BMW 325Ci Complaints

247 consumer complaints on file.

#10070465January 15, 2004
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE COMPUTER FIRST FAILED ON MY 2003 BMW 325I ON JUNE 15, 2003, (THREE WEEKS AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, BMW OF MANHATTAN), CAUSING ME TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELLING AT 60-65 MILES PER HOUR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MANUEVER THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE A VERY SMALL SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT; PARTICULARLY, BECAUSE THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD NO WAY TO DETECT THAT MY CAR WAS ONLY COASTING. THE NJ STATE TROOPERS HAD TO SHUT DOWN NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC IN ALL 4 LANES OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY IN ORDER TO REMOVE MY CAR FROM THE PARKWAY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER, SO THEY SENT IT TO MONTVALE, NJ TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON JUNE 20, 2003. ON JUNE 25, 2003, THE COMPUTER FAILED AGAIN, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS TIME, I WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND ANOTHER CAR NEARLY SLAMMED INTO ME ON THE EXIT RAMP. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE TOP OF THE RAMP AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, (NOT AN EASY TASK DURING RUSH HOUR IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN!), BUT THE CAR LURCHED REPEATEDLY AND WAS UNABLE TO GO MORE THAN 5 MPH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BMW OF MANHATTAN HAS NOT OFFERED ME A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION OR SOLUTION. THE CAR CLEARLY HAS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT, WHICH COULD EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES; YET, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INSISTS THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO FAIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10027144July 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR FLASHES "-40 DEGREES." THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER , WHO STATED THAT SENSOR IS LOCATED IN THE FRONT UNDER THE BUMPER, AND IS OFTEN HIT BY DEBRIS THAT CAUSES THE SENSOR TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WILL FIX THE SENSOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767420September 19, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED WHILE NO PASENGER WAS RIDING. SMART INTELLIGENCE AIRBAG FAILED TO FUNCTION. RELATE TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 30MPH,. CAUSING DRIVER LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, NO ADDITONAL PASSENGER. NOTE: AIRBAG SHOULD NOT DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IF NO ONE IS RIDING. THE INTELLIGENCE AIRBAG SYSTEM ONLY ACTIVATES AIRBAG WHEN THERE IS A PERSON SITTING THERE--CLEARLY A DEFECT, UNLIKE BMW'S PERVOIUS CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, OR PREVIOUS RECALLS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#767222September 16, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 8:20PM EST MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A 325 CI, PRODUCTION DATE AUGUST 1ST, 2000. I WAS GOING OFF AN EXIT RAMP WHEN THE CAR RAN OVER THE "CAT EYE" STONE DIVIDERS ON THE ROAD (THOSE STONE DOTS, ABOUT .5 INCH HEIGHT). MY RIGHT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME THE EMERGENCY LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. I WAS IN A RAMP SO THIS INCIDENCE CAUSED ME TO LOSE THE POWER IN A TERM. MY POWER BREAK STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TO PULL THE HAND BREAK TO STOP THE CAR. MY LAWYERS HAVE SUGGESTED ME TO CONTACT BMWNA FIRST TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BUT I HAVE FOUND A RECALL ON 323/328 CARS FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I AM GLAD NO BODY WAS HURT IN THIS INCIDENCE. THE CAR HAS NO DENT ON DOOR OR ANY BODY DAMAGE BESIDE THE TIRE AND THE RIMS WERE CHIPPED/DENTED DUE TO THE RESULT THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER SO FAST ONTO THE CLUB TO AVOID ON COMING TRAFFIC. I AM ADDRESSING THIS CONCERN BECAUSE I HOPE YOUR COMPANY WILL START INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM TO AVOID ANY FUTURE ACCIDENTS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#762801June 7, 2002
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GOT HER HAND CAUGHT IN THE HEADREST WHEN THEY AUTOMATICALLY MOVED WHEN THE SEAT WAS TILTED FORWARD SO SHE COULD GET OUT.THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE AUTOMATIC MOVEMENT OF THE HEADREST IN THE MANUAL AND NO WARNING LABEL IN THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT IS TILTED FORWARD THE HEADREST AUTOMATICALLY RETRACT AGAINST THE SEAT LOCKING AGAINST THE BACKREST. THERE IS NO MANUAL RELEASE AND YOU HAVE TO RETURN THE SEAT TO ITS UPRIGHT POSITION AND WAIT 8 SECONDS FOR THE SEAT TO RELEASE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#561913July 6, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
CONSUMER STATES UPON PARKING VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS SHORTLY PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THAT THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT AND ITS SPEED PROBABLY KNOCKED OUT THE SENSOR THAT TRANSMITS INFORMATION TO THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS.JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561697June 19, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
CONSUMER STATES UPON PARKING VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THAT THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT AND ITS SPEED PROBABLY KNOCKED OUT THE SENSOR THAT TRANSMITS INFORMATION TO THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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