2004 BMW 325XI Problems

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact’s girlfriend took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair. After the vehicle was repaired and the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The driver took the vehicle back to the local dealer for the warning light. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the battery cable needed to be replaced. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.

The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the passenger’s side causing the passenger’s side mirror to detach from the vehicle. The contact loss control of the vehicle and crashed into the median. The vehicle rolled and then came to a complete stop. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. Additionally, the dashboard collapsed and the rear-view mirror detached from the windshield. The vehicle was towed from the scene of the crash. The contact received injuries to the chest, ribs, neck, and breast for which medical assistance was sought. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the driver's frontal air bag was previously replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V318000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

THREE RECALLS. FRONT DRIVERS AIR BAG, FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG, BOTH REAR QUARTER PANEL LAMPS CARRIER CONNECTOR WIRES HEATED AND MELTED. CONTACTED BMW OF KINGSPORT SEVERAL TIMES FOR ASSISTANCE. SAID WOULD HELP BUT HAS NOT. NEED SCHEMATIC OF REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND REPAIR OF AIRBAGS.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILED. RECEIVED A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH PANEL. REPLACING THE BULBS IN THE ASSEMBLY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I DISCOVERED THERE HAS BEEN AN EQUIPMENT RECALL FOR FAILED TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. *TR

BMW JOINTLY OWNED VEHICLE, WAS NOT RETURNED TO CUSTOMERS ON DEMAND, NOR SWAPPED AS IS CUSTOMARY BUSINESS PRACTICE (I.E. BMW REPAIR/RECALLED FOR BMW LOANER CAR), AND HELD FOR UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. BMW RECALLED THE VEHICLE, IN PART, DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS, AND WAS TO SEND A CONSENT FORM TO THE CUSTOMERS PRIOR TO ORDERING PARTS/REPAIRS. THE CUSTOMERS NEVER RECEIVED THE CONSENT FORM AS ASSURED AND EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE BMW WHO DAMAGED THE VEHICLE IN THEIR POSSESSION OR DISABLED STATE. JULY 15, 2016 BMW FLATBED DELIVERED WITH UNIDENTIFIED CHEMICALS/TOXINS THAT RESULTED IN FRONT END PHYSICAL DAMAGES AND/OR TOXINS IN BMW THAT RESULTED IN "POISON EXPOSURE", TOXOLOGY TESTS PENDING. THE TOXINS MAYBE AIRBAG CHEMICALS, SODIUM AZIDE, HYDRAZOIC ACID, OR OTHERS, AND NEED BMW TESTED. PLEASE INFORM ON WHO SPECIFICALLY PERFORMS THESE TESTS OR AGENCY THAT DOES QUICKLY DUE TO THE TOXIC NATURE. BMW HAD A DUTY TO DISCLOSE THESE FACTS TO CUSTOMERS, INSURANCE, GOVERNMENT, AND OTHERS. 49 USC SAFETY ACT 30101. DOT STATES 'LOANER VEHICLE' IS CUSTOMARY PRACTICE IN AIRBAG RECALL, AN OBLIGATION OEM DEALERSHIP, THUS REQUEST THE PROCESS IN SECURING THE LOANER VEHICLE OR REINSTATEMENT. BMW BY AFFILIATES, UNILATERALLY TOOK BMW LOANER WITHOUT PROVIDING A REPAIRED BMW, UNFAIR EXCHANGE, AND WAS RETURNED IN A DISABLED STATUS. 'BUT FOR' WRECKED/RECALLED DEFECTIVE BMW, A LOANER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED, SAFETY ACT, 49 USC 30101. PLEASE RESPOND IN WRITING, THE PROCESS TO (1) SECURE CHEMICAL TESTS; (2) VEHICLE SAFETY REVIEW OR DECONTAMINATION, AND (3) LOANER CAR APPROVAL PROCESS FOR INSURANCE. NHTSA SAFETY ACT, 49 USC 30101 DELEGATED BY SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, 49 CFR 1.95, INSPECT/INVESTIGATE 30166(B)(1); CIVIL PENALTIES 30165(B); ENSURE RECALLED 30118-119; ADEQUACY OF RECALLS 49 USC 30120(C)(1), ACCELERATE REMEDY PROGRAMS 30120(C)(3); AND OTHER 49 USC 30166(G): BMW LOANER

THE VEHICLE (1.6 TURBO) HAS A HESITANCY TO ENGAGE IN ACCELERATION RELATIVE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ONCE ENGAGED, IT IMMEDIATELY JUMPS OUT TO A QUICK, JOLTING AND WHAT FEELS LIKE AN UNCONTROLLABLE START. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT STOP/START INTERSECTIONS WHERE THE CAR COMES TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP. YESTERDAY, (07.20.16) THE VEHICLE CHOKED AND SPUTTERED AND ALMOST STALLED ON A SMALL RISE WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING THROUGH A JUST-TURNED GREEN LIGHT AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION DURING RUSH HOUR. THE TACHOMETER WINDS OUT IN A MANNER DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE SPEEDOMETER READING. THIS DOES NOT MIMIC THE EFFECTS OF A TURBO LAG. RATHER, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE ISN'T GETTING A TIMELY DELIVERY OF GAS TO THE ENGINE FIRING MECHANISMS (WE WOULD LIKEN IT TO A DIRTY FUEL LINE OR A CLOGGED CARBURETOR ON OLDER CARS), OR THE DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM IS DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO GET IN GEAR WHEN DEMANDED, OR WHATEVER DEVICE THAT INTERPRETS DRIVER COMMANDS (PEDAL PUSHING) TO ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISN'T RESPONDING EFFICIENTLY. THE CAR HAS HAD ONE SHOP VISIT FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE DEALER (WERNER HYUNDAI, TALLAHASSEE) STATED THEY 'RESET THE SOFTWARE." I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE WEEK OF JULY 25, 2016. UNFORTUNATELY, I ANTICIPATE THIS ISSUE WILL LEAD TO A WRECK, MOST LIKELY FROM 1) BEING HIT FROM BEHIND AS THE CAR TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR 2) BEING T-BONED AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE THROUGH A RUSH-HOUR YELLOW LIGHT, OR 3) BEING T-BONED BECAUSE MY CAR LAUNCHED (LITERALLY) OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC (THAT INITIALLY WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY) ONCE IT GOT PAST THE CHOKE/SPUTTER/STALL POINT....UPDATED 08/01/16 *BF *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS A MOMENTARY DELAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY JERK FORWARD BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

I BOUGHT BMW 325XI 2004 ON 03/04 AND I NOTICED THAT IT HAS PROBLEM WITH COLD START. IN THE MORNING, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN "D", IT DOESN'T MOVE AND THEN SUDDENLY LURCHES WITH A JERK. FIRST I THOUGHT, ITS JUST BECAUSE ITS A NEW CAR BUT WHEN I DIDN'T DRIVE IT FOR 3 DAYS AND STARTED IT, IT WAS WORSE. IT WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL FOR LIKE A MINUTE AND THEN SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD WITH A JERK ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL 3 SERIES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 03-03 TO 11-03 HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION . WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT ALL WHEREAS NOW I READ THE MESSAGE BOARDS AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I WONDER WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE? I BOUGHT THE CAR BECAUSE THERE WAS A SPECIAL DEAL ON THIS CAR. MAY BE THE DEAL WAS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *JB

The contact’s girlfriend owns a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (Air Bags). The contact’s girlfriend took the vehicle to the local dealer for the recall repair. After the vehicle was repaired and the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The driver took the vehicle back to the local dealer for the warning light. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and informed the contact that the battery cable needed to be replaced. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.

NHTSA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE RECALLS ON MY 2004 BMW 325XI 4DR SEDAN. THERE WERE 2 RECALLS THAT ARE RELATED TO AIR BAGS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS ARE #15V318000 AND #14V428000. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION THAT THESE RECALLS ARE VALID SO I CAN GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS. PLEASE SEE THE SUPPORTING DOCS ATTACHED. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING WEIRD ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAPPENING TO THE POINT THE CAR WONT SHUT OFF AT TIMES, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A DAY, TURN SIGNAL GOES OUT, CAR DIES, STEREO WONT WORK ETC. I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER RECALLS WERE PLACED ON THIS CAR AS WELL?

2004 BMW 325XI ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER I AM OUTSIDE THE CAR OR INSIDE THE CAR. THE KEY FOB WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE INTERNAL MECHANISMS WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR INCLUDING THE DOOR HANDLES THEMSELVES ONCE THE LOCK IS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE IS AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE AND IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE IF I CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FREEZES UP AND DOESN'T OPEN UNLESS YOU KEY IN FROM OUTSIDE. *TR

NHTSA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE RECALLS ON MY 2004 BMW 325XI 4DR SEDAN. THERE WERE 2 RECALLS THAT ARE RELATED TO AIR BAGS. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS ARE #15V318000 AND #14V428000. I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION THAT THESE RECALLS ARE VALID SO I CAN GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS. PLEASE SEE THE SUPPORTING DOCS ATTACHED. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING WEIRD ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAPPENING TO THE POINT THE CAR WONT SHUT OFF AT TIMES, HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AFTER A DAY, TURN SIGNAL GOES OUT, CAR DIES, STEREO WONT WORK ETC. I WAS WONDERING IF OTHER RECALLS WERE PLACED ON THIS CAR AS WELL?

THE VEHICLE (1.6 TURBO) HAS A HESITANCY TO ENGAGE IN ACCELERATION RELATIVE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ONCE ENGAGED, IT IMMEDIATELY JUMPS OUT TO A QUICK, JOLTING AND WHAT FEELS LIKE AN UNCONTROLLABLE START. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT STOP/START INTERSECTIONS WHERE THE CAR COMES TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP. YESTERDAY, (07.20.16) THE VEHICLE CHOKED AND SPUTTERED AND ALMOST STALLED ON A SMALL RISE WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING THROUGH A JUST-TURNED GREEN LIGHT AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION DURING RUSH HOUR. THE TACHOMETER WINDS OUT IN A MANNER DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE SPEEDOMETER READING. THIS DOES NOT MIMIC THE EFFECTS OF A TURBO LAG. RATHER, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE ISN'T GETTING A TIMELY DELIVERY OF GAS TO THE ENGINE FIRING MECHANISMS (WE WOULD LIKEN IT TO A DIRTY FUEL LINE OR A CLOGGED CARBURETOR ON OLDER CARS), OR THE DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM IS DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO GET IN GEAR WHEN DEMANDED, OR WHATEVER DEVICE THAT INTERPRETS DRIVER COMMANDS (PEDAL PUSHING) TO ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISN'T RESPONDING EFFICIENTLY. THE CAR HAS HAD ONE SHOP VISIT FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE DEALER (WERNER HYUNDAI, TALLAHASSEE) STATED THEY 'RESET THE SOFTWARE." I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE WEEK OF JULY 25, 2016. UNFORTUNATELY, I ANTICIPATE THIS ISSUE WILL LEAD TO A WRECK, MOST LIKELY FROM 1) BEING HIT FROM BEHIND AS THE CAR TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR 2) BEING T-BONED AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE THROUGH A RUSH-HOUR YELLOW LIGHT, OR 3) BEING T-BONED BECAUSE MY CAR LAUNCHED (LITERALLY) OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC (THAT INITIALLY WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY) ONCE IT GOT PAST THE CHOKE/SPUTTER/STALL POINT....UPDATED 08/01/16 *BF *TR

THE VEHICLE (1.6 TURBO) HAS A HESITANCY TO ENGAGE IN ACCELERATION RELATIVE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ONCE ENGAGED, IT IMMEDIATELY JUMPS OUT TO A QUICK, JOLTING AND WHAT FEELS LIKE AN UNCONTROLLABLE START. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT STOP/START INTERSECTIONS WHERE THE CAR COMES TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP. YESTERDAY, (07.20.16) THE VEHICLE CHOKED AND SPUTTERED AND ALMOST STALLED ON A SMALL RISE WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING THROUGH A JUST-TURNED GREEN LIGHT AT A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION DURING RUSH HOUR. THE TACHOMETER WINDS OUT IN A MANNER DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE SPEEDOMETER READING. THIS DOES NOT MIMIC THE EFFECTS OF A TURBO LAG. RATHER, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE ISN'T GETTING A TIMELY DELIVERY OF GAS TO THE ENGINE FIRING MECHANISMS (WE WOULD LIKEN IT TO A DIRTY FUEL LINE OR A CLOGGED CARBURETOR ON OLDER CARS), OR THE DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM IS DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT TO GET IN GEAR WHEN DEMANDED, OR WHATEVER DEVICE THAT INTERPRETS DRIVER COMMANDS (PEDAL PUSHING) TO ENGINE PERFORMANCE ISN'T RESPONDING EFFICIENTLY. THE CAR HAS HAD ONE SHOP VISIT FOR THIS ISSUE AND THE DEALER (WERNER HYUNDAI, TALLAHASSEE) STATED THEY 'RESET THE SOFTWARE." I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER THE WEEK OF JULY 25, 2016. UNFORTUNATELY, I ANTICIPATE THIS ISSUE WILL LEAD TO A WRECK, MOST LIKELY FROM 1) BEING HIT FROM BEHIND AS THE CAR TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR 2) BEING T-BONED AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T ACCELERATE THROUGH A RUSH-HOUR YELLOW LIGHT, OR 3) BEING T-BONED BECAUSE MY CAR LAUNCHED (LITERALLY) OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC (THAT INITIALLY WAS AT A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY) ONCE IT GOT PAST THE CHOKE/SPUTTER/STALL POINT....UPDATED 08/01/16 *BF *TR

A YEAR AGO, I BROUGHT MY 2004 BMW 325 XI IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, THE BMW SHOP EXPLAINED THAT THEY FOUND PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CV OUTER AXLE BOOTS. BOTH BOOTS WERE SPLIT AND LEAKING GREASE, AND THE AXLES WERE TURNING DRY.. THEY REPLACED BOTH BOOTS UNDER WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER 2010, CAR WAS VIBRATING WHILE RIDING. THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT CV SHAFT (AXLE). THEY DID THIS AND THE VIBRATION STOPPED. NATURALLY, THIS WAS NOT COVERED SINCE MY CERTIFIED CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 2010. I BELIEVE BMW SHOULD HAVE DISCOVERED THE DEFECT TO THE AXLE WHEN THEY FOUND IT RUNNING DRY IN JANUARY. IN DRIVING THE CAR BEFORE THE REPAIR, I BELIEVE BMW PUT ME IN JEOPARDY BY NOT REPAIRING THE AXLE. THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A HAZARD, RIDING ON A SHAKY DEFECTIVE AXLE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT REPEATEDLY STOPS WHEN EXTENDING. IT CAN TAKE 10 TO 15 ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO EXTEND LONG ENOUGH. THESE FAILURES CAUSE DRIVERS TO "GIVE UP" AND NOT BOTHER TO USE THE SEAT BELT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH BMW AND THEY WANT $500 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT. I BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS AND A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT EXTEND FROM THE HOUSING. IT STOPS REPEATEDLY AND ONLY AFTER SEVERAL TRIES WILL IT EXTEND LONG ENOUGH TO BE LATCHED. THE SITUATION MAY CAUSE A DRIVER TO NOT USE SEAT BELTS AS THIS CAN TAKE A LONG TIME TO FINALLY EXTEND. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGEST IT MIGHT BE A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHICH THEY ARE WILLING TO DIAGNOSE FOR $150 AND THEN FIX FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT. IT WOULD THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM IN OTHER BMWS BUT NOT THIS MODEL. FOR EXAMPLE, REFER TO NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10041411 AND NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10037487 *JS

Window rolled down, but never went back up. Happened on multiple windows of my vehicle. Has been a common problem among these cars, caused me to fail inspection.

BMW 325XI 2004, AFTER SUBSTANTIAL OR UNREASONABLE DELAY IN THE BMW RETURN, WAS PERCEIVED TO BE RENDERED UNSAFE/UNSATISFACTORY/INCOMPLETE, WITH AIRBAG DEFECTS/SPILLOVER EFFECTS, OR RELEASED WITH KNOWN DEFECTS TO THE VEHICLE THAT PUT THE DRIVER AND UNSUSPECTING OCCUPANTS AT RISK OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURY UP TO DEATH. BMW WAS TO SEND A 'CONSENT FORM', THEN VEHICLE OWNER WAS TO REVIEW/SIGN/RETURN, BMW WOULD THEN ORDER 'INTERIM AIRBAG' PARTS, AND REPAIR. THE CONSENT FORM WAS NOT RECEIVED OR SIGNED, JUNE 2016, BMW ENTER/REPAIR WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, OR SIGNED CONSENT FORMS, AND MADE UNKNOWN CHANGES TO THE AIRBAG/SYSTEMS. THE TOXINS REMAIN HAS CORRODED IT OR RELEASED TOXINS/ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A 'CEASE & DESIST' AIRBAG REPAIR PENDING THE RECEIPT AND EXECUTION OF THE CONSENT FORM AS AGREED. BMW FAILED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS PER QUOTE AND AIRBAG [I.E. EXPLOSIVE DEVICE; SODIUM AZIDE AZIUM; SHRAPNEL, ETC.] WAS LEFT IN AN UNSAFE STATE. THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN INSPECTION BY NHTSA, AS IT IS BELIEVED TO BE CONTAMINATED OR CORRODED, BY UNKNOWN TOXINS (I.E SODIUM AZIDE OR AZIUM?). PERSONS EXPOSED HAVE CONTACTED CDC/POISON CENTER WHO STATED THAT PERSONS NOT HAVE FURTHER CONTACT WITH BMW TILL INSPECTED? SEE CLAIM 10881628 FOR SAME/SIMILAR BACKGROUND. THE OWNERS WERE SUBJECTED TO FORESEEABLE TOXINS, FROM THE AIRBAG DEFECTS/RECALLS/ UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS TO THE BMW, PENDING A "CONSENT FORM", AND HAS RESULTED IN INJURY OR MEDICAL CARE OR POISON CONTROL CENTER CONSULTATIONS. THE TOXINS HAD A 'SHARP ODOR', OVERWHELMING AS REPORTED, AND EXPOSURE RESULTED IN DAMAGES TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY, AWAITING ESTIMATES TO BE COMPLETED. IMPORTANTLY, EXPOSURE TO SODIUM AZIDE CAN BE FATAL AND THE VEHICLE NEEDS AN INSPECTION BY NHTSA OR DOT. IF YOU DO NOT INSPECT UNSAFE VEHICLES, WITH PERCEIVED SAFETY CONCERNS, PLEASE PROVIDE A REFERRAL OR PREFERRED SOURCE DUE TO THE SERIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.

WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY WIFE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR LOST POWER, BRAKES. SHE STARTED TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN OTHER COMMUTERS STARTED TO YELL AT HERE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AT THAT TIME THE CABIN STARTED TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. SHE TRIED TO LOWER THE WINDOW BUT THAT HAD LOST POWER ALSO. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR INTO THE SNOW AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP IT AND THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE 325XI STARTED TO BURN AND SHORTLY WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THANK GOD SHE GOT OUT OK BUT WAS TRAUMATIZED BY THE INCIDENT. SINCE THIS HAPPENED WE HAVE FOUND MANY SIMILAR FIRES DOCUMENTED ON THE WEB. *TR

I RECENTLY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON MY PASSENGER CAR (2004 BMW 325XI). AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON WHICH TO BUY, WE BELIEVED THE RATING IN CONSUMER'S REPORTS AND PURCHASED 4 CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT TIRES (ORDER WAS PLACED ON 3/3/2009 AND THE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT TIRE RACK ON 3/6/2009). I HAD A SERVICE CALL ON THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY (2/10/2009) AND THE RECORDED MILES FROM THE VOB SERVICE DEPARTMENT WERE 29,750. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT (4/18/2009), THE MILES ON THIS CAR WERE 30,906. THEREFORE, THE NEW TIRES HAD FAR LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON THEM. AT ABOUT 8:15 PM ON 4-18-2009, WE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT (RIGHT REAR TIRE) GOING CLOSE TO 70 MPH ON I-95 IN MARYLAND. THE STEEL SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED ON THIS TIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND STRUGGLED TO GET THE CAR OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. ALTHOUGH IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS (IT WAS DARK AND LOTS OF TRUCKS AND CARS WERE SPEEDING ON THE HIGHWAY) WE EXITED THE CAR BECAUSE WE WERE CONCERNED ANOTHER VEHICLE MIGHT REAR END IT (EVEN THOUGH THE FLASHERS WERE ON). WE CALLED THE POLICE BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE GIVING THE EXACT LOCATION ( WE WERE NOT BY A MILE MARKER) TO A TOWING SERVICE. THE POLICE DID NOT COME OUT. WE EVENTUALLY GOT A TOW TRUCK TO CHANGE THE TIRE. LUCKILY MY SPARE WAS FULL SIZED AND IN GOOD SHAPE. MY RIM AND THE TIRE ITSELF DO NOT LOOK LIKE THERE WAS A MAJOR ROAD HAZARD. WE BELIEVE THE TIRE FAILED. AFTER THE BLOW OUT INCIDENT, MY AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT IS LIT. WE DON'T KNOW IF THE ABS SYSTEM HAS BEEN AFFECTED. ALTHOUGH WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED (THIS WAS VERY SCARY) NO ONE WAS INJURED. WE ARE TRYING TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE TIRE INSTALLER (TIRE RACK) AND THE TIRE MANUFACTURER (CONTINENTAL). *TR