BMW 323i Complaints (1999)

136 consumer complaints on file.

#10765006September 18, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701731March 25, 2015
ENGINE, STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 1999 323I CAUGHT FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH ONCE PARKED.THERE WAS A LOUD "SNAP", FOLLOWED BY LARGE FLAMES COMING FROM AROUND THE HOOD AND FRONT WHEEL WELLS. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 5-7 MINUTES (FORTUNATELY THEY ARE BOTH LOCATED LESS THAN 1 MILE AWAY). ONCE THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, MY CAR'S FRONT 1/2 WAS MELTED INTO MY PARKING SPACE. IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS AND I AM EXPECTING THAT MY AUTO INSURANCE WILL PAY VERY LITTLE; REGARDLESS THAT THE CAR WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597598June 11, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548081October 16, 2013
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE AREA AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 229,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535677August 16, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
ASC BRAKES SYSTEMS ALONG WITH THE SPEEDOMETER, WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER. ABS IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496463February 5, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION WAS AN AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488722December 13, 2012
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
AFTER 6 MONTHS OF SQUEAKING & RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING ON CA ROUTE 10 WHEN I NOTICED THE SOUNDS WERE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT, AS THE CAR'S HANDLING BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE. I REDUCED SPEED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, FEARING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND UPON ARRIVING HOME HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY BEVERLY HILLS BMW, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME WAS DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CAR WAS "NOT ROAD WORTHY" ([XXX]) AND I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF THE SHOP. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT [XXX], WHO INFORMED ME THAT BMW HAD A PROGRAM (THAT I BELIEVE IS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT), IN WHICH THEY RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE EARLY E46 BMW MODELS' SUB-FRAMES AND OFFERED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED & IN SOME CASES WOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. BMW CHOSE TO DENY ME REPAIR, CITING THAT THEY HAD MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT THE PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY (THAT I HAD NEVER RECEIVED) & THAT THE PROGRAM HAD NOW ENDED. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY, I CONTACTED[XXX]TO SEE IF BMW WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR SOME OF MY COSTS OF REPAIR AND CAR RENTAL, SEEING AS HOW THEY WERE A FRACTION OF THE QUOTE FROM BMW. SHE TOLD ME TO FORWARD MY INVOICES ($2207.70 IN TOTAL) TO HER EMAIL, WHICH I DID. DESPITE 3 FOLLOW-UP EMAILS, 3 VOICE MAILS, AND ONE CERTIFIED LETTER, I HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM BMW. THE MECHANICAL / STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF A VEHICLE'S FRAME, OR SUB-FRAME, SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED BY REGULAR USE. HAVING A DEFECTIVE SUB-FRAME IN A CAR MANUFACTURED IN THE LAST 80 YEARS IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE AND CONSTITUTES A NEED FOR INVESTIGATION CONCERNING A POTENTIAL RECALL, RATHER THAN SOME MANUFACTURER-CONTROLLED PROGRAM WITH TIME LIMITS THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459277May 22, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO GRAVEL INTERFERING WITH THE SYSTEM AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT CERTAIN ISSUES WERE TO BE EXPECTED AS THE VEHICLE AGED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 167,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457079May 1, 2012
POWER TRAIN
BMW 323I 1999 I PURCHASED THIS BMW TODAY. UPON ARRIVING HOME I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, NOTHING HAPPENED. SHUT OFF VEHICLE WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AS STATED IN MANUAL NO CHANGE. VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN ALL DAY FROM MEETING UP OF SELLER TO LENDING INSTITUTION. UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME VEHICLE WOULD NO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449344February 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439853December 14, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
THE SUBFRAME HAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE FLOORPAN. THROUGH INVESTIGATION THIS HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON E46 BMW 3 SERIES. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BY BMW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE SUBFRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF ANY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439677December 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUB FRAME MOUNT TEAR/RIPPED FROM THE BODY. NOW IT SQUEAKS VERY LOUD, VIBRATES AND MOVES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410007June 30, 2011
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SIDE (DOOR PANEL AND CURTAIN) AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,970 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409231June 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE GEAR SHIFT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN AND THE RPMS INCREASED. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH AND STATED SHE LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO SEE WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409648June 25, 2011
SUSPENSION
REAR SUB FRAME TEAR GREATER THEN 20 MM WHEN INSPECTED BY THE BMW DEALER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407595June 20, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS HE NOTICED A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE SUB-FRAME WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD INSTALL A FRAME. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 10/03/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394189April 4, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1999 BMW 323I DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE OR UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR. PASSENGERS (90% OF THE TIME) AND SOMETIMES DRIVERS SIDE DOOR (10%) WILL NOT UNLOCK TRAPPING OCCUPANTS INSIDE. PROBLEM USUALLY OCCURS WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 75 DEGREES. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I WILL BE REPLACING THE GENERAL MODULE 5. IF PROBLEM IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY CAR OWNERS, OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR MAY BE TRAPPED INSIDE DURING AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382842February 15, 2011
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN SEPULVEDA BLVD. IN LOS ANGELES, CA AT 7:30 PM. WE BELIEVE WE HIT A POTHOLE AT 35 MPH. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRES OR WHEELS, BUT THE SIDE IMPACT CURTAIN AIRBAG ON OUR 1999 BMW 323I SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. WE RESEARCHED RECALLS ON OUR VEHICLE. WE FOUND THE FOLLOWING: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN 4-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD DEPLOY IN CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS, SUCH AS WHEN CONTACTING LARGE POTHOLES OR CURBS AT SUBSTANTIAL SPEEDS. CONSEQUENCE: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG AND HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH OR IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAG COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THE OCCUPANT'S HEAD IS RESTING NEAR THE SIDE AIR BAG. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE CENTRAL AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 25, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117. WE CONTACTED BMW AT THE ABOVE 800 NUMBER. WE WERE TOLD THAT BASED ON OUR VIN # THAT WE WERE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. BEING THAT OUR CAR IS THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR IN THE RECALL, AND THAT THE EXACT CONSEQUENCE DID OCCUR, IT SEEMS ODD THAT BMW IS SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. NOW, BMW WANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH IN ALL APPEARANCES IS A MANUFACTURER FAULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376325January 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, NEW, THE REVERSE GEAR FAILS IN MY 1999 BMW 323I. IN ADDITION, THE CAR SEEMS TO, INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, RAPIDLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATES, I HAVE TO APPLY ALL THE PRESSURE I CAN TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND EVEN WITH THAT I CAN FEEL THE ACCELERATION FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT STOPS. AS FOR THE REVERSE GEAR FAILURE, I HAVE TO SHIFT TO EACH GEAR ONCE OR TWICE BEFORE I CAN GET THE CAR INTO REVERSE, AND/OR I JUST HAVE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND WAIT FOR A WHILE BEFORE TRYING AGAIN, AND/OR I HAVE TO SHIFT TO AND FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN A PARKING LOT, STREET, ETC., HOLDING UP DRIVERS BEHIND ME. IN 11 YEARS, NO MECHANIC HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE CAR HAS THESE ISSUES, AND MOST MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. THUS, NOTHING HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND THE ISSUES REMAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375073January 7, 2011
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE DRIVER OWNED A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT WAS REPRESENTING A LAW FIRM FOR THE DRIVER WHO WAS KILLED IN A CRASH THREE DAYS AGO. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SWERVE, TURN COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND IT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE TO SPLIT IN TWO CUTTING OFF BOTH OF HER LEGS. THE TRAFFIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATORS STATED THAT THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE BRAND WAS PEP BOYS, TIRE LINE COOPER CORNELL 1000, SIZE P205/55R16 WITH DOT #3DT2XH40106. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON HER VEHICLE AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE LOCATION OF THE TIRE, ESTIMATED MILEAGE, TREAD DEPTH, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 12/14/11 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1

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