BMW 328i Complaints

2,583 consumer complaints on file.

#10450297March 5, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE: FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED DISALLOWING EXIT FROM ALL DOORS EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. PASSENGERS COULD ONLY EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CRAWLING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BY USING THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOORHANDLES. FURTHERMORE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISALLOWED ANY UNLOCKING OF THESE THREE DOORS AS WELL. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING THIS DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. DURING THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. CAR WAS TAKEN TO BMW DEALER (PASSPORT) FOR REPAIR AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS SAID IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT ALL CARS WITH ELECTRONIC LOCKS RESPOND THIS WAY WHEN THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FAILS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448503February 19, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN KEY FAB WAS USED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO ENTER THE CAR THE LOCKS DID NOT WORK. ONLY WHEN THE EMERGENCY KEY WAS USED DID THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN MANUALLY. NO OTHER DOORS WOULD OPEN LOCKING ANY PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED CHANGE OF FUSES WHICH WAS DONE AND DID NOT SOLVE THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM WAS STILL NOT WORKING. DEALER RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE DOOR ACTUATORS FOR $3000 EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. CENTRAL LOCKING ALSO CAUSED THE GAS CAP TO REMAIN LOCKED AND POSSIBLY STRANDING THE DRIVER AT THE GAS STATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445168January 25, 2012
STEERING
WE DID NOT BUY BMW JUST FOR THE LOOK BUT WE BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF HOW GOOD THEY MAKE THERE CARS AND NOW THIS HAPPEN AND BOY I WAS FOOLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444503January 19, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE CONTACT'S ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE THEM. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED BOTH REAR REGULATORS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING DURING THE PAST YEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER'S WIFE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS USING THE CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE PANEL, THE WINDOWS DID NOT MOVE, THEY SUBSEQUENTLY SAGGED IN THE WINDOW FRAMES AND CREATED AN OPENING. THE WINDOWS COULD BE PUSHED UN IN THE FRAME BY HAND, BUT WOULD THEN FALL BACK DOWN WHEN DRIVING. UPDATED 02/22/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443649January 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443605January 12, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE SUSPENSION STARTED TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE DEALER WAS THEN NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442612January 6, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MAKE : 2009 BMW 328I SEDAN E36 PROBLEM : 11/11 : ENGINE STOP RUNNING, LOSE POWER ASSIST FOR STEERING AND BRAKES. TRIED TO RE-STARTED MY CAR BUT COULD NOT - LONG-CRANK ENGINE STARTING TIMES ALONG WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. TOWED TO BMW OF SAN DIEGO. 1 WEEK REPAIR AND HAD BEEN TOLD FUEL PUMP MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED. PAID $730.68 FOR REPLACEMENT. 01/12 : SAME PROBLEM - ENGINE STOP RUNNING, LOSE POWER, LONG-CRANK. TOWED TO BMW OF SAN DIEGO AGAIN. HAD BEEN TOLD FUEL PUMP BROKEN AND CAUSE FUEL PUMP MODULE BURNING. PAID AGAIN $7XX FOR REPLACEMENT FOR SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441396December 27, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SENSOR IN FUEL TANK DID NOT REPORT AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK TO DASH. CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY GAS BUT REPORTED A QUARTER TANK. WHILE DRIVING AT ROUGHLY 45 MILES AN HOUR, CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN CENTER LANE. BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OVER. THE WORST PART IS I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND MY SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN ROUGHLY 70-75 MPH. ON A HIGHWAY, HAD MY CAR DIED IN THE SAME MANNER MY SAFETY WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED! I ENDED UP BLOCKING A STREET WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR ALONE. DEALERSHIP STATED THE SENSOR IS A PART OF THE WHOLE TANK AND THE TANK MUST BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, BECAUSE IT IS A SENSOR ISSUE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS DEFECT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437835November 30, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PER DEALER. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437864November 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437453November 28, 2011
AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE RECALIBRATED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V223000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE BY A POLICE OFFICER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER REPLACING THE LIGHT BULBS SO THE BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS THEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V048000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EITHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/04/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436158November 16, 2011
WHEELS
WHEN I WENT TO A TIRE STORE TO PURCHASE WINTER TREADS I DISCOVERED THE RIM ON THE BACK LEFT WHEEL WAS CRACKED. THE MECHANICS TOLD ME IF I CONTINUED DRIVING ON IT THE CRACKED RIM, THE WHEEL COULD COME OFF. I HAVE OWNED A NUMBER OF BMW'S AND NEVER SEEN A CRACKED RIM. (EVEN WHEN I LIVED IN THE POT HOLE LITTERED NE) THREE DAYS AGO I WENT TO THE SAME TIRE STORE BECAUSE THERE APPEARED TO BE A LEAK IN THE NEW, LEFT REAR TIRE. THE RIM WAS CRACKED IN 4 PLACES. THIS IS SCARY AND IT IS ALSO EXTREMELY COSTLY AS THE RIMS ARE ABOUT $300+. TO HAVE TWO OF THESE RIM FAILURES IN A MONTH IS A BIT SHOCKING. BMW SAYS PARTS FAIL THROUGH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR (NOT ON ANY OF MY PREVIOUS BMW'S) THE TIRE STORE SAYS THE RIMS ARE A VERY THIN ALUMINUM TO MAKE THE CAR FASTER AND THEY SEE A NUMBER OF FAILURES. NOT SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435564November 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY 1999 NMW 328I WONT GO INTO REVERSE ON OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN A DARK PARKING AREA ALONE. THE CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ALL THE DAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I GOT INTO THE CAR LATER TO GO HOME AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR SO THAT I COULD GO INTO DRIVE WHICH WORKS FINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BMW PLACE AT 10,000 MILES TO GET TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO NEED BECAUSE IT WAS A LIFETIME TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE BMW PLACE IN TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA CAPITAL EURO CHECKED THE CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR THEM SO THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND STARTED AGAIN. IT DOESN'T DO IT OFTEN BUT IM SCARED TO DRIVE IT FAR OR TO MUCH SO IM LIMITED TO WHERE I CAN GO BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION RIGHT NOW AND MY CAR IS PAID FOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435369November 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
I HAD HEARD THAT SUBFRAME FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY COMMON ON BMW E46 MODELS (1999-2006) BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS, UNTIL TODAY. I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 BMW 328I WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD POP, THE STEERING BECAME LOSE AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT KNOCKING NOISE. ONCE I GOT IT HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SURE ENOUGH THE SUB-FRAME HAD RIPPED COMPLETED AWAY FROM THE BODY, THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE WAS RIPPED OUT LEAVING TWO BIG HOLE IN THE UNDER BODY OF THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW NA BUT THAT CLAIMS HAD TO BE FILED BY 2010. THEY ARE NOT REFUSING TO FIX IT. THIS IS A CLEARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THERE ARE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IN ONLINE BOARDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434896November 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR FAILED ON ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN FROM THE EXTERIOR OR INTERIOR. THE FAILURE ALSO PREVENTED THE DOOR TO THE FUEL TANK FROM BEING OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434400November 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED ON 2/3/2011 AND HAS EXPERIENCED ONGOING & UNRESOLVED ELECTRICAL SHORTS, BATTERY DISCHARGE, FAILURES TO START, ERRONEOUS DOOR AJAR MESSAGES, SERVICE ENGINE SOON & ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION MESSAGES LEAVING PASSENGERS STRANDED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP(S) 2 TIMES. DATES/MILEAGE OF FAILURE(S): 19FEB2011 / 377 MILES, 18APR2011 / 2,336, 01JUN2011 / 3,816, 12 AUG 2011 / 4,690, 24OCT2011 / 6,867, 21OCT2011 / 6,943. FORMAL NOTICES SERVED TO BRAMAN BMW / MIAMI, SOUTH MOTORS / MIAMI & BMW CORPORATE / NJ TO REPAIR OR REPLACE VEHICLE HAVE GONE UNANSWERED. PENDING LEMON LAW / LEGAL ACTION CURRENTLY PENDING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434670November 4, 2011
VISIBILITY
AFTER ONLY 16,000 MILES OF USE, THE WINDSHIELD FIRST APPEARED TO BE COMPLETELY "SANDBLASTED" WITH TINY INDENTATIONS. WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN THE GLARE BECOMES SO INTENSE THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER SEE THE ROAD. YOU EFFECTIVELY BECOME BLINDED AND CERTAINLY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REACT TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURS AT NIGHT WHEN DRIVING TOWARDS ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS RARELY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED. BMW DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, WILL NOT REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY AND CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT A REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD WILL NOT PERFORM IN THE SAME MANNER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434669November 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE REVERSE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN GEAR. ALL OTHER GEARS RESPOND. CANNOT MOVE CAR IN REVERSE. PROBLEM STARTED OCTOBER 2011. AT THIS TIME THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN MOVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433999November 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK WHEN HER LEG WAS BURNED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,037.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10433845November 1, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A 2007 BMW 328I ON 8/6/2011, 59,642 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER THIS PURCHASE, I EXPERIENCED THIS VEHICLE OVERHEATING AND LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING TWICE IN ONE WEEK, OCTOBER 25 AND OCTOBER 27, 2011. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THE YELLOW WARNING SIGNAL ILLUMINATED AND TEN SECONDS LATER, THE RED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. I WAS TOLD TO PICK UP MY CAR AND COME BACK IF IT RAN HOT AND STALLED AGAIN (CUSTOMER TO MONITOR). I PICKED MY CAR UP ON WEDNESDAY EVENING AFTER WORK AND DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. ON THURSDAY MORNING THE YELLOW LIGHT FLASHED AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED RED AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY AGAIN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. THIS TIME, WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACE ON THE TOW TRUCK, COOLANT RAN FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING, UNEXPECTED, EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHIN 10 SECONDS, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THIS VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT REAR ENDED ON EITHER INCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN IS TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ADVANCE WARNING, WHICH PUTS THE OCCUPANTS IN DANGER OR BEING REAR ENDED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SWIFT TOTAL SHUT DOWN OCCURRING WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE WATER PUMP WAS NOT DEEMED AS THE ABSOLUTE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP STARTED THEIR CORRECTIVE ACTION WITH REPLACING THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, THIS VEHICLE'S CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED AND SLUDGE WAS IN THE ENGINE OIL (PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE). I CONTACTED BMWUSA AND WAS TOLD THAT COMPONENTS BREAK DOWN SOMETIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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