BMW 323i Complaints

564 consumer complaints on file.

#10496463February 5, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION WAS AN AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496305February 4, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, EML, AND DSC WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE DME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 3/8/13 *CN UPDATED 04/12/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488722December 13, 2012
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
AFTER 6 MONTHS OF SQUEAKING & RATTLING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING ON CA ROUTE 10 WHEN I NOTICED THE SOUNDS WERE BECOMING MORE PREVALENT, AS THE CAR'S HANDLING BEGAN TO FEEL LOOSE. I REDUCED SPEED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP, FEARING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND UPON ARRIVING HOME HAD MY VEHICLE INSPECTED BY BEVERLY HILLS BMW, WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME WAS DAMAGED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CAR WAS "NOT ROAD WORTHY" ([XXX]) AND I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED OUT OF THE SHOP. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT [XXX], WHO INFORMED ME THAT BMW HAD A PROGRAM (THAT I BELIEVE IS PART OF A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT), IN WHICH THEY RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE EARLY E46 BMW MODELS' SUB-FRAMES AND OFFERED TO HAVE THEM INSPECTED & IN SOME CASES WOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. BMW CHOSE TO DENY ME REPAIR, CITING THAT THEY HAD MAILED ME A LETTER ABOUT THE PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY (THAT I HAD NEVER RECEIVED) & THAT THE PROGRAM HAD NOW ENDED. AFTER HAVING MY VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY, I CONTACTED[XXX]TO SEE IF BMW WOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR SOME OF MY COSTS OF REPAIR AND CAR RENTAL, SEEING AS HOW THEY WERE A FRACTION OF THE QUOTE FROM BMW. SHE TOLD ME TO FORWARD MY INVOICES ($2207.70 IN TOTAL) TO HER EMAIL, WHICH I DID. DESPITE 3 FOLLOW-UP EMAILS, 3 VOICE MAILS, AND ONE CERTIFIED LETTER, I HAVE RECEIVED NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM BMW. THE MECHANICAL / STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF A VEHICLE'S FRAME, OR SUB-FRAME, SHOULD NEVER BE COMPROMISED BY REGULAR USE. HAVING A DEFECTIVE SUB-FRAME IN A CAR MANUFACTURED IN THE LAST 80 YEARS IS WHOLLY UNACCEPTABLE AND CONSTITUTES A NEED FOR INVESTIGATION CONCERNING A POTENTIAL RECALL, RATHER THAN SOME MANUFACTURER-CONTROLLED PROGRAM WITH TIME LIMITS THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. 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
#10485040November 18, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WAS TRYING TO REVERSE N IT WOULDN'T IT PERIODICALLY WON'T REVERSE UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. WINDOW WON'T GO UP WITHOUT MANUALLY PULLING IT UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482709October 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REVERSE DRUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480976October 18, 2012
TIRES, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A POT HOLE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HAPHAZARDLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 (AIR BAGS: SIDE WINDOW) BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 198,000. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON HITTING THE POT HOLE CHUNKS WERE TAKEN OUT OF BOTH LEFT SIDE ALLOY WHEELS. ALSO THE TWO LEFT SIDE TIRES WERE BLOWN OUT. UPDATED 1/7/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477433September 28, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILS WHICH PREVENTS THE BRAKE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR IS BRAKE. SUBSEQUENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL CANNOT BE DISENGAGED BY THE BRAKE ANYMORE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. INSTEAD WHEN IN CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE BRAKE THE DEPRESSED THE CAR SPEEDS UP COMPENSATING FOR THE LOST SPEED. THIS GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR A HIGH SPEED CRASH BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471830August 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS NO REVERSE GEAR. I PUSHED THE CAR, MYSELF. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR. I READ ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGER TO THE OWNERS AND EVERYONE AROUND THE VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION, THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THIS IS MY FIRST CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER HELP WITH THIS MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459277May 22, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 323. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DUE TO GRAVEL INTERFERING WITH THE SYSTEM AND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT CERTAIN ISSUES WERE TO BE EXPECTED AS THE VEHICLE AGED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 167,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458958May 18, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY
ALL PASSENGER DOORS FAIL TO OPEN (EVEN MANUALLY) DUE TO A FAULTY GM5 (COMPUTER) OR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR RESULTING IN A HAZARD IF THERE WERE TO BE A FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458974May 18, 2012
POWER TRAIN
PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL AND NO REVERSE. NO INDICATIONS ANYTHING WRONG PUT INTO REVERSE ACTS LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. ABSOLUTELY NO REVERSE. DROVE HOME AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. WENT ONLINE AND SHOCKED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF NO REVERSE FAILURE ONLINE. THE NO REVERSE ORG IN 2009 IS NO LONGER UP BUT SHOCKED HOW MANY PEOPLE POSTED THE EXACT PROBLEM! BMW NORTH AMERICA OR CORPORATE SAYS THEY CAN'T DO A RECALL AND TO NOTIFY NHTSA. ETHICALLY, WE BOTH KNOW THEY SHOULD FIX THESE FAULTY DRUMS THEY OUTSOURCED TO GM AND DID NOT TELL ANYONE. PLEASE RECALL THE NO REVERSE FAILURE FOR THE 2000 MODEL, THANKS FOR RECALLING THE SUB-FRAME CRACKING. BMW SERVICE CENTERS ARE A RIP OFF AND NEVER TELL THE OWNER WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVE METICULOUS SERVICE RECORDS AND FEEL THE US NEEDS TO MAKE THEM STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP US. GETTING STUCK IN A DANGEROUS PARKING LOT AT NIGHT WOULD NOT BE SAFE? PLEASE ASK BMW TO FIX THEIR FAULTY DRUM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457079May 1, 2012
POWER TRAIN
BMW 323I 1999 I PURCHASED THIS BMW TODAY. UPON ARRIVING HOME I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, NOTHING HAPPENED. SHUT OFF VEHICLE WITH SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AS STATED IN MANUAL NO CHANGE. VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN ALL DAY FROM MEETING UP OF SELLER TO LENDING INSTITUTION. UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME VEHICLE WOULD NO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455587April 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AROUND 4:30PM ON APRIL 17, 2012 AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT...THE CAR HAD NO POWER. THE TRANSMISSION JUST REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO BACK UP. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD IT IN THE WRONG GEAR BUT NO IT WAS IN REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND WENT AROUND THE CORNER TO WAIT FOR HER. WHEN I TRIED TO REVERSE OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT IT STILL DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. THANKFUL THE CAR ROLLED BACK FAR ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. ONCE I GOT HOME I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO MY PARKING STALL BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN THE REVERSE WAS NOT WORKING. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, THE MILES ARE LOW 125,000 AND IT GETS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449344February 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, SUSPENSION
REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444910January 23, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AFTER HAVING THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED AND A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT COMPLETED AT A BMW SERVICE DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TX, APPARENTLY THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN) FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THIS SENSOR FAILED, ALL THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CEASED TO WORK. ACCORDING TO THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO RE-CALIBRATE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AFTER AN ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETED. ADDITIONALLY, PER THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE REPLACING STEERING ANGLE SENSORS IN A VARIETY OF BMW AUTOMOBILES AT "3 TO 4 PER WEEK". ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $500 - $1000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443172January 9, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. WENT TO LEAVE A FRIENDS HOUSE AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. HAD TO BE PUSHED BACKWARDS, PUT INTO DRIVE AND FORWARD GEARS WORKED FINE. DROVE ABOUT 11 MILES, STOPPED AND PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND IT WORKED. COUPLE DAYS LATER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND REVERSE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE REVERSE WORKS ON AND OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE A TRAFFIC SITUATION COULD ARISE WHERE REVERSE IS NEEDED TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, YET BMW HAS FAILED ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442222January 3, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK THIS MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO BACK THE CAR FROM THE PARKING LOT. THE FORWARD GEAR IS GOOD THOUGH. MY CAR HAS A DUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441460December 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A BMW 323I AND THE REVERSE WENT OUT. LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PIECE OF S#!% TRANSMISSION. BMW HAS LOST ME AS A CUSTOMER, SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WHEN SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. BACKING OUT ONTO A TWO LANE, 55 MPH HWY MY SON AND I WERE NEARLY KILLED SINCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I THOUGHT IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. NO IT FAILED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441832December 23, 2011
POWER TRAIN
2000 BMW 323I. CONSUMER STATES REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE *TGW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439853December 14, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
THE SUBFRAME HAS RIPPED AWAY FROM THE FLOORPAN. THROUGH INVESTIGATION THIS HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE ON E46 BMW 3 SERIES. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL BY BMW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE SUBFRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF ANY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to BMW 323i