Mar 24, 2023Electrical systemFire
The contact owns a 2014 BMW I3 Hybrid. The contact stated that after charging the vehicle overnight the next morning the vehicle climate control was activated and moments later smoke was present inside the vehicle coming from the front passenger side air vent. After exiting the vehicle flames were seen coming from the front passenger side air vent and the vehicle was quickly engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. The vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A fire report was taken at the scene. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The manufacturer later had the vehicle examined and informed that the fire was caused by a loose bolt used to secure the 12V battery. The failure mileage was 40,000.
NHTSA ODI 11513646
Sep 9, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash
ON AUGUST 29, 1:25PM, WHEN I DROVE THE BMW I3 CAR IN THE COMCAST PARKING LOT INTO A PARK SPOT, THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS ALMOST SLOW DOWN TO ZERO AFTER I LEFT MY FOOT FROM THE ACCEL. PEDAL SINCE THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN WITHOUT ACCEL. PEDAL PRESSED. THEN, I PRESSED THE P BUTTON IN THE SWITCH KNOB AS I DID MANY TIMES OVER THE 700 MILES EXPERIENCES IN THIS CAR. THE CAR WAS ABRUPTLY SPEED UP WITH A VERY BIG TORQUE, I USED BY FOOT TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT DIDN'T WORK. THE CAR WAS IN AN AROUND 50-MILE-SPEED (ACCORDING TO AN OBSERVER IN THE COMCAST PARK LOT) RUSHING FORWARD. IT RUSHED OVER THE CONCRETE-PARKING-LOT-STOP-BAR, AND THEN RUSHED OVER THE PARKING LOT CURB INTO THE SMALL HILL AND THE BUSHES. THE CAR WAS SLOWED DOWN BY THE CONCRETE-STOP-BAR, THEN BY THE PARKING LOT CURB, AND IT WAS FINALLY STOPPED BY THE BUSHES TO AVOID THE RUSH TO A ROAD NEXT TO THE BUSHES. THE WHOLE ACCIDENT WAS OBSERVED BY MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMCAST PARKING LOT AND A POLICE OFFICER WAS CALLED BY THEM TO PROCESS THIS WITH A TRAFFIC TICKET WAS ISSUED TO ME. THE CAR WAS RECALLED BY THE DEALER TO REFLASH ALMOST ALL THE CONTROL SOFTWARE AND TO INSTALL NAVIGATION SOFTWARE THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND I JUST PICKED UP THE CAR IN THE MORNING. THE ROOT CAUSE IS STILL INVESTIGATING BY THE DEALER/BMW. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10631791