- A class action lawsuit claims BMW antenna leaks damage electronics, costing owners thousands.
- The lawsuit accuses BMW of hiding the problem and not covering repairs under warranty.
- Lawyers are seeking more than $5 million and alleges various violations by BMW.
BMW has been hit with a class action lawsuit that alleges an assortment of vehicles are equipped with a “defectively designed and/or manufactured” shark fin antenna that allows for water infiltration. If this occurs, it could result in thousands of dollars in damage.
The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and claims 2017-2023 BMW 330i, 340i, M440i, M550i, 750i, X1, X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 vehicles are impacted. It goes on to say the leaks cause “corrosion of interior electrical components, collection of water in body cavities, and water damage to the … interior.”
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On top of making claims about an alleged defect, the lawsuit suggests BMW is actively trying to conceal the problem. It goes on to claim the automaker has “long been aware of the defect,” but has been “unable or unwilling to adequately” address it.
The 44 page lawsuit was filed by lawyers for California resident Tim Craft, who purchased a certified pre-owned 2019 X5 xDrive 40i in 2023. The lawsuit claims employees at BMW of San Diego said the vehicle was inspect and “free from any issues.”
Less than a year later, the SUV reportedly suffered a number of malfunctions following a heavy rainstorm. Craft eventually brought the crossover to Rusnak BMW, which reportedly found “water ingress into the telematics control module and recommended replacement, including replacement of the shark fin antenna.” These repairs wouldn’t be covered under warranty and would cost around $2,500.
Craft protested, “insisting he should not have to pay for the repairs because the shark fin antenna is defective.” It’s not immediately clear how he came to believe the antenna was defective, but Craft ended up paying “$92 for the necessary repairs because he needed a safe and working vehicle.”
The lawsuit claims the vehicles suffer from “one or more design and/or manufacturing defects that causes the shark fin antenna structure to detach from the roof … allowing water to infiltrate the antenna at the seams and leak into the interior of the vehicle.” The lawsuit then points to blog and Reddit posts, suggesting this is a widespread issue. It also mentions a handful of complaints made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The lawsuit alleges an assortment of dirty deeds including violations of the Magnuson–Moss Warranty and Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Acts, false advertising, breach of warranty, fraud, and unjust enrichment – among other things. Lawyers are seeking a jury trial and more than $5 (£3.9 / €4.7) million in damages.
