So… I purchased a 2013 BMW X5 back in September of 2020 (paid in full / cash) as my new "family car" since I now had a baby. I loved everything about the car. I returned to work after maternity leave in August 2020 and started working from home. I barely drove the vehicle anywhere for that same reason. The very few times I drove the vehicle it worked perfectly, and didn't present any issues whatsoever.
On March 31st, 2021 I had to drive to the office to get some work done there. I decided to stop by Starbucks before work. As I was exiting the Starbucks drive through near my home, with my foot on the brake my car accelerated on its own! It was the scariest feeling! I looked down quickly thinking I might have stepped on the accelerator by accident, but not my foot was on the brake. I stomped on the brake as hard as I could to prevent the car from taking off on it's own and crashing into the car in front of me.
It was as if I had been stepping on the accelerator and brake pedal at the same time. That is the only way I can describe it. I was fighting the car with my foot on the brake as the car was jerking and stalling. Finally after about a whole minute (or a little more) the engine turned off and the car stopped moving. There was a car behind me waiting to exit the parking lot (it was a tight space).
People next to me at a ATM line offered to help me push the car, but the engine would not start and I was unable to put the car on neutral. I was stuck and an adrenaline rush! I was shaking. Luckily, I didn't crash into the car in front of me or any of the people standing in the ATM line. I had my car towed to the nearest auto repair shop. I explained the situation to the auto repair people and they advised me to contact BMW directly. Due to the nature of the incident they did not want to give me a diagnosis.
I then reached out to BMW of San Diego and after about 2 weeks they had my vehicle towed to their facility where they were going to conduct an "investigation". After 3-4 weeks they called me with the "results". The result was that they didn't know what caused the car to accelerate on it's own since they couldn't start the engine. They did have other irrelevant findings like an aftermarket oil filter and dirty oil. BWM said I need a new engine, but they were not able to tell me what caused the unintended acceleration of the vehicle.
I have consulted with 2 different auto repair shops near me and they both refused to replace the engine on the vehicle due to the nature of the incident; basically, they don't want to be liable if something else happens with the car. I asked BMW for an estimate to get the engine replaced with them so that if anything further happens to the vehicle someone will be responsible and they came back with a over $20,000 estimate. That is more than what I paid for the car back in September of 2020.
I am now stuck with a car that needs a new engine, no one wants to replace it. BMW charges me $20,000… and even if the engine was replaced on the vehicle I don't trust the car anymore. I am glad it didn't happen on the road with my baby in the car, but it could've still been devastating. BMW is still holding my car as a courtesy until I decide what I want to do with the car. I have no idea what to do at this point.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
So… I purchased a 2013 BMW X5 back in September of 2020 (paid in full / cash) as my new "family car" since I now had a baby. I loved everything about the car. I returned to work after maternity leave in August 2020 and started working from home. I barely drove the vehicle anywhere for that same reason. The very few times I drove the vehicle it worked perfectly, and didn't present any issues whatsoever.
On March 31st, 2021 I had to drive to the office to get some work done there. I decided to stop by Starbucks before work. As I was exiting the Starbucks drive through near my home, with my foot on the brake my car accelerated on its own! It was the scariest feeling! I looked down quickly thinking I might have stepped on the accelerator by accident, but not my foot was on the brake. I stomped on the brake as hard as I could to prevent the car from taking off on it's own and crashing into the car in front of me.
It was as if I had been stepping on the accelerator and brake pedal at the same time. That is the only way I can describe it. I was fighting the car with my foot on the brake as the car was jerking and stalling. Finally after about a whole minute (or a little more) the engine turned off and the car stopped moving. There was a car behind me waiting to exit the parking lot (it was a tight space).
People next to me at a ATM line offered to help me push the car, but the engine would not start and I was unable to put the car on neutral. I was stuck and an adrenaline rush! I was shaking. Luckily, I didn't crash into the car in front of me or any of the people standing in the ATM line. I had my car towed to the nearest auto repair shop. I explained the situation to the auto repair people and they advised me to contact BMW directly. Due to the nature of the incident they did not want to give me a diagnosis.
I then reached out to BMW of San Diego and after about 2 weeks they had my vehicle towed to their facility where they were going to conduct an "investigation". After 3-4 weeks they called me with the "results". The result was that they didn't know what caused the car to accelerate on it's own since they couldn't start the engine. They did have other irrelevant findings like an aftermarket oil filter and dirty oil. BWM said I need a new engine, but they were not able to tell me what caused the unintended acceleration of the vehicle.
I have consulted with 2 different auto repair shops near me and they both refused to replace the engine on the vehicle due to the nature of the incident; basically, they don't want to be liable if something else happens with the car. I asked BMW for an estimate to get the engine replaced with them so that if anything further happens to the vehicle someone will be responsible and they came back with a over $20,000 estimate. That is more than what I paid for the car back in September of 2020.
I am now stuck with a car that needs a new engine, no one wants to replace it. BMW charges me $20,000… and even if the engine was replaced on the vehicle I don't trust the car anymore. I am glad it didn't happen on the road with my baby in the car, but it could've still been devastating. BMW is still holding my car as a courtesy until I decide what I want to do with the car. I have no idea what to do at this point.
- Altaira B., Chula Vista, CA, US