2006 BMW 1 Series

THE RED FAILURE SYMBOL HAS LIT UP ON MY CAR WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND A LOCK. APPARENTLY THIS SYMBOL MEANS THERE'S AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT IT SHOULD BE LOCKED UP AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT START. BUT MY CAR STARTS ANYWAY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I ASKED WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS PART BE DEFECTIVE, AND THEY SAID WITH TIME AND USE. BUT THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT! THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM LIES EITHER WITH THE SENSOR ON THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN (FAULTY SENSOR), OR IN THE SOFTWARE ITSELF. EITHER WAY, CONSIDERING HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN BMWS WITH LOW MILEAGE, SUCH A PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAID OUT OF POCKET BY THE CUSTOMER. *TR

A RELATIVE OF MINE OWNS A 2006, BMW, X5, 3.0I. I WAS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD ABOUT, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, A CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY RELATIVE ENTERED THE VEHICLE, STARTED IT, TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT TURN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR (THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED MY RELATIVE THAT A "BOLT" HAD BROKEN IN THE STEERING MECHANISM; THIS PREVENTED THE WHEELS FROM TURNING. MY RELATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER PRODUCED ANY PAPERWORK DOCUMENTING THE VEHICLE REPAIR. THIS PEEKED MY CURIOSITY, SINCE I AM A FEDERAL AGENT. SHOULD THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY? IF MY RELATIVE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE, IT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. *TR