BMW 328i Complaints

2,583 consumer complaints on file.

#10129327July 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC RADIATOR BROKE AT UPPER HOSE CONNECTION, CAUSING SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE STOPPING IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THIS LED TO A VERY DANGEROUS RESCUE BY CALTRANS TRUCK AFTER AN HOUR OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123691May 31, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN BRAKES GAVE OUT. CAR HIT 2 TREES AND CAME TO STOP. $6500 BODY DAMAGE. BODY DAMAGE REPAIRED. BREAKS AFTER INSPECTION REQUIRE OVER $1500 REPAIR. BREAK CALIPERS BENT. TECHNICIAN ATTRIBUTES BREAK FAILURE TO CALIPERS BEING DEFECTIVE AND WEAK IN ALL 3 SERIES AND 5 SERIES BMW.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121723May 20, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL RESULTING IN A SHAKING/VIBRATING VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELLERTING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR CAN LUNGE AND JERK WHILE ACCELLERATING, RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE ACCELLERATION. IN CITY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE IGNITION COILS FOR BMW 3 SERIES CARS AND IT APPEARS THEY FAIL A LOT, YET THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN! AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER IT APPEARS BMW HAS SOME RECALL CAMPAIGNS FOR SOME OF THE NEWER CARS. THEY SUGGEST REPLACING ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW BOSCH MODEL. MY CAR HAS BREMI MODEL COILS (PART NO. F3000-86682) AND THERE IS NO BOSCH SUBSTITUTE ACCORDING TO THE BMW DEALER (PLAZA MOTORS IN ST. LOUIS, MO). I FOUND AN EPA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE BREMI COILS FOR ANOTHER MODEL BMW AT THIS WEB SITE: REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/420B04018.PDF EPA# 2061 IT DESCRIBES AN INTERNAL FAILURE AS FOLLOWS: "BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION PROCESS FAILURES, THE IGNITION COIL OF ONE SUPPLIER (BREMI)MAY HAVE AN INTERNAL INSULATION BREAK-DOWN IN THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC 2121 CIRCUIT, THE SECONDARYELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND/OR A DISRUPTIVE DISCHARGE. REMEDY: BMW HAS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW IMPROVED VERSION." THE SAME EXACT THING IS HAPPENING TO BMW 3 SERIES CARS. A REVIEW OF BMW FORUMS ON THE INTERNET EXPLAINS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY BY THE DAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL CAMPAIGN INITIATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119686May 3, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
REAR SUBFRAME TORN AWAY FROM CHASSIS CAUSING NOISY AND MISALIGNED SUSPENSION PARTS AND A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN FOR COMPLETE FAILURE. COMMON ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 100 WEBSITES DETAILING IT. TIME FOR A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117382April 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT/SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111900February 21, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SUBFRAME PROBLEM THE SHEET METAL OF THE CAR RIPS DRIVER SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107345January 13, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE FUEL HOSE IS LEAKING FUEL, WHICH COULD DANGEROUS BECAUSE A FIRE CAN EASILY OCCUR. OWNER WILL TAKE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104989December 16, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM REAR AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME CRACKED,AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102906December 14, 2004
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON MY 2000 BMW 328I HAS FAILED (RED WARNING LIGHT ON) 3 TIMES. ALTHOUGH THE RED LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, MY WIFE AND I ALWAYS DRIVE WITH OUR BELTS FASTENED AND DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM (TWO TIMES IT HAS REQUIRED RETURNING THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME DUE TO AVAILABILITY OF REPLACEMENT PARTS), WE HAVE OPTED TO DRIVE WITH THE LIGHT ON UNTIL THE NEXT SCHEDULED VEHICLE SERVICE. THE LAST TIME THE AIR BAG FAILED WE WERE CHARGED APPROXIMATELY $500 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS REPAIR WAS OCTOBER 2004. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE TOLD US THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS DECEMBER 2003 WHEN WE HAD THE NEXT MOST RECENT FAILURE, THE REPAIRS WERE NOT RELATED AND THEREFORE NOT WARRANTABLE. WHEN WE SAID WE DID NOT AGREE WITH HAVING TO PAY FOR A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT, THEY TOLD US TO CONTACT BMW. WE THEN CONTACTED BMW, WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT HELP US, SEE THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN BMW'S SRS SYSTEM. THE ONLY OTHER VEHICHLE WE HAVE HAD ON WHICH THE AIR BAG LIGHT LIT INDICATING AN SRS FAILURE WAS A 1994 BMW 325TD WE OWNED WHEN WE LIVED IN EUROPE. WILL THE SRS SYSTEM WORK IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH? IN ADDITION, WE HAVE READ THAT US LAW REQUIRES THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT, AND WE FEEL THAT 3 FAILURES IN 4 YEARS INDICATES A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100997December 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
CAMBER, TOE AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100770November 30, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE DRIVER SIDE PAIR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DO NOT MOVE. THE "REGULATOR" HAS BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THEY SIMPLY BREAK AGAIN. IT IS FRUSTRATING AND AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO PLANS TO PAY TO FIX THE REAR ONES. I TELL EVERYONE HOW GREAT THE CAR HAS BEEN...BUT FOR THE WINDOWS...AND THAT SEEMS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDABLE DETERRENT A PURCHASE BY MANY OF MY FRIENDS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099935November 15, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS MATTER WITH SOMETIMES AGO. DEALER STATED RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091075September 15, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING I STARTED TO HEAR AND FEEL A 'CLUNK' TYPE NOISE WHEN ENGAGING THE CAR INTO GEAR. TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO INSPECT AND HE FOUND SOME CRACKS IN THE REAR SUBFRAME ALONG WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS BEING PRATICALLY TORN OFF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090500September 6, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BMW FRAME FAILURES ARE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT IN THE E46 BODY STYLE (3 SERIES). BMW IN GERMANY APPEARS TO BE ACTIVELY FIXING CARS. HERE IN THE US, HOWEVER, BMW NA APPEARS TO BE DOING NOTHING BUT IGNORING THE PROBLEM. POSTED BELOW IS JUST ONE OF MANY POSTS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS ON THE E46. (PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS OCCURING TO OTHER BMW MODELS AS WELL.) HTTP://BIMMER.ROADFLY.ORG/BMW/FORUMS/E46/5633750-1.HTML COULD YOU PLEASE START AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHY BMW AG (HQ IN GERMANY) IS REPAIRING/RECALLING THESE CARS, YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE HERE? THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089681August 25, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 00V048000; THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THIS RECALL IS ONLY FOR THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S IN 2000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088280August 20, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. MY VEHICLE JUST REACHED THE 50,171 MILES. THIS A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED REGARLESS EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY EXPIRED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079622June 22, 2004
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SUBFRAME RIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REAR TIRES SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, AND ONLY WERE ATTACHED BY THE SHOCKS AND REAR AXLE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FACTORY DIDN'T REINFORCE THE UNIBODY TO THE SUBFRAME, WHICH CAUSED THIS FAILURE TO OCCUR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074770June 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074771June 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
WHILE BRAKING STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES HARD WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. EALER STATES:RUBBER LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH UPDATED POLY URETHANE ONES. COST:$448.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066535April 20, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
POWER LOCK ACTUATORS ON VEHICLE FAIL REPEATEDLY. BETWEEN 2000 AND 2003, THREE POWER LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON VEHICLE (BOTH REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR). SOMETIMES THE ACTUATORS GET STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SOMETIMES UNLOCKED. WALKED AWAY FROM VEHICLE WITH AN UNLOCKED DOOR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE DISCOVERING PROBLEM. IN ONE CASE (FRONT PASS. DOOR), DOOR LOCK WAS EVEN DIFFICULT (BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE) TO OPERATE MANUALLY: THIS WAS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, MAKING ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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