BMW 323i Complaints (2000)

401 consumer complaints on file.

#10177428December 31, 2006
AIR BAGS
(1) I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 BMW 323I ON A FEEDER ROAD, AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000 MILES. (2) THE SIDE AIRBAGS (DRIVER'S SIDE) UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED WITH NO APPARENT REASON (NO COLLISION, NO ROAD BUMPS). THE ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY WENT ON. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, DRIVE IT HOME, AND AVOID BEING HIT BY OTHER CARS. (3) I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND APPARENTLY THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL IN 2002 ON 2000 BMW 323I FOR THIS VERY REASON. HOWEVER, I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE MAKER DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE ALWAYS RELIGIOUSLY TAKEN THE CAR TO BMW DEALERS FOR OIL CHANGE AND REPAIRS, AND DESPITE BMW HAS MY ADDRESS SINCE IT REGULARLY MAILS ADVERTISEMENTS TO MY RESIDENCE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR AT THE LOCAL BMW DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THAT BASED ON THE VIN, MY CAR WAS NOT AMONG THOSE INVOLVED IN THE 2002 RECALL. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE UNSURE AS TO WEATHER BMW WOULD OWN THE DEFECT AND PAY FOR REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THUS, I GOT MY INSURANCE INVOLVED TO GET A SECOND OPINION ON THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL WAITING ON A SOLUTION OF THIS ISSUE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177430December 31, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1999-2005 BMW 3 SERIES HAS DEFECTIVE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS. MY REAR SUB FRAME MOUNT OF THE DRIVER SIDE REAR HAS TORN OUT COMPLETELY CAUSING THE CAR TO CONSTANTLY CLUNK AND CREAK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176229December 15, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE ON A HILL WITHIN 2 FEET OF ANOTHER CAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175560December 8, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON DRY EVEN ROADS, THE LEFT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG AND THE SMALL ELBOW AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INJURIES INCURRED WERE BRUISING ON THE LEFT ARM, HEAD CONTUSIONS, AND HEARING DAMAGE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE POSSIBLY HITTING A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED, WHO DENIED THAT THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE SIDE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10175259December 5, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 75,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE IN REVERSE GEAR. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FAILURE. THE SOLUTION WAS A >$3,000 CHARGE TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176467December 1, 2006
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2000 BMW 323I BRAKES MADE A WEIRD NOISE AND WHEN IN A COLLISION THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *KB *JB THE AIR CONDITION MADE A NOISE. UPDATED 12/27/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10174424November 27, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2000 323I (144K MILES) REVERSE DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. I STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS A FEW YEARS AGO BUT EACH TIME I COMPLAINED THEY (NORTHWEST BMW IN RANDALLSTOWN) NEVER FOUND A PROBLEM. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS QUOTED A FEE OF ~$4500 FOR REPAIR. THIS IS INSANE, I THINK I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND NO ONE REALLY EVER TOOK THE TIME AT THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE PROPERLY. I AM VERY DISHEARTENED ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION. THE BMW MANUFACTURERS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS VEHICLE MODEL SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175355November 27, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LTR FROM (CA) RE 2000 BMW 323I, DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION CAUSE COMPUTER FAILURE WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER & DECELERATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER THE EMI, CHECK ENGINE SOON, AND DSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173230November 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2000 BMW 323I WON'T GO IN REVERSE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING, AS THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND HAS OPERATED PERFECTLY UNTIL TODAY. THE PRESENT MILEAGE IS A LITTLE OVER 60,000. AN ONLINE SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM HAS REVEALED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT'S SPECIFIC TO MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, YET BMW DISAVOWS ANY RESPONSIBILITY. ESTIMATED REPAIR IS $7,000, WHICH HAS ME FEELING TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH BMW AS A COMPANY, NOT TO MENTION ITS PRODUCTS, WHICH IT APPARENTLY NO LONGER STANDS BEHIND. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE ACTION AGAINST BMW AND FORCE A RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172562November 3, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1) THERE WERE NO EVENTS OUT OF THE ORDINARY LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF THE REAR SUBFRAME. ALL DRIVING WAS NORMAL IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. 2)CRACKED/SEPARATED REAR SUBFRAME, FAILED DUE TO ENGINEERING FLAWS IN DESIGN AND USE OF MATERIALS. CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC AND RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY AND OR DEATH. 3)I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED BY BMW NA AT MY LOCAL BMW DEALER. BMWNA AGREED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS IN FACT BROKEN AND THEY WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REPAIR OF THIS. BMWAG (GERMANY) HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THIS COMPLIANT AND PROBLEM AND HAD ORDERED A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY BEING CORRECTED WITH A COMBINATION OF WELDING AND METAL REINFORCEMENT PLATES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171895October 26, 2006
STEERING
CAR TYPE - 2000 BMW 323CI MILES WHEN PURCHASED NEW - 23 MILES WHEN FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED 29,725 MILES SEPT 13TH, 2002 MILES WHEN SERVICE CALL OPENED 31,018 - OCTOBER 23, 2002 I NOTICED A SWOOSHING NOISE CLOSE TO MY STEERING COLUMN AND SUBSEQUENTLY TURNING MY CAR BECAME MORE DIFFICULT. THIS LEAD TO SUBSTANTIAL GRINDING/WINDING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE. POWER STEERING THEN WENT OUT ALTOGETHER AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW SERVICE CENTER (SAN ANTONIO, TX 180 MILES AWAY). BMW CENTER- SAN ANTONIO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS ISSUES HAS REOCCURED FOUR TIMES, APPROXIMATELY 1 ONCE A YEAR AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 24TH. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE WRITE UP. NOW FROM THE REOCCURING DAMAGE, I HAVE TO REPLACE OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS AT MY EXPENSE - $1846, SINCE MY CAR'S WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. PLEASE HELP. JOE UGARTE . *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170419October 10, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WE BOUGHT A 2000 BMW 323I WHICH CURRENTLY ONLY HAS ABOUT 66,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WILL SHIFT INTO REVERSE, BUT WILL NOT ACTUALLY MOVE BACKWARDS. IT JUST SITS THERE REVVING. THE CAR WILL DRIVE FORWARD, BUT NOT BACKWARDS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION THERMOMETER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $4500.00. WE'VE DONE ALL THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE ON THIS VEHICLE. I'VE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BMW, BUT OF COURSE, THEY'RE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THESE CARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS STRANDED AT WORK WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN. NOW, I'M WITHOUT MY CAR AND ALSO DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS A REPAIR OF $4500.00. FOR A HIGH END CAR, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS WILL MOST BE MY FIRST AND LAST BMW PURCHASE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167034August 30, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRES AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE LOST AIR. THERE WERE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES AND THE CRACKS WERE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR, EAGLE TIRE; GP-H SIZE: P205/55/R16. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 -*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166054August 20, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
2000 BMW 323I - EML, CHECK ENGINE SOON AND DSC LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR POWERED DOWN ON THE FREEWAY (BRAKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE). NEEDED TOW TO DEALER. CAR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND PROGRAMMED THE DME (DIGITAL MOTOR ELECTRONICS) . THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM - THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM AND AFTER PICKING UP CAR AT DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS REQUIRED THE RELAY TO BE REPLACED. THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS PICKED UP THE DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE GENERAL MODULE. TOTAL REPAIR TIME - APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165456August 14, 2006
EQUIPMENT, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVERS DOOR WAS IMPACTED AT APPROX. 50 MPH AND NEITHER SIDE AIRBAG OR SIDE CURTAIN DEPLOYED RESULTING IN A VERY SERIOUS LEFT HIP FRACTURE, COLLAPSED LUNG AND NUMEROUS LACERATIONS. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10162854July 19, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR IS A 2000 BMW 323I WITH 34,000 MILES. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR/TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO THE REVERSE GEAR SUDDENLY FAILING TO ENGAGE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN TRAFFIC AND NEEDED TO BE REVERSED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING CARS. THE REVERSE GEAR CONTINUES TO FAIL, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS DRIVING FORWARD. DEALER STATES THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE COMPLETELY REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SIMILAR REPORTS OF TRANSMISSION & REVERSE GEAR FAILURE SPECIFIC TO 2000 BMW 323I LISTED HERE AND OTHER FORUMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160563June 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE ISSUE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160314June 21, 2006
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
323I BMW 4 DOOR, 2000. MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALL MY POWER WINDOWS GOING OUT. THE SERVICE REP AT THE DEALER JUST SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS AND SAYS "IT HAPPENS". I SAID THAT FOUR POWER WINDOWS TO GO OUT IN SIX YEARS IS EXCESSIVE. THREE OF WHICH ARE HARDLY EVER USED SINCE I AM THE ONLY ONE EVER IN THE CAR. HE REPLIED THAT YOU DON'T BUY A BMW TO BE EASY ON THE CHECKBOOK. I SAID I BOUGHT ONE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE RELIABLE. HE ACTED LIKE THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. 6/20/06 RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT $394.16, 9/2/04 DRIVERS WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT $340.43, 10/27/03 PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT APPROX. $350, 10/27/03 SUNROOF WINDOW FAILED AND THEY DID A TEMPORARY FIX AT A COST OF $264.54 AND SAID IT WAS NOT GUARANTEED. IT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $1665! APPARENTLY ALL THE SLIDERS WERE BROKEN. I PROBABLY ONLY OPENED THE SUNROOF A DOZEN TIMES IN THE THREE YEAR PERIOD, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT WITH SUCH LITTLE USE. NONE OF THESE WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THEY ALL OCCURRED THREE YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER THINGS GO OUT IN THIS CAR COSTING CLOSE TO $10,000 TO REPAIR IN THE PAST SIX YEARS. SEEMS EXCESSIVE TO ME. LAST TIME I COMMENTED ON THIS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP SAID QUOTE "IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE FROM HERE". I WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER BMW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157451May 12, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
MY 2000 BMW 323 CIC WAS SHUDDERING WHEN I DROVE IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE SUBFRAME. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE ONLY CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER OF THIS PARTICULAR CAR. BMW HAS RECALLED THIS VEHICLE IN GERMANY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DONE SO HERE. IT WILL COST ME $3,300 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND BMW HAS NOT AGREED TO COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157387May 11, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. SUBSEQUENTLY, TURNING THE VEHICLE INTO A 360 DEGREE SPIN THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RETAINING WALL. THIS WAS A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. HOWEVER, INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. UPDATED 06/12/2006. *AK UPDATED 6/16/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

← Back to BMW 323i