NHTSA complaint: 2020 BMW X5 — POWER TRAIN
WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A HEAD-ON PARKING SPOT, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND HIT A WALL. THE CAR THEN WENT INTO REVERSE AND SPED UP RAPIDLY UNTIL IT HIT A CONCRETE PATIO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH SUBSTANTIAL FORCE THE ENTIRE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP MOVING. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. I DO NOT RECALL HOW THE CAR WENT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO PEOPLE OR CARS IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE AUTO BODY SHOP THAT CURRENTLY HAS POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER/ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE NOR WERE THEY ABLE TO RECREATE THE INCIDENT. I DO NOT KNOW HOW THOROUGH THEY LOOKED FOR PROBLEMS. BMW HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SEND A CREW TO INVESTIGATE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP BUT MY INSURANCE GOMPANY, GEICO, WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO ONE OF THEIR FACILITIES IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO ALL OF THE DAMAGE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRONICS ISSUES WITH THE CAR SINCE PURCHASE IN JUNE 2020, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE ENTERTAINMENT AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. IN HINDSIGHT, I REALIZE THAT I HAD TWO OTHER INSTANCES IN THE PAST WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THIS CAR. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT THE TIME BUT THEY MAY BE RELATED TO THIS LATEST INCIDENT.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation