What 37 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 BMW 5 Series Hybrid Sedan Phev

Serious crash from sudden unintended acceleration occurred yesterday where throttle seemed to be stuck in all gears and brakes didn’t work

NHTSA ODI 11430762

The contact owns a 2019 BMW 530I. The contact stated that the vehicle's automatic breaking system would suddenly activate without warning or with a loud screeching alarm type noise before it occurs. The automatic breaking system would also fail to activate when coming close to items and or other vehicles where the automatic breaking system should have caused the vehicle to come to a stop. The failures occur intermittently. The contact contacted the dealer who had not repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

NHTSA ODI 11418859

I WAS ON A TOLL ROAD/FREEWAY OVERPASS CONNECTING TO THE 91 FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC GOING 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED BREAKING ON ITS OWN (NO CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME). I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT WAS UNABLE TO. MY CAR CONTINUED BREAKING AND SLOWING, THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER, AND FINALLY I COASTED TO THE 91 FREEWAY WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO LOSE CONTROL OF ONE'S CAR IN SPEEDING FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THERE WAS NO WARNING SOUND OR WARNING LIGHT, EXCEPT FOR THE 3 RED PEOPLE HEADS THAT INDICATE YOUR BACK SEAT PASSENGERS NEED TO FASTEN THEIR SEATBELTS, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BACKSEAT PASSENGERS. I CALLED IRVINE BMW TO REPORT MY CONCERN AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS "I CHECKED WITH A BMW GENIUS WHO SAID YOUR CAR IS FINE SINCE THE LIGHT IS NO LONGER ON.

NHTSA ODI 11308567

I WAS AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN IT TURNED GREEN THE CARS BEGAN TO MOVE BUT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AGAIN. I APPLIED THE BREAK IMMEDIATELY BUT HE CAR DID NOT STOP SO I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI 11301505

CAR WAS PARKED/STATIONARY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND ENGAGED, CAR WAS LOCKED AND NO-ONE WAS NEAR OR IN THE VEHICLE, THE CAR ROLLED INTO A CAR PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT. FURTHER, WHILE IN THE CAR AND AFTER ENGAGING THE CAR IN REVERSE TO PARK IN A PARKING SPOT, THEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE (TO STRAIGHTEN OR PULL THE CAR FORWARD THE CAR CONTINUED TO AGGRESSIVELY ROLL BACKWARDS. THIS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. FURTHER, THE CAR WAS PARKED/STATIONARY AND DOORS LOCKED WITH NO-ONE IN THE CAR AND THE WINDOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BOTH FRONT AND REAR (ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS) OPENED ALL THE WAY, ON THEIR OWN. FURTHER, THE BRAKES ON THE CAR SQUEAL LOUDLY UPON STEPPING ON THE BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11190425