BMW 325i Complaints

1,385 consumer complaints on file.

#10010507March 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BREAK, MY 2001 BMW 325I SEEMED TO SPEED UP AND CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO THE BUILDING I WAS PARKING IN FRONT OF. SEVERE DAMAGE ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF MY RIGHT FOOT( A BRUISE THE SHAPE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL } ALONG WITH OTHER FOOT AND ANKLE INJURIES INDICATE MY FOOT WAS INDEED ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AS ONE MIGHT THINK. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR $ 5,000.00. NO ANSWER FOR WHAT HAPPENED FROM DEALER. APPROX SEVEN MONTHS LATER, WHILE ON AN OPEN ROAD APPROACHING STOP LIGHT AGAIN WITH MY FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR REVVED UP TO 4,000 RMP THEN BACK DOWN AND STALLED. CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER THIS. TOWED TO DIFFERENT BMW DEALER WHO CLAIMED FAULTY GAS SENSORS WERE TO BLAME. SENSORS TOLD ENGINE CAR NEEDED GAS WHEN INDEED IT DID NOT. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10010239March 10, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I ALSO GET THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE SHORT IS ACTUALLY IN THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING, AND THE METAL CLIP GETS ERODED FROM A HEAT BUILD UP DUE TO THE SHORT. THIS CAUSES A SMALL HOLE IN THE METAL CLIP OF THE BULB, AND THEREFORE, EACH TIME YOU REPLACE THE BULBS, YOU GET A NEW HOLE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS, AND I JUST KEEP REPLACING THE BULBS AND THE PARTS, SINCE MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. ( I HAVE A '95 325 I THAT I BOUGHT IN '97.) I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE LOCK MECHANISM - SOMETIMES THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY WITH THE FRONT SEATS. IT IS JUST EXPECTED THAT BMWS HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. PERHAPS NEXT TIME I WILL GET A HONDA.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009434February 26, 2003
POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED VERY HARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND JUMPED FORWARD WHEN DECELERATING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005749February 12, 2003
EQUIPMENT
WHEN A/C IS TURNED OFF, VERY BAD SMELL COMING OUT OF VENTS. THE DEALER PERFORMED EVAPORATOR CLEANING SERVICE 3X, STILL NO FIX. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER CAR MANUFACTURER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770044November 23, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETTING THE BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT FAILURE WARNING. REPLACED THE SWITCH AT DEALER TWICE. REPLACED ALL BULBS SEVERAL TIMES REPLACED FUSE TWICE. CONSTANT PROBLEM AND REPAIR SHOPS ALL SAY BMW HAS CHRONIC ELECTRICAL GLITCHES. I TELL THEM THIS IS NOT A GLITCH, ONE TIME THE BULBS WON'T LIGHT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES AND I'LL GET REAR-ENDED. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770045November 23, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SRS WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON AFTER STARTING THEN GOES OUT AFTER ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES. ALWAYS COMES US AS A CODE 24 FOR BELT BUCKLE SWITCH, HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE AND CLEARED CODE. THE CODE REAPPEARS WITHIN 3 WEEKS. THE SWITCH/SENSOR IS A DEALER ITEM AND THEY CHARGE $110 OR SO TO REPLACE IT AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022649November 13, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLES WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769200November 2, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED AT 70555 MILES, THERMOSTAT AT 58000 MILES, AUX COOLING FAN AT 80000, AND NOW RADIATOR AT 92K MILES. ALL COOLING SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED WITHIN 16 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR INVESTIGATION. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768258October 8, 2002
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
LEAKING GAS TANKS , AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION FAILURE SHOULD NOT BE ROUTINE PROBLEMS ON A CAR. OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE SAID THEY HAVE SIMMILAR PROBLEMS BUT SEEM TO JUST SPEND THE MONEY AT THE DEALER TO FIX. DOES THE NTSA KEEP A RECORD OF THESE ACTIVITES? MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768143October 6, 2002
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
REPAIRED 4 TIMES BEFORE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768077October 3, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TOOK CAR THROUGH CAR WASH. CAR CAME OUT DEAD. TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHERE WATER GETS INTO THE MAIN ECM COMPUTER AND SHORTS IT OUT. THIS IS TERRIBLE. BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS. $1100 FOR GOING THROUGH A SIMPLE CAR WASH. OWNERS SHOULD BE CAUTIONED. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767864September 28, 2002
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FRAME. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766914September 9, 2002
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE SUBFRAME CRACKED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THE CRACK IS LOCATED ON THE SUBFRAME WHERE THE REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. I M AFRIAD THAT THE REAR AXLE MAY FALL OFF THE VEHICLE DURING DRIVING. I HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNER COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ON THE E36 DESIGN. THIS IS A WEAKNES ON THE SURFRAME THAT CASUES IT TO FAIL IN FATIGUE. I AM A METALLURGICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CRACK. IT DID NOT SHOWN ANY CORROSION, THUS INDICIATING THAT IT IS NOT A ENVIRONMENTAL INDUCE FAILURE. THIS PROBLREM IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM IN AN INADEQUATELY DESGINED COMPONENT. A SUBFRAME IS A STRUCTURE COMPONENT AND SHOULD FAIL UDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.THE ESTIMATE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS OVER $4000.00. IHAVE CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATION, THE REPRESENTATIVE HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO LET ME TALL TO HER SUPERVISOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE AND HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN ASSIST THE CAR OWNERS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566932August 8, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC., POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE WATER PUMP LOCKED UP, THE FAN BLADE BROKE AND THE BELTS BURNED, DEALER REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, FAN AND BELTS, THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765087August 2, 2002
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
MY NEW CAR CAME WITH 4 225/45 ZR 17 TIRES, BOTH THE OWNERS MANUAL AND DOOR JAM STICKER DO NOT GIVE THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE FOR THE REAR TIRES. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE BMW OWNERS LINE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE MFG. RECCOMENDATION NOR HAVE THEY BEEN WILLING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATED STICKER FOR THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY NEW CAR. I FEEL THAT HAVING THE PROPER MFG. RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND TO DATE BMW HAS NOT PROVIDED ME WITH THE INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566959July 30, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAD COME ON INTERMITTENT. *TT THE ASC + T LIGHT AND THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME ON ALSO. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE DAMAGED SENSOR. *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566862July 24, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, CONSUMER HIT AN 80 POUND PIECE OF IRON THAT WAS LYING IN THE ROAD, WHICH RESULTED IN 2 BLOWN TIRES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR, BOTH RIMS BENT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER, CONSUMERS CONCERN IS THAT THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THE IMPACT WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMERS WIFE SUFFERED A BRUISE FROM THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG, THERE IS ALSO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#764661July 24, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO STEPTRONIC GEAR WHEN BEING SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, FORCING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#764657July 23, 2002
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
HEATED MIRRORS ON ALWAYS. TEMPERATURE READING IN EXCESS OF 115 DEGREES F. POSES BURN RISK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764554July 22, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
APPARENTLY MY CAR HAS A PROGRAMMING DEFECT WITH THE COMPUTER. IT ONLY RELATES TO 2002 325XI'S WITH SPORT PKG, MANUAL TRANS. AT ONE TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WERE ONLY 4 WITH MY SET UP IN THE US. ALL CARS WITH MY EXACT COMPUTER SET UP I'M TOLD ARE HAVING THIS FAILURE. THEY CLAIM TO BE WORKING ON MY PROBLEM IN GERMANY BUT I REALLY FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE. WHAT HAPPENS IS THERE IS A 1 SECOND DELAY WHEN WHEN YOU STOP ACCELERATING TO WHEN THE CARE STOPS ACCELERTATING. LOW GEARS AT HIGH RPM'S THE CAR BASICALLY GOES OUT OF CONTROL FOR A SECOND. I THINK BECAUSE SO FEW CARS HAVE MY SET UP THAT BMW IS NOT RESOLVING THIS QUICK ENOUGH. TWO E-MAILS TO THE BMW ON LINE CUSTOMER CARE SITE. MY CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY THE REGIONAL AFTER MARKET REP FROM BMW WHO CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. WHERE ELSE DO I TAKE THIS TO GET MY CAR OPERATING SAFELY?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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