BMW fire class action overview:
- Who: A South Carolina woman, plaintiff Quinyan Skinner, has filed a class action lawsuit against BMW.
- Why: Skinner claims BMW sold vehicles with a defective water pump component that increases the risk of fire.
- Where: The BMW fire class action was filed in a New Jersey federal court.
A South Carolina woman has filed a class action lawsuit against BMW, alleging the automaker sold vehicles with a defective water pump component that increases the risk of fire.
Plaintiff Quinyan Skinner filed the class action complaint against BMW of North America on Oct. 3 in a New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
The lawsuit, brought on behalf of thousands of allegedly affected BMW owners, claims the company failed to properly inform customers that their vehicles contain a “design defect that causes a serious safety concern.”
The alleged defect involves an improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump in several BMW models.
Skinner says the issue allows water to collect on the connector, leading to an electrical shortage that could cause a fire. On Aug. 20, 2024, BMW recalled 720,796 vehicles from various models manufactured between 2012 and 2018, including the popular BMW X5, 3-Series, and X3 models, she says.
BMW class action: Automaker didn’t inform drivers of defect
Despite this recall, many BMW owners, including Skinner, were not made aware of the defect at the time of purchase or during routine maintenance, she alleges. Skinner, who purchased a 2018 BMW X5, stated that BMW never informed her of any risk associated with the defective water pump, even though she brought her vehicle to the dealership for regular service.
The lawsuit accuses BMW of multiple violations of the law, including failure to properly design, manufacture, and market the vehicles.
Skinner also alleges that BMW knew about the defect but continued to sell and market the vehicles without adequately informing consumers of the risk.
She claims owners of the recalled vehicles are now faced with the burden of repairing the defective part.
The recall provides for a free replacement of the water pump and plug connector, along with the installation of a protective shield, however, Skinner says the recall is not enough to offset the inconvenience, costs, and depreciation associated with owning a vehicle that could potentially catch fire.
As a result, she’s suing on behalf of all people who purchased or leased one of the affected BMW models during the recall period.
The lawsuit is suing under warranty and liability laws and seeks certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial, while alleging that the total damages exceed $5 million.
BMW of North America recently recalled three vehicles over concerns involving starter motors, cargo rails and Takata-brand airbag inflators. Click here for more information.
What do you think of the claims in this BMW class action? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Philip J. Furia and Jason P. Sultzer of Sultzer & Lipari PLLC and Paul J. Doolittle of Poulin | Wiley | Anastopoulo LLC.
The BMW water pump class action is Quinyan Skinner v. BMW of North America, Case No. 2:24-cv-09602 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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