BMW 328i Complaints
2,583 consumer complaints on file.
- #11298517January 11, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER'S DOOR AND FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE INTERIOR DOOR LEVER. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT CAN HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH OR ONCE A WEEK. LOCK KNOB ON THE DOOR POPS UP AND THEN BACK DOWN WHEN USING THE LEVER. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR IS TO PRESS THE DASH DOOR LOCK BUTTON. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS ALL BMW'S HAVE AN AUTOMATIC BATTERY DISCONNECT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT; THEREFORE THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE! I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL BMW SERVICE AGENT AND HE SAID THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY BMW. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL!!!!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11298566January 11, 2020AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION, I WAS FORCED OFF ROAD. WHEN I MOVED OUT OF THE WAY I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BREAKS WHICH THEN TOOK SOME TIME TO RESPOND AS IF IT WAS BLOCKED OR AS IF I DIDNT PRESS THE PEDAL. BY THE TIME I FELT SOME SORT OF STOPPING TENSION I WAS PUT INTO A POLE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297984January 8, 2020AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V851000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF THE BUY BACK OPTION HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297575January 7, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONNECTION BETWEEN BATTERY AND FUSE BOX IS CORRODED AND CAUSING ISSUES. THIS IS ALREADY A RECALL FOR CERTAIN 2007 TO 2011 BMW 3 SERIES MODELS BUT MY SPECIFIC VIN IS NOT INCLUDED AND IT IS HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE THAT THE RECALL SPECIFIES ON VERY SIMILAR CARS. CAR'S DASH LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND RADIO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BEFORE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297397January 6, 2020AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V851000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEVERLY HILLS BMW (5070 WILSHIRE BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90036) TO BE INSPECTED PRIOR TO THE RECALL REPAIR BEING PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT, BY LAW, THE VEHICLE WOULD REMAIN IN CUSTODY OF THE DEALER DUE TO THE RECALL PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND IT WAS UNKNOWN WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE AN OFFER FOR A BUYBACK WAS MADE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BUYBACK WAS BASED ON THE KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE VEHICLE PLUS $1,500 IN INCENTIVES TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SIMILAR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN THREE WEEKS TO MAKE A DECISION. THE CONTACT REQUESTED A LOANER VEHICLE, WHICH WAS DENIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11297502January 6, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR STARTED GIVING ERROR CODES OF CHASSIS STABILIZATION MALFUNCTION ERRORS. IT STARTED DRAINING THE BATTERY (NEW BATTERY LESS THAN A YEAR) WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE JUMPED. THE DEALER SAID THE POWER SUPPLY CABLE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE STARTED THEN WOULDN'T RUN NORMAL AND THEN BATTERY WAS DEAD. ONCE JUMPED IT RAN BUT SHAKES BAD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11296828January 3, 2020VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PULLED INTO MY LONG NARROW DRIVEWAY (ABOUT 100 FEET) SLOWLY AT ABOUT 3 MPH. I LET THE CAR GO BY ITS MOMENTUM AND LIGHTLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE SO IT COULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE CAR APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 7 FEET FROM THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE, IT ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND SMASHED THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND PART OF THE GARAGE. I PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT KEPT GOING AND HIT THE BACK WALL BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE POLICE AND MY INSURANCE, AND THE INSURANCE DECLARED THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS AND THEY TOWED IT AWAY.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11296633January 2, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC (BMW) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2006-2011 323I, 325I, 325XI, 328I, 328XI, 330I, 330XI, 335I, 335XI AND M3, 2007-2011 328I XDRIVE, 335I XDRIVE AND 335IS AND 2009-2011 335D VEHICLES. THE WIRING AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS FOR THE SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS AIR FLOW FOR THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MAY OVERHEAT. CONSEQUENCE WIRING THAT OVERHEATS COULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO MELT, AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A FIRE, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNATTENDED. I HAVE BEEN SMELLING BURNING RUBBER AND AT TIMES IT LOOKS AS IF THE CAR IS SMOKING. I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MATTER BUT WAS OUT ON BED REST DUE TO HIGH RISK PREGNANCY. I DID HAVE THE CAR SERVICED. PLEASE ADVISE!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11292493January 1, 2020ENGINE
I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A LOCAL GARAGE WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC HAD SPENT OVER 5 HOURS TAKING OUR CAR APART ONCE HE FOUND THAT SOME OF THE BOLTS ON THE CAMSHAFT WERE BROKEN AND HAD FALLEN IN THE ENGINE AS FAR AS THE OIL PAN. I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS AN EXTENDED RECALL ON THIS THAT THE WOULD NOT COVER ANY OF THE EXPENSES FOR THIS MAJOR REPAIR WHICH WAS OVER $5500! THEY WOULD HAVE COVERED THE REPAIR IF I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO ONE OF THEIR SERVICE CENTERS. I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY MY LOCAL GARAGE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GIVE ME THE CAR IN PIECES AND HAVE IS TOWED TO BMW. I TOLD MY MECHANIC TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR AND I WOULD ATTEMPT TO FIGHT BMW. CONTACTING YOU IS MY FIRST STEP IN FIGHT BMW. I WILL ALSO LOOK INTO A CLASS ACTION THAT MAY HAVE STARTED AGAINST THEM AND JOIN IT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11291436December 27, 2019VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE REVVED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, I WAS FORCED TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY ONCE THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED: I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL AS I WAS BRAKING AND COMING TO A STOP. SUDDENLY (WITH FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS PEDAL) THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGH RPM WHICH LURCHED THE CAR FORWARD A BIT. SINCE I WAS ALREADY BRAKING, I WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY AND PRESS DOWN EVEN HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND KEPT IT IN PLACE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND I SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE ENGINE STAYED REVVED AT VERY HIGH RPMS AS IF I WAS FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL, EVEN THOUGH I COULD LOOK DOWN AND CONFIRM THAT MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE BRAKE. AT THIS POINT I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES. I CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NOT OUT OF PLACE OR AFFECTING THE PEDALS IN ANY WAY. I THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THE CAR IDLED NORMALLY WITH NO ISSUES. I TESTED DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND PULLED INTO SEVERAL MORE PARKING SPOTS TO SEE IF THE ISSUE WOULD REOCCUR, BUT IT DID NOT. I DROVE HOME NORMALLY AND PARKED WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS, AND WILL BE TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AS SOON A POSSIBLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11291148December 25, 2019STEERING, WHEELS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND MY 3RD TOP CENTER BRAKE LIGHT HAS NEVER WORKED. MY TIRES THE TREAD SEEMS LOW AND I SHOULD HAVE HAD NEW TIRES ON THE CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE STEERING SEEMS MORE DIFFICULT WHEN TURNING THAN IT SHOULD BE. ALSO I DIDN'T RECEIVE 2 KEYS. MY OWNERS MANUAL SAYS I SHOULD RECEIVE 2 KEYS. I ALSO HAD TO ORDER MY OWNERS MANUAL AND MY CAR DIDN'T COME WITH IT'S OWNERS MANUAL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11291153December 25, 2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I GET IN MY CAR I HAVE TO USE MY KEY TO LOCK MY CAR DOORS. AS SOON AS I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ALL MY CAR DOORS UNLOCK. I HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE KEY AND DOUBLE TAPING ON THE LOCK BUTTON ON MY KEY SEEMS TO KEEP THE DOORS LOCKED. MY BACK WINDOW PASSENGER SIDE WON'T STAY CLOSED. I HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE ELECTRIC WINDOW DEVICE AND HOLD THE ELECTRIC WINDOW DEVICE WHEN I CLOSE THE WINDOW. IT'S LIKE I HAVE TO BE FAST WHEN I CLOSE THE WINDOW AND HOLD THE ELECTRIC WINDOW DEVICE WHEN THE WINDOW IS UP AND CLOSED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11291151December 25, 2019ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BACK DOOR PASSENGER SIDE WOOD DOOR PANEL IS OFF AND IT WAS NEVER FIXED OR REPLACED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THIS WILL PROBABLY COST ME MONEY TO GET THE WOOD PANEL PUT BACK ON THE DOOR. THE SAME LIGHTS ALWAYS APPEAR ON MY DASH BOARD. THE INDICATOR LAMPS ARE ON: DSC IS DEACTIVATED. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GET THIS FIXED. THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT IS ILLUMINATING A YELLOW LIGHT. I MANAGED TO RESET THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AFTER READING YOUTUBE. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND COULDN'T GET THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO TURN OFF. ALSO THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAVE NEW BRAKES AND A NEW OIL CHANGE. A FRIEND TOLD ME HOW TO CHECK MY OIL AND MY OIL WAS A QUART LOW. I DROVE TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND PUT IN A QUART OF SYNTHETIC BLEND MOTOR OIL. I DISCOVERED AFTER DRIVING TO WASHINGTON FROM LAS VEGAS, NEVADA MY CAR LEAKS FROM MY ENGINE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11291152December 25, 2019STRUCTURE:BODY
MY LICENSE PLATE HAS 1 SCREW THAT FITS INTO THE METAL MADE HOLES. IT IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE 2 SCREWS THAT FIT INTO THE METAL HOLES IN THE TRUNK. THE PLATE ITSELF HAS SCREWS WITH NO BACKS AND ARE STRIPPED. I DON'T WANT THE LICENSE PLATE TO RATTLE AND FALL OFF FROM FAULTY WORKMANSHIP WITH LICENSE PLATE PANEL. ALSO THE FRONT PLATE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE BACK LICENSE PLATE PANEL AND THESE SCREWS LOOK STRIPPED TOO.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11291193December 25, 2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A WARNING WILL POP UP FOR 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION' CAUSED BY THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE WARNING WILL STAY ON AND NOT GO AWAY. A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR SIMILAR YEAR MODELS HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BUT IT DIDN'T COVER ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES DUE TO SIMILAR SENSORS BEING USED ACROSS ALL THESE YEAR MODELS. BMW WANTS TO CHARGE 1000+ DOLLARS FOR THIS SENSOR REPAIR DUE TO THEM SAYING THIS IS AN 'UNAFFECTED VEHICLE'. WITHOUT THIS SENSOR WORKING PROPERLY, IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COULD NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. BMW REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WITHOUT A RECALL ANNOUNCED, OR WITHOUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT JUST FOR THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11290659December 21, 2019ENGINE
STALLED ON BUSY EXPRESS HIGHWAY, ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASH. TOWED TO SHOP. FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT COSTED 729.86 DOLLARS PLUS 140 DOLLARS TOWING. THIS OCCURRED AT 60 MPH ON EXPRESS HIGHWAY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11290334December 20, 2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ERROR CODE COMES OFF AND ON WHILE IN MOTION
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11289926December 18, 2019STEERING
THE CAR NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS INCREASINGLY DETERIORATED, BECOMING VERY SLOPPY AND EVENTUALLY LED TO A KNOCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL RACK. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN HUNDREDS OF ONLINE CHATS, VIDEOS AND FORUMS, THAT BMW HAS BEEN CHANGING THE ENTIRE RACK. THEY HAVE RECENTLY RELEASED A KIT WITH AND UPGRADED BUSHING TO REPAIR THE RACK, THUS ACKNOWLEDGING A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO A FAILING THRUST ARM BUSHING. THE ORIGINAL BUSHING IS PLASTIC AND SMOOTH, THE NEW BUSHING IS METAL AND RIGID.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11289523December 16, 2019AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM SENSOR DINGS REALLY LOUD WHEN A PASSAGE OR OBJECT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT THAT TELL THE AIR BAG TO BE ON OR OFF IS MESSED UP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11288471December 11, 2019STEERING
FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL ASSIST POWER STEERING (EPS) WHILE VEHICLE STATIONARY - 2013 BMW 328I, 89,500 MILES UPON STARTUP, WHILE TURNING STEERING WHELL TOMOVE CAR, STEERING SYSTEM EMITTED WHINING NOISE, BANGS AND THUMPS, THEN HIGH PITCHED WHINE. ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST, AND CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO BMW DEALER. DIAGNOSIS WAS MECHANICAL FAILURE OF BOLTS HOLDING POWER STEERING BOX TO THE STEERING RACK, THUS CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH COMPONENTS. DAMAGE REQUIRED ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED AT $5K+ COST. CAUSE, AS DIAGNOSED BY BMW DEALER: EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING COMPONENTS TOGETHER CAUSED BOOT FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT COMPONENT DAMAGE. NHTSA ISSUE: UNSAFE COMPONENT DESIGN, AS BOLT FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED COULD CAUSE CATASTOPHIC ACCIDENT. REMEDIES: 1) NHTSA REQUIRE GENERAL RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR BOLT CHECKING AND REPLACEMENT IF CORROSION PRESENT. 2) NHTSA REQUIRE BMW TO PROVIDE TYPE 316 STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS WITH SUITABLE DIS-SIMILAR METALS PROTECTION WHERE SAFETY-CRITICAL COMPONENTS EXPOSED TO ROADWAY SALT EXPOSURE. 3) IF THE ABOVE IS NOT WARRANTED DUE TO SMALL NUMBER OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, NHTSA REQUIRE BMW TO ISSUE SERVICE NOTICE FOR ALL AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS TO CHECK CONDITION OF STEERING BOX MOUNTING BOLTS AS PART OF STANDARD INTERVAL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE. ATTACHMENTS: PICTURES OF TWO AFFECTED UNITS: MY 2013 328I CORODED POWER STEERING UNIT, AND A SIMILAR ON FROM A 2012 328I, DOWNLOADED FROM ENTHUSIAST FORUM ON INTERNET, SUGGESTING A PATTERN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0