1999 BMW 328I Problems

1999 BMW 328I. VEHICLE IS REGISTERED AND IS A DAILY DRIVER IN MASSACHUSETTS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 05/01/2021 IN THE BOSTON AREA ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR & SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO ACCIDENT, NO POTHOLES, NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, JUST DRIVING AND THEN AN EXPLOSION FROM AIRBAGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IMMOBILIZED AT THE BATTERY.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V852000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHAPMAN BMW CHANDLER (7455 W ORCHID LN, CHANDLER, AZ 85226) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE DEALERS POSSESSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

THE WELDS SECURING THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL STRAP BRACKET TO THE BODY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 45MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD. I NOTICED A METAL SCRAPING NOISE AND PULLED OVER. THE BRACKET WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE STRAP AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND UNTIL I TOOK IT OFF. THE FAILURE HAPPENED DURING COMPLETELY SAFE CONDITIONS, WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OF FAILURE. INSPECTION OF THE BRACKET AND AREA OF THE FRAME SUGGESTS THAT THE TACK WELDS WERE DEFECTIVE. IF THE FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT COULD WELL HAVE CAUSED A BLOWOUT OF THE REAR TIRE AND POSSIBLY DROPPING THE GAS TANK. THIS DEFECT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. A QUICK SEARCH TURNS UP DOZENS OF ACCOUNTS OF THE EXACT FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL.

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SIDESWIPE COLLISION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED AND HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BUSHING HAD SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A MAINTENANCE CHECK WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR AXLE AND SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS WON IN JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT THE TIME FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIR HAS ELAPSED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER CLIP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V100000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,500. UPDATED 05/12/11 *BF UPDATED 05/31/11

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 00V048000; THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THIS RECALL IS ONLY FOR THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S IN 2000. *AK

I WENT TO BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE AND MY 1999 BMW 328I WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE SHIFT LEVER SEEMED TO BE WORKING. THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH SAID "R". BUT THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I PUSHED IT OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE TO MY AUTO MECHANIC. WHEN I GOT THERE, IT WAS WORKING PERFECTLY. I DROVE IT AROUND FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND THEN IT DID IT AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 10 MINUTES I CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING. I CALLED TWO BMW DEALERS AND ALL THEY WOULD SAY IS "YOU NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST 5 GRAND". *TR

HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 328I BMW NOT GOING INTO REVERSE. *TR

Central locking module failed , car will not lock unlock

1999 BMW 328I. VEHICLE IS REGISTERED AND IS A DAILY DRIVER IN MASSACHUSETTS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 05/01/2021 IN THE BOSTON AREA ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR & SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO ACCIDENT, NO POTHOLES, NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, JUST DRIVING AND THEN AN EXPLOSION FROM AIRBAGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO IMMOBILIZED AT THE BATTERY.

" BMW [XXX] [NO-REVERSE] TRANSMISSION"-HELLO, I'M A 17 MALE STUDENT WHO WORKS A PART TIME JOB, EVER SINCE I WAS A KID I HAVE DREAMED ON HAVING A BMW FOR MY FIRST CAR,AND DO I SAVED MY MONEY SINCE I WAS 5 YEARS OLD. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY AND WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY! BUT JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS STUCK AT SCHOOL BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T REVERSE? ALSO LAST WEEK THERE WAS A ROAD BLOCK BY THE POLICE AND SO I HAD TO REVERSE TO GO BACK BUT OF COURSE MY LUCK,THE REVERSE ISSUE STARTED TO HAPPEN IN THAT SITUATION, HAD TO GET A TOWING TRUCK TO HELP ME OUT.. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND SO I CALLED A COUPLE OF MECHANICS AND BMW AND THE COST ON FIXING THIS ISSUE COST AS MUCH.AS THE CAR!! AND I AM ONLY 17 WITH NOT SO MUCH MONEY DUE TO SPENDING IT ON "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE".. LOOK AT THIS SITE "HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG/COMPLAINTS_2009Q3.HTML" MANY PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO PAY $5000 ON A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION IF I WASN'T WARNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BY BMW! THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH AND AGAIN I'M ONLY 17 AND WORK A PART TIMED JOB.. THIS IS MY ONLY RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, I AM AFRAID ON FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND PROBLEMS IF I DON'T FIX THIS ISSUE AND I'M CONCERNED ON MY SAFETY AND OTHERS WHO RIDE WITH ME IN THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE READ THIS AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE WHO DRIVE THIS MODEL WITH THIS ISSUE AND HELP US OUT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.. *TR

MY 1999 NMW 328I WONT GO INTO REVERSE ON OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN A DARK PARKING AREA ALONE. THE CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ALL THE DAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I GOT INTO THE CAR LATER TO GO HOME AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR SO THAT I COULD GO INTO DRIVE WHICH WORKS FINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BMW PLACE AT 10,000 MILES TO GET TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO NEED BECAUSE IT WAS A LIFETIME TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE BMW PLACE IN TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA CAPITAL EURO CHECKED THE CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR THEM SO THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND STARTED AGAIN. IT DOESN'T DO IT OFTEN BUT IM SCARED TO DRIVE IT FAR OR TO MUCH SO IM LIMITED TO WHERE I CAN GO BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION RIGHT NOW AND MY CAR IS PAID FOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON FLAT SURFACE TREAD ON TIRE STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING A BLOWOUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE THE SIZE AND DOT#.*AK

SEVEN MONTHS FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE CAR, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FLAT TIRES ALL OF WHICH WERE TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND REPAIRED, CONSUMER ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE JUST THE TIRES MAY ALSO BE THE WHEELS THAT DO NOT WORK WITH THE TIRES. *JG

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING ALERT WAS ILLUMINATED AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE SECURED IN THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHO STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT SEAT SENSORS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.

I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. MY VEHICLE JUST REACHED THE 50,171 MILES. THIS A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED REGARLESS EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.*AK

CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER 24HRS IGNITED AND RESULTED INTO FIRE. NO KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCUR, FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAR THE FIRE STARTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL. NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLED EQUIPMENT, NO EQUIPMENT LEFT INSIDE THE CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. ALMOST BURNED DOWN MY HOUSE. *TR

ELECTRIC LOCKS FAIL TO UNLOCK IN HOT OR HUMID WEATHER. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ARE ALSO UNABLE TO UNLOCK THREE PASSENGER DOORS MANUALLY, THOUGH THE KEY CAN BE USED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PASSENGERS ARE LOCKED IN CAR. THE ONLY METHOD TO EXIT AT TIMES IS TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS AND CRAWL OUT. IN THE INSTANCE OF AN EMERGENCY WHERE PASSENGERS NEED TO EXIT QUICKLY, THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM. *JS

ON A RAINY DAY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 1999 BMW 328I FAILED UNDER STRESS. I DID NOT NOTICE A TURN ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND THEREFORE WENT INTO IT TOO FAST. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FIRST PULLED ME OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE TURN, WHERE THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON THE GRAVELY SHOULDER. AT THIS POINT THE TRACTION SYSTEM MAY NOT HAVE FAILED YET. HOWEVER, I SPUN OUT LEFTWARD, AND THEN TO THE OTHER SIDE. I CROSSED ON-COMING TRAFFIC, AND GAINED CONTROL BEFORE LEAVING THE ASPHALT AND POTENTIALLY HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE. HOWEVER, ONCE I HAD THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AFTER LOSING TRACTION AND SLIDING ACROSS TRAFFIC, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CONTROL SYSTEM THREW ME INTO A SECOND SPIN THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER, AND I ENDED UP GOING BACKWARDS AGAINST TRAFFIC. THE SYSTEM WANTED TO GO BACKWARDS. I WORKED SO HARD THAT MY HANDS WERE BLEEDING AFTERWARDS. I KNOW THE SYSTEM HAD FAILED BECAUSE THE TRACTION INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, AND WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE TRACTION SYSTEM WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON (INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ON) FOR . SO THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FAILURE, NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, AND THUS REPLACING MY SYSTEM MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE DIED IF THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAUSE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN KNOWN. SO THIS INCIDENT IS REAL, BUT MAY ONLY OCCUR UNDER STRESS. SO TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, BMW MUST TEST THE SYSTEM UNDER STRESS (I KNOW - I AM A RELIABILITY ENGINEER). BMW WILL NOT PAY TO INVESTIGATE OR REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS ONLY MY BELIEF THAT IT MALFUNCTIONED, EVEN THOUGH THEIR OWN ON-BOARD MONITORING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A FAILURE ONTO MY DASH BOARD (THE INDICATOR LIGHT). IT SEEMS TO BE "WORKING OK" NOW THOUGH (NO INDICATOR LIGHTS - SYSTEM TURNS BACK ON). IN SUMMARY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS UNDER STRESS AND THEN TRIES TO STEER THE CAR BACKWARDS. FYI, I WAS COMPLETELY SOBER RETURNING FROM AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION, THE TIRES HAD GOOD TREAD, AND WERE INFLATED PROPERLY. *TR

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LURCHED FORWARD, LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. *AK

THE DRIVER SIDE PAIR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DO NOT MOVE. THE "REGULATOR" HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THEY SIMPLY BREAK AGAIN. IT IS FRUSTRATING AND AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO PLANS TO PAY TO FIX THE REAR ONES. I TELL EVERYONE HOW GREAT THE CAR HAS BEEN...BUT FOR THE WINDOWS...AND THAT SEEMS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDABLE DETERRENT A PURCHASE BY MANY OF MY FRIENDS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN A SUDDEN STOP WAS NECESSARY. *AK *SCC THE DRIVERS DOOR MADE A RATTLING NOISE, THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPALCED.*CB *JB

ON A RAINY DAY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 1999 BMW 328I FAILED UNDER STRESS. I DID NOT NOTICE A TURN ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND THEREFORE WENT INTO IT TOO FAST. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FIRST PULLED ME OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE TURN, WHERE THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON THE GRAVELY SHOULDER. AT THIS POINT THE TRACTION SYSTEM MAY NOT HAVE FAILED YET. HOWEVER, I SPUN OUT LEFTWARD, AND THEN TO THE OTHER SIDE. I CROSSED ON-COMING TRAFFIC, AND GAINED CONTROL BEFORE LEAVING THE ASPHALT AND POTENTIALLY HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE. HOWEVER, ONCE I HAD THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AFTER LOSING TRACTION AND SLIDING ACROSS TRAFFIC, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CONTROL SYSTEM THREW ME INTO A SECOND SPIN THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER, AND I ENDED UP GOING BACKWARDS AGAINST TRAFFIC. THE SYSTEM WANTED TO GO BACKWARDS. I WORKED SO HARD THAT MY HANDS WERE BLEEDING AFTERWARDS. I KNOW THE SYSTEM HAD FAILED BECAUSE THE TRACTION INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, AND WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE TRACTION SYSTEM WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON (INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ON) FOR . SO THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FAILURE, NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, AND THUS REPLACING MY SYSTEM MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE DIED IF THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAUSE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN KNOWN. SO THIS INCIDENT IS REAL, BUT MAY ONLY OCCUR UNDER STRESS. SO TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, BMW MUST TEST THE SYSTEM UNDER STRESS (I KNOW - I AM A RELIABILITY ENGINEER). BMW WILL NOT PAY TO INVESTIGATE OR REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS ONLY MY BELIEF THAT IT MALFUNCTIONED, EVEN THOUGH THEIR OWN ON-BOARD MONITORING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A FAILURE ONTO MY DASH BOARD (THE INDICATOR LIGHT). IT SEEMS TO BE "WORKING OK" NOW THOUGH (NO INDICATOR LIGHTS - SYSTEM TURNS BACK ON). IN SUMMARY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS UNDER STRESS AND THEN TRIES TO STEER THE CAR BACKWARDS. FYI, I WAS COMPLETELY SOBER RETURNING FROM AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION, THE TIRES HAD GOOD TREAD, AND WERE INFLATED PROPERLY. *TR

SEVEN MONTHS FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE CAR, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL FLAT TIRES ALL OF WHICH WERE TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND REPAIRED, CONSUMER ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE JUST THE TIRES MAY ALSO BE THE WHEELS THAT DO NOT WORK WITH THE TIRES. *JG

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO PULSATE, AND RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

MY 1999 BMW 328I (E46) TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REGULARLY FAIL, CAUSE FALSE FAULT DISPLAY WARNINGS, TURN SIGNAL BULBS BURN OUT OR FLASH AT A HIGH SPEED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN FLASH NORMALLY, AND THEN BURN OUT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TURN SIGNAL/BRAKE LIGHT HARNESSES OVERHEATING, SHORTING OUT, AND MELTING. WHEN CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BMW TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, IT WAS JUST BAD BULBS. I HEAR BMW IS NOW CHARGING $400. PER SIDE TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY CARS. MY CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY IN 2003, AND THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM BEFORE IT RAN OUT. THE MILEAGE WAS APPROX. 25K WHEN PROBLEM STARTED AND CONTINUES NOW AT APPROX. 89K MILES. *TR

THE WELDS SECURING THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL STRAP BRACKET TO THE BODY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 45MPH ON A SMOOTH ROAD. I NOTICED A METAL SCRAPING NOISE AND PULLED OVER. THE BRACKET WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE STRAP AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND UNTIL I TOOK IT OFF. THE FAILURE HAPPENED DURING COMPLETELY SAFE CONDITIONS, WITH NO WARNING SIGNS OF FAILURE. INSPECTION OF THE BRACKET AND AREA OF THE FRAME SUGGESTS THAT THE TACK WELDS WERE DEFECTIVE. IF THE FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR ON A ROUGH SURFACE, IT COULD WELL HAVE CAUSED A BLOWOUT OF THE REAR TIRE AND POSSIBLY DROPPING THE GAS TANK. THIS DEFECT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. A QUICK SEARCH TURNS UP DOZENS OF ACCOUNTS OF THE EXACT FAILURE FOR THIS MODEL.

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES AND CLUTCH. THOSE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AT THIS POINT VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE.*AK