NHTSA complaint: 2001 BMW 325 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
A BMWXI SPORTS WAGON WITH ONE MONTH SERVICE DEVELOPED A FUEL OVERFLOW ONTO THE CEMENT FLOOR OF A GARAGE ATTACHED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. THE FUEL GAUGE READ ZERO WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON.EVEN THOUGH THE TANK HAD JUST BEEN FILLED. THE WIRES FROM THE FUEL TANK (SENDER) TO THE GAUGE IN THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT WERE SEVERED ABOVE THE TANK BY RODENTS WHO HAD LEFT THEIR NEST ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE GIVING MICE OR RATS ACCESS THROUGH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. A FIRE DANGER EXISTED IN THE GARAGE AS A DRIVER HAD ATTEMPED TO FILL TWICE TO EXTINGUISH THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE FUEL GAUGE. RESULTING IN THE VOLITAL EXPANSION AND OVERFLOW OF GAS. TOWING SERVICE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO INSPECT .AND ALLOW TRANSPORT. THUS THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS 1) THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENTIRE CAR NEEDS REPLACING (SOLDER AND TAPE ARE NOT ADEQUATE. 2) THE PORTAL OF ENTRY TO THE WIRING THAT WAS CUT MUST BE CLOSED TO RODENTS. THIS IS SERIOUS, SOLDERED WIRES MAY DEVELOPE COLD NON CONDUCTING JOINTS IN THE TEMPERATURE CYCLE, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER SPILLAGE OF GAS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AT HOME AND EVEN DESTRUCTION OF A HOUSE. *AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation