Parking brake actuator failure. Plastic gear brakes reoccurring problem.

- Covina, CA, USA

I just came across NHTSA action number : PE11025 and wanted to make you aware of the following: I parked my car in front of my daughter's day care center (the goddard school, suwanee) on the Monday before easter in 2010 (March 29, 2010). When I came out, I discovered the car approximately 40 yards away crashed into the embankment of the neighboring parking lot, at an incline of approximately 45 degrees. My car was damaged, as was the landscaping at the crash site, however, no one was injured. In response to my inquiry, BMW indicated that there were no recalls related to issues such as the one I experienced. The repair shop was baffled by the issue as well and said it might be attributable to a faulty parking brake actuator. The vehicle still gives occasional transmission fault error messages and indicators. I had to file an insurance claim and can contact the company for details. I also still have pictures somewhere if someone would like to view them. The repairs (mechanical and body work) were completed at godwin automotive in duluth/johns creek, Georgia. The mileage stated above is based on memory and my not be accurate.

- Atlanta,, GA, USA

The parking brake assembly located in the trunk of the 2002 BMW 745I, is faulty. The gears inside the assembly are made of plastic and nylon. When the nylon gear breaks, and it will, you will no longer be able to use your parking brake. I brought my car to BMW of honolulu today and was told that the part was about $1100. The service advisor even told me that he had seen 4 of the 7 series with the same problem in the past month. I have to drive around with this yellow parking light on my dash. This is a safety issue that BMW should take of. This could easily be remedied by BMW replacing the nylon gear with a more durable one, but they would rather have the consumer buy the entire unit for $1100, then pay another $200-$300 for labor.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

Brakes failed for 2nd time in 2 weeks, resulting in fender damage to 3 vehicles; accident occured at 5 mph. The same failure had occured 2 weeks earlier (without any damages), and the local BMW dealership "repaired" the brake wheel sensors, stating this was the cause of the brake failure. There was no emergency brake handle that could be used in such an emergency (only a button on the dash).

- Columbia, SC, USA