A BMW 330e owner is alleging that his car experienced unintended acceleration before crashing, raising questions about what caused the incident. BMW inspected the vehicle but reportedly found no fault after a month-long investigation.
BMW 330e Owner Describes Runaway Acceleration
The allegations involve a 2024 BMW G20 330e that was purchased second-hand from a Toyota dealership. The owner said the car had previously revved while idling, even when he was not attempting to accelerate.
On the day of the accident, the owner said he made a left-hand turn and took his foot off the throttle. According to his account, the car continued accelerating. He then pressed the brake pedal, but said nothing happened before the BMW hit a curb and rear-ended another motorist.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
BMW Inspection Finds No Fault
Following the crash, the BMW was repaired and sent to a BMW center for inspection. After a month-long investigation, it was claimed that no fault was found with the vehicle.
The owner later recorded a video showing the car revving on its own while his feet were away from the pedals. He showed the footage to another technician at a BMW center, who agreed that there was a problem. BMW, however, again said the car was not at fault.
Speaking to Motor1, the owner said, “I’m not going to risk driving a car that has already caused a crash,” adding, “Posting this video was a last-ditch effort.”
No Throttle Recall Listed for the BMW
The incident may be one of the first reported instances involving the current and outgoing generation of the 3 Series exhibiting this behavior. According to the NHTSA database, no recalls have been issued regarding the car’s throttle.
The case comes amid a long history of unintended acceleration allegations involving other automakers. The term became widely associated with Audi in the 1980s, although the company was cleared of any wrongdoing. The reputational damage remained, and the situation was further complicated by a 60 Minutes segment that involved a rigged Audi 5000.
In 2009, Toyota faced similar allegations following a tragic accident. After billions of dollars in fines and settlements, Toyota redesigned its all-weather floor mats and their installation and added a brake override system designed to disengage the throttle in such situations.
Mitsubishi also faced unintended acceleration claims involving the Montero Sport in the Philippines. However, the article notes that unintended acceleration has more often been attributed to pedal misapplication.
Too Early to Determine the Cause
The circumstances surrounding the BMW remain unresolved. The available information does not establish what caused the vehicle to accelerate or whether the vehicle itself was responsible for the crash.
The video’s spread across TikTok and other social media platforms could potentially lead to a government investigation, but the case remains far from settled.
What to Do if a Throttle Gets Stuck
If a vehicle’s throttle gets stuck, the recommended steps described in the article are to remain calm and press the brake pedal firmly. While maintaining pressure on the brakes, shift the vehicle into neutral.
The driver should then steer safely toward the side of the road and shut off the vehicle. For vehicles with a push-to-start button, holding the button down for three or more seconds or pressing it rapidly can shut the vehicle off.
If possible, the vehicle should be placed in park. If that is not possible, the parking brake can be applied, or the wheels can be steered toward the curb to help prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
