I was driving on a residential street and shifted into 3rd gear. The car began to buck violently. I pushed in the clutch to stop the bucking. I was approaching an intersection. I attempted to accelerate and the gas pedal was non-responsive. The vehicle then indicated that it had a drivetrain malfunction. I was able to pull over, turn the car off and back on and drive 0.5 miles to my destination. While parked, the parking brake also malfunctioned and I was unable to turn it off. The car was towed to the dealership. There is a significant design deficiency with this vehicle. The problem with my car had to do with a broken plastic part on the water channel that leads around the trunk. The plastic cover is supposed to snap into a grommet that is in a hole, thus sealing the hole from water. In my situation, the grommet was missing. Given the design of the plastic part, there is no way to know that there is an issue without removing the plastic part. The hole that the plastic piece snaps into leads directly into the trunk. In the bottom of the trunk are sensitive electronic modules that control the fuel management system and the parking brake. There is no drain in the trunk that would allow water to leave the vehicle. My vehicle was parked in a parking lot during a rain storm. As a result of the design, I got water in the trunk, which ruined these two modules, resulting in the vehicle becoming disabled while driving. I believe that this is a significant safety issue for the following reasons: I) as a consumer, I had no idea that the electronics that enable the vehicle to manage fuel were located in the trunk; II) the design of the water channel around the trunk seems inadequate given that any failure of the plastic shield / grommet combination would lead to water in the trunk and expose these critical components.

- Summit, NJ, USA

My 2011 BMW 550igt driven for 43200 miles was parked in my driveway with ignition turned off (for at least 45 minutes). Noticed smoke coming out from the trunk, where the battery is located.

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

I have prepared a pdf document that I would like to submit as well. I can supply it at any time. Here is the short version. 10/17/13: I have the family come with me for a ride and then the vehicle begins to malfunctions and the check engine light comes back on. The vehicle is struggling to even drive at this point and I am on the freeway trying to make it to an exit. The hesitation becomes worse and worse I start to fear that I may become stranded on a busy roadway. I make it off the exit and home. 10/18/13: (D/O vehicle mileage: 29,375) I take the vehicle to concord BMW for inspection; [xxx] is the service consultant at BMW of concord. 10/19/13: (P/U vehicle mileage: 29,379) [xxx] telephones me to inform me that it was a quick fix and the vehicle was ready to be picked up. I come to sign for the vehicle and release the rental. Not even 10 minutes after I am in possession of the vehicle it malfunctions identically again. I call back to tell them I am dropping it off, once again. Returned the vehicle with (D/O 29,392 miles) 10/20/13: Continued... 10/21/13: Continued... 10/22/13: Continued... 10/23/13: Continued... 10/24/13: Continued.... 10/25/13: Continued... 10/26/13: Continued... 10/27/13: Continued... 10/28/13: Continued... 10/29/13: Continued... 10/30/13: Continued... 10/31/13: Continued... information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Clayton, CA, USA

Just parked the vehicle, turned off the vehicle and smelled something burning. Exited the vehicle, observed smoke from under the hood, opened the hood and observed flames from the left side of the engine, mostly on the top left of the engine now. Called the fire department who extinguished the flames, and had the car towed to the dealer. The vehicle is now in their lot waiting for their investigators to look at the vehicle. The first comment out of the dealership, maybe an animal built a nest in the engine area. This vehicle only had 3000 miles on it, purchased in June of 2011, and is garage kept.

- Hoffman Estates, IL, USA

I purchased 2011 model BMW 535I in August 2010. There are 3 cigarette lighter power outlets inside the car and electricity is supplying all the time regardless of whether vehicle is being locked or not. If I use accessories like gps, charger, coffer warmer etc. And left in the locked vehicle under summer sun could really be a fire hazard. I have contacted to BMW customer relations and local service asking to rewire to stop power supply while engine is stopped or/and vehicle is locked but they refused to fix the problem. I have another complaint regarding the steering like other owners which is that vehicle is pulling to the right all the time at all speed. I'd like to request NHTSA to order BMW to fix those problems asap as a recall!

- Macomb, IL, USA