This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My car had been sitting unused since 6:00pm the previous day. At 6:30am I had entered my car parked at pacific coast highway and anaheim street in long beach, ca. (which is a surface street). I started my car then drove a half of a block then stopped and turned off my car at the store 7/11. I went in made a purchase came out my car. I started my car and then left 7-eleven driving down anaheim about.2-.3 miles. I came to the light at anaheim street and park. Both surface streets. I was in the turn lane to turn left onto park. I began smelling something electrical. The time was 6:40 am. I leaned my head out the window and could not smell the electrical smell outside. I discerned that this was coming from inside the car. There was no visible reason for the smell at this time.the light changed I turned left onto park. As I began to turn left white to grey smoke began coming out of the driver side vent which is lower by door and that faces the driver. I got out of my car. I ran over to another vehicle to see if they had a fire extinguisher. He said he would find it. I returned to my car and black smoke began rolling out of the drivers side door. Flames began engulfing the dashboard. Two gentleman came over, one with a fire extinguisher and began spraying into the dashboard. The other gentleman went around to the trunk and disconnected the battery. The last time I had something done to the vehicle was BMW replacing the airbag for a recall. There was no reason for the fire.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330I. While driving approximately 50 mph, smoke appeared from the air conditioning vents. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road where it burst into flames. A local fire department was called to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle has not been inspected. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.
Yesterday, 12/12/15, my reverse stopped working while at the gas station. It only revved when I attempted to use the reverse gear to move closer to a pump. I'm retired and need this car for my only source of getting around. And yesterday was my 73rd birthday. Recent cost to fix the car to pass smog tests cost: $2900 and 7 months without the car.
Upon exiting the freeway a horrible, continuous metallic scraping noise began. I had heard this periodically on my drive, but until now it was not continuous. Looking under the car, I could see the metal gas tank strap hanging and resting on the ground. It was the passenger side front that failed, so the strap was pointing forward. I assume it was only periodically at first because it took some time for my actual gas tank to slip down forcing the strap against the asphalt. Knowing that a metal strap was scraping and possibly sparking against the asphalt next to my sagging gas tank, the car had to be towed to the nearest mechanic.
Separation and delamination of interior cloth on interior header and interior support pillars cloth in rear was obstructing rear view do to dropping down. Cost of replacement $1499.27.
The engine of my car shut off, and upon being towed to the dealer, they got back to me to say that the engine failed as a result of drivers error from a downshift from 4th to 2nd. The dealer said that this was identified by the car's computer system. However, after talking to many mechanics, I have been instructed that this problem could never have been identified by a car's computer, and this was just an out for the manufacturer and dealer. I am not satisfied with their answer, and am looking for a way to protest their decision. For right now, I was stuck paying for the total bill which exceeded $6000.
Since the purchase of my car in May 2001, the gas pedal seems to have a problem when shifting from first gear to second gear. All of a sudden the engine races on its own and the car lunges forward. Several visits to the dealer and road tests have come up with nothing. The dealers have been unable to pinpoint the problem. I still have the car which I drive very cautiously.
While driving engine check light would appear and remain on. Vehicle would then pull from left to right. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Mechanic indicated could not locate cause of problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Long Beach, CA, USA