WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A BUSY STREET AT RUSH HOUR I PREPARED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BY INDICATING. THE FAST TURN SINGLE FLASHING STARTED AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN MY 2008 535I SAID REAR TURN SINGLE MALFUNCTION. I SLOWED TO MY THE TURN AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING ME AND ALM…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH ON A BUSY STREET AT RUSH HOUR I PREPARED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN BY INDICATING. THE FAST TURN SINGLE FLASHING STARTED AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN MY 2008 535I SAID REAR TURN SINGLE MALFUNCTION. I SLOWED TO MY THE TURN AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING ME AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE PERSON NEXT THEM. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHY THIS HAPPENED, SO I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY LIGHTING SYSTEM AND REALIZED THAT THE RIGHT REAR LIGHTS WEREN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I OPENED THE REAR BRAKE COMPARTMENT AND SMELLED BURNING MELTED PLASTIC. I DISCONNECTED THE BRAKE LIGHT CONNECTOR AND FOUND THAT IT WAS MELTED. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR CAR. WHEN I WENT TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW I WAS TURNED AWAY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WASN'T A RECALL THAT COVERED MY CAR. THEY WERE VERY RUDE ABOUT THE WHOLE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT I'D HAVE TO DEAL WITH MYSELF AND COVER THE COSTS. AFTER MORE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=571079 APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. BUT, BMW HAS BEEN AVOIDING THE SAFETY ISSUE!!! PLEASE FILE A COMPLAINT AND GET THIS SAFETY ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10551677
51,400 miles · Oct 21, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes
RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE INDICATOR ON DASH BOARD TURNED ON. INSPECTING THE LIGHT BULBS, ALL SEEMED TO BE IN WORKING CONDITION. FUSES WERE ALSO GOOD. FOUND THE GROUND WIRE PIN AND SOCKET ON THE BULB HOLDER BURNED OUT PRETTY SEVERELY. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT AS THE INDICATOR WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BEFORE EVENTUALL…
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RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE INDICATOR ON DASH BOARD TURNED ON. INSPECTING THE LIGHT BULBS, ALL SEEMED TO BE IN WORKING CONDITION. FUSES WERE ALSO GOOD. FOUND THE GROUND WIRE PIN AND SOCKET ON THE BULB HOLDER BURNED OUT PRETTY SEVERELY. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE INTERMITTENT AS THE INDICATOR WOULD TURN ON AND OFF BEFORE EVENTUALLY STAYING ON PERMANENTLY. ALSO, INDICATOR WOULD SHOW TURN SIGNAL FAILURE AT FIRST, THEN BRAKE LIGHT, THEN RIGHT BACK UP LIGHT, THEN ALL THREE. EVENTUALLY IT SETTLED IN ON BRAKE LIGHT ONLY. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS RELATED TO TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING AND WARNING OTHER DRIVERS OF BRAKING AND/OR TURNING. ALSO POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE BEGINNING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE CLOSE TO WHERE THE FUEL FILLER CAP IS LOCATED. CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS FOR A REPAIR, IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THE SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL ON OTHER BMW MODELS. *TR
BMW is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 528i, 535i, 550i, and M5 passenger cars manufactured from March 1, 2007, through December 31, 2009. Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector resulting in an intermittent or permanent loss of functionality of one or more rear lamp functions (tail, brake, turn-signal, reverse).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Intermittent light operation reduces the ability to warn other motorists of the driver's intentions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear lamp bulb carriers free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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