2012 BMW 740Li

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles. The rear driveshaft constant velocity (CV) joint on the affected vehicles may fatigue and break.

Risk. If the CV joint breaks, the vehicle may have a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 740LI Sedan. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph when the vehicle backfired which resulted in the vehicle exploding. The drive train malfunction warning light was illuminated. There was black smoking coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle and caught fire. The contact was able to jump out of the vehicle and sustained a sprained ankle and mental trauma. The fire marshals extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact mentioned that the vehicle went through extensive damage that it was unrecognizable. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 55 MPH, A WARNING SOUNDS (DINGS) AS MY CAR READS DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION AND IT REDUCES SPEED. IT ALSO SAYS (READS) DRIVING COMFORT RESTRICTED AND IT STOPS AUTOMATICALLY AS I'M DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 740LI. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THEN LUNGED FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OFTEN. DURING THE FAILURE, THE "POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTIONING" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

DRIVETRAIN SIGNAL CAME ON LIGHT IN CAR STARTED TO TURN ON AND OFF GEARSHIFT BECAME REAL COLD STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ONLY ALLOW TO GO 50 MPH

ENGINE OVER HEAT, LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE CROSSING ACROSS THE ROAD. GOT MESSAGE SAYING THIS CONTACT SERVICE CENTER IMMEDIATELY.