CARS WITH THIS IS ISSUE. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL BMW DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE DRIVERS OF ITS CARS AND ONLY CARES ABOUT MAKING MONEY BY SELLING DEATH TRAPS TO PEOPLE. IF YOU WANT TO BE LEFT STRANDED AND RISK GETTING KILLED ON THE HIGHWAY OR GETTING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE, BY A BMW. IF NOT, BUY A MERC OR AUDI. THIS ISSUE CAN HAPPEN IF THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL. ANY BMW THAT USES THE GAS TANK FROM THE F30 3 SERIES IS EFFECTED, AS WELL AS BMWS AS FAR BACK AS THE E46. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331264

WAS DRIVING IN RAIN, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH START/STOP ENABLED AND IN STANDBY MODE. WHEN SIGNAL TURNED GREEN VEHICLE STRUGGLED TO COME TO LIFE AND STALLED WITH MESSAGE ON I-DRIVE SAYING DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION AND AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS TO BRING THE ENGINE BACK TO LIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND PULL OVER TO THE CURB AFTER WHICH THE ENGINE WOULD STILL STRUGGLE TO IDLE AND TRANSMISSION REFUSED TO ENGAGE DRIVE MODE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE BMW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND REPLACED IT AND CLAIM THE ISSUE IS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10663713

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING/MOVING (BRAND NEW 335I 2014). HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED(COMPLETE FAILURE) WHILE MERGING ON TO LANE AT BUSY AIRPORT GATE RAMP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) OR PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER BUT, I DID GET A TOTAL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WITH A SUDDEN VEHICLE STOP. BUS BEHIND ME ALMOST RUN INTO ME! THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO RE-START. AFTER A WHILE AIRPORT POLICE CAME AND HELP ME MOVE THE CAR OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTING/MERGING LANES RAMP. ON THIS AUTOMATIC VEHICLE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, WHEN ENGINE DOES NOT START. (I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY FREEWAY) BMW 335I HAD ISSUES WITH FUEL PUMP A FEW YEARS BACK AND IT COULD BE BACK AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626436