While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic failure involving the engine and turbocharger, resulting in an immediate loss of power and the vehicle becoming disabled in an active roadway. The failure occurred without warning and required a response from the San Diego Police Department due to the vehicle being immobilized in traffic. This created a hazardous situation for the driver and surrounding vehicles. The vehicle had approximately 26,000 miles at the time of failure. The vehicle was later inspected by an authorized BMW dealership, which acknowledged the failure but attributed it to a non-OEM oil filter without providing any technical explanation or evidence showing causation. A sudden loss of power in a moving vehicle presents a significant safety risk, especially when it occurs without warning and leaves the vehicle stranded in traffic.
NHTSA ODI 11726550