BMW 328i Complaints

2,583 consumer complaints on file.

#10416170July 28, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON JULY 9, 2011, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH IN THE PROCESS OF EXITING THE PARKWAY, WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED OPERATING! THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, AND NOTHING WORKED IN THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS OR MORE THE STEERING WHEEL. AS THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN I KEPT TRYING TO RE-START THE CAR BUT NOTHING WORKED. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BY USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE, I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE KEY IN AND OUT AND HIT THE START/STOP AND THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO RALLYE BMW TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND ALSO CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE BECAUSE I DID NOT AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR ANYMORE. I WAS REQUESTING EITHER A NEW VEHICLE OR FULL VALUE BACK ON THE CAR. BMW SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND STATED "BMW REVIEWED REMOTELY UNABLE TO REPLICATE STALLING. NO PROBLEM FOUND", AND DECIDED THAT MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I COMPLETELY DISAGREE AND FEEL THIS POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415423July 27, 2011
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON 2007 BMW 328I COUPE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS! HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED, MISSED WORK, AND OUT OF A VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS FIXED...FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO MONTHS. I ALSO KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR BMW'S. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415257July 26, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BMW SERIES 3 SUBFRAME CRACKING. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT -- I HAD NO DAMAGE DURING THE TIME PERIOD ALLOWED. THE DAMAGE IS JUST BEGINNING, AND IT IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE. BMW SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR ! THERE IS STILL LOW MILEAGE ON THE CAR -- BUT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT THE REPAIR (SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS), THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413854July 20, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK AND CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCY. PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN BE MANUALLY OVER-RIDDEN. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413645July 19, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2000 BMW 328I SUBSTANTIAL SUBFRAME CRACKING AT REAR DIFFERENTIAL AREA. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412161July 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY DOORS HAVE LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I HAVE TO USE THE INTERNAL KEY FROM THE KEY FOB TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE OTHER DOORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411759July 11, 2011
STEERING
1997 BMW 328IS WITH 179K MILES. AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES (HIGHWAY OR CITY), MY STEERING WHEEL WILL BIND OR GET TIGHT IN A TURN. AFTER MUSCLING THROUGH THE TURN SO I DON'T CRASH, THE STEERING WHEEL "POPS" AND RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS BEGAN TO HAPPEN DAILY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME! *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10411620July 9, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN JUNE OF 2011 MY BMW328I HAD INTERMITTENT START. I SENT THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IN FREMONT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START AGAIN, AFTER TESTING IT WAS DETERMINED BY FREMONT DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. AFTER CABLE REPLACEMENT, TODAY PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410199July 1, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
PRODUCT FAILURE OF A 2000 BMW 328I. THE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY OF THE CAR IS SEPARATING FROM THE CAR. I AM THE NEW OWNER OF THE CAR, BUT HISTORY DOES NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OR ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD LEAD TO THIS FAILURE. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF BMW. THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS LAW SUITS INVOLVING THIS FAILURE. THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR ALL 1999 - 2002 MODEL CARS BUILT ON THE E46 BODY TYPE. POSSIBILITY OF THE ENTIRE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY RIPPING OFF WHILE DRIVING IS POSSIBLE. BMW KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE, AS THEY HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE WITH NEWER MODELS. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO IMPROPER THICKNESS IN THE FLOOR PAN WHERE THE SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED TO. TOTAL FAILURE OF THIS PART COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF NOT REMEDIED PROPERLY. THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED AS A RECALL, AND NOT IN A INDIVIDUAL BASIS. IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE, YOU WILL SEE MANY REPORTS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. BMW HAS OFFERED TO PAY UP TO 50% OF THE REPAIR COSTS FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, WHICH SHOWS THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, GETTING IT REPAIRED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP, WITH ONLY HAVING TO PAY 50%, IS USUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE THEN HAVING IT DONE AT A LOCAL BODY SHOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409094June 27, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 1999 BMW 328I (E46) TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REGULARLY FAIL, CAUSE FALSE FAULT DISPLAY WARNINGS, TURN SIGNAL BULBS BURN OUT OR FLASH AT A HIGH SPEED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN FLASH NORMALLY, AND THEN BURN OUT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF TURN SIGNAL/BRAKE LIGHT HARNESSES OVERHEATING, SHORTING OUT, AND MELTING. WHEN CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BMW TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, IT WAS JUST BAD BULBS. I HEAR BMW IS NOW CHARGING $400. PER SIDE TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY CARS. MY CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY IN 2003, AND THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM BEFORE IT RAN OUT. THE MILEAGE WAS APPROX. 25K WHEN PROBLEM STARTED AND CONTINUES NOW AT APPROX. 89K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409138June 27, 2011
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
ON A RAINY DAY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 1999 BMW 328I FAILED UNDER STRESS. I DID NOT NOTICE A TURN ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND THEREFORE WENT INTO IT TOO FAST. THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FIRST PULLED ME OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE TURN, WHERE THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON THE GRAVELY SHOULDER. AT THIS POINT THE TRACTION SYSTEM MAY NOT HAVE FAILED YET. HOWEVER, I SPUN OUT LEFTWARD, AND THEN TO THE OTHER SIDE. I CROSSED ON-COMING TRAFFIC, AND GAINED CONTROL BEFORE LEAVING THE ASPHALT AND POTENTIALLY HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE. HOWEVER, ONCE I HAD THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AFTER LOSING TRACTION AND SLIDING ACROSS TRAFFIC, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CONTROL SYSTEM THREW ME INTO A SECOND SPIN THAT I HAD NO CONTROL OVER, AND I ENDED UP GOING BACKWARDS AGAINST TRAFFIC. THE SYSTEM WANTED TO GO BACKWARDS. I WORKED SO HARD THAT MY HANDS WERE BLEEDING AFTERWARDS. I KNOW THE SYSTEM HAD FAILED BECAUSE THE TRACTION INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON, AND WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN, THE TRACTION SYSTEM WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON (INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ON) FOR . SO THE CAUSE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FAILURE, NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, AND THUS REPLACING MY SYSTEM MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE DIED IF THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THEN THE CAUSE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN KNOWN. SO THIS INCIDENT IS REAL, BUT MAY ONLY OCCUR UNDER STRESS. SO TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, BMW MUST TEST THE SYSTEM UNDER STRESS (I KNOW - I AM A RELIABILITY ENGINEER). BMW WILL NOT PAY TO INVESTIGATE OR REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THAT IT IS ONLY MY BELIEF THAT IT MALFUNCTIONED, EVEN THOUGH THEIR OWN ON-BOARD MONITORING SYSTEM DISPLAYED A FAILURE ONTO MY DASH BOARD (THE INDICATOR LIGHT). IT SEEMS TO BE "WORKING OK" NOW THOUGH (NO INDICATOR LIGHTS - SYSTEM TURNS BACK ON). IN SUMMARY, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILS UNDER STRESS AND THEN TRIES TO STEER THE CAR BACKWARDS. FYI, I WAS COMPLETELY SOBER RETURNING FROM AN ATHLETIC COMPETITION, THE TIRES HAD GOOD TREAD, AND WERE INFLATED PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407133June 16, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE LOCKS ON MY 2000 BMW 328I VIN ([XXX]) DO NOT WORK ANYMORE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOT BECAUSE THE POWER LOCKS THAT PROBABLY ARE ACCEPTABLE TO FAIL OVER TIME HAVE FAILED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE LOCKS ON THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY. THIS MEANS IN EVENT OF A COLLISION THE PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE COULD NOT EGRESS TO SAFETY. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX AND SHOULD NOTIFY OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN 3 YEARS AGO WHERE THE LOCKS OCCASIONALLY (1/300 APPROX) WOULD FAIL BUT AFTER SEVERAL PRESSES OF THE KEY IT WOULD OPEN AND OPERATE NORMALLY. OVER THE LAST YEAR THE LOCKS HAVE FAILED HALF THE TIME WHEN IT IS COLD OUT (< 30 DEGREES F APPROX) AND ARE COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE WHEN IT IS HOT OUT (> 90 DEGREES F APPROX). AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT IT NEEDS A REPLACEMENT OF THE GM5 MODULE. THIS REPAIR WAS QUOTED TO ME BY THE DEALER AT OVER $700! THAT IS $700 TO FIX A PART THAT SHOULD WORK. SOMETHING THAT OVERRIDES A PASSENGER FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FAIL. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE AT RISK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE HELP TO EITHER FORCE BMW TO REPLACE THESE MODULES ON VEHICLES OR STOP PEOPLE FROM OPERATING THEM, THEY'RE DANGEROUS! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402455May 23, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. KEY FOB, INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON AND MANUAL DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS MAKING PASSENGERS HAVE TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR OR WINDOWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401428May 18, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN BY CONNECTING THE TANK IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED A THIRD TIME AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WASN'T WORKING AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GASOLINE IN THE TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398358April 30, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE. PULLING ON HANDLE WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR NOR WILL THE UNLOCK BUTTON FOR ALL LOCKS ON CAR. IN ADDITION THE REMOTE KEY FOB WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOOR. RANDOM OCCURRENCE. WORKED PERFECTLY FINE IN THE MORNING AND THEN MALFUNCTIONED LATER ON IN THE DAY. SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398047April 27, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES BUT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER CLIP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V100000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,500. UPDATED 05/12/11 *BF UPDATED 05/31/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396985April 20, 2011
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. IT KEPT GIVING THE WARNING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND IF I TURN THE CAR OFF, I WON'T BE ABLE TO CRANK IT. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF, I COULD NOT CRANK IT BACK UP. I HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT MY LOCAL BMW REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER BMW OWNER'S WHO SAYS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM MORE THAN ONCE. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BMW 328I MODELS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD ALSO LOCK IF A PERSON WAS DRIVING, ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393903March 31, 2011
STEERING
BMW STEERING WHEEL LOCK CANT START VEHICLE LEAVES YOU STRANDED. HAD DEALER REPLACED ALREADY ONCE IN PAST PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386622March 6, 2011
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP UNEXPECTED AND CAR WILL NOT START. HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT SINCE 12/28/09. CAR HAS TO BE TOWED FROM LOCATIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383117February 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE RADIO ON, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 40 MINUTES AND WAS UNABLE TO USE THE HORN TO INDICATE THAT HE WAS TRAPPED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE POWER IN THE BATTERY IN THE KEY FOB WAS LOW, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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