On November 26, 2025, my 2025 BMW XM experienced complete drivetrain failure while my wife and two children were in a Kansas City parking lot. The vehicle displayed "drivetrain malfunction," would not engage any gear, and was completely inoperable. They were stranded in an unsafe area for 40 minutes awaiting a flatbed tow truck—the only option for this 6,100 lb hybrid. At Baron BMW (Invoice #696591), diagnostics found fault codes 032B51, BA092C, BA09B8, BA0A45, BA0023—all related to the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module. BMW's test plans indicated EME replacement was needed. However, BMW engineering (TSARA Case #4548336) instructed the dealer to simply CLEAR THE CODES and release the vehicle if faults didn't return after two drive cycles. NO PARTS REPLACED. NO SOFTWARE UPDATED. NO ROOT CAUSE IDENTIFIED. BMW erased the diagnostic evidence without fixing anything. Their own system flagged a critical component for replacement, yet the "fix" was deleting the fault codes. SAFETY CONCERNS: 1) Complete propulsion loss strands occupants in dangerous locations 2) 6,100 lb vehicle losing power in traffic creates collision risk 3) Cannot be conventionally towed, limiting recovery options (i.e. parking garages, parallel parked on a hill, etc..) 4) No root cause fix means repeat failures likely This defect poses unreasonable risk. BMW's failure to correct the underlying issue despite flagging a critical component suggests a systemic software problem in the XM hybrid drivetrain. Request NHTSA investigate this defect pattern.
NHTSA ODI 11703059