BMW 328i Complaints (1999)

98 consumer complaints on file.

#10936630December 20, 2016
AIR BAGS
THE SIDE AIRBAG CAME OUT, AFTER HITTING THE CURB. TYPICALLY ONLY THE TIRE AND WHEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BASED ON THE IMPACT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819813January 12, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB CAUSING A CRASH. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURIES TO THE CONTACT'S ARM THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10722673June 1, 2015
AIR BAGS
THE SAME VINTAGE BMW 3 SERIES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS NOW IN LATE MAY 2015 . MY VEHICLE IS NOT BEING RECALLED NOW, BUT I HAVE ASKED BMW NORTH AMERICA WHO MADE MY AIRBAG TO DETERMINE IF MY FAMILY IS ALSO AT RISK FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER (TAKATA ). AFTER ASKING MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN AN ANSWER. I HAVE ALSO ASKED MY DEALER IF THEY KNEW, AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS HAVE BMW LOGO AND BRANDING ON THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHO ACTUALLY MADE IT. I WOULD LIKE BMW NORTH AMERICA TO TELL ME WHO MADE THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE SO I KNOW THE MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627917August 24, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A SIDESWIPE COLLISION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617605July 30, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE SAME VINTAGE BMW 3 SERIES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR AIR BAGS FROM 2001 AND FORWARD. MY VEHICLE IS NOT BEING RECALLED NOW, BUT I HAVE ASKED BMW NORTH AMERICA WHO MADE MY AIRBAGS TO DETERMINE IF MY FAMILY IS ALSO AT RISK FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER (TAKATA ). AFTER ASKING MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN AN ANSWER. I HAVE ALSO ASKED MY DEALER IF THEY KNEW, AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS HAVE BMW LOGO AND BRANDING ON THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHO ACTUALLY MADE IT. I WOULD LIKE BMW NORTH AMERICA TO TELL ME WHO MADE THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE SO I KNOW THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533518August 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GM5 CONTROL MODULE DOOR LOCK FAILURE. INTERMITTENT FAILURE, USUALLY IN HOT OR HUMID WEATHER, CAUSES DOOR UNLOCKING TO FAIL USING EITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE CONSOLE BUTTON. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED USING THE PHYSICAL KEY INSERTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR! THERE ARE ENTIRE WEBSITES, MESSAGE BOARDS, AND EVEN MICRO-BUSINESSES DEDICATED TO FIXING THIS FLAW IN THE GM5 CONTROL MODULE, BUT I FEEL THIS IS ALSO A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AS PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS. IN AN EMERGENCY, THE ONLY OPTION WILL BE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS AND CRAWL OUT OR BREAK A WINDOW IF THE WINDOW CONTROLS ALSO FAIL, AS SOME PEOPLE ALSO REPORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520845June 20, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AND DOOR PANEL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR NOR DID SHE DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. SHE SUSTAINED A BURN ON HER HAND AND BRUISES ON HER HIP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000...UPDATED 07-15-13 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10514458May 31, 2013
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FASTEN SEAT BELT WARNING ALERT WAS ILLUMINATED AND ALL PASSENGERS WERE SECURED IN THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHO STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT SEAT SENSORS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480690October 16, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER 24HRS IGNITED AND RESULTED INTO FIRE. NO KNOWN ISSUE BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCUR, FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CAR THE FIRE STARTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL. NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLED EQUIPMENT, NO EQUIPMENT LEFT INSIDE THE CAR THAT HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. ALMOST BURNED DOWN MY HOUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478917October 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
" BMW [XXX] [NO-REVERSE] TRANSMISSION"-HELLO, I'M A 17 MALE STUDENT WHO WORKS A PART TIME JOB, EVER SINCE I WAS A KID I HAVE DREAMED ON HAVING A BMW FOR MY FIRST CAR,AND DO I SAVED MY MONEY SINCE I WAS 5 YEARS OLD. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY AND WAS EXTREMELY HAPPY! BUT JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS STUCK AT SCHOOL BECAUSE MY CAR WON'T REVERSE? ALSO LAST WEEK THERE WAS A ROAD BLOCK BY THE POLICE AND SO I HAD TO REVERSE TO GO BACK BUT OF COURSE MY LUCK,THE REVERSE ISSUE STARTED TO HAPPEN IN THAT SITUATION, HAD TO GET A TOWING TRUCK TO HELP ME OUT.. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND SO I CALLED A COUPLE OF MECHANICS AND BMW AND THE COST ON FIXING THIS ISSUE COST AS MUCH.AS THE CAR!! AND I AM ONLY 17 WITH NOT SO MUCH MONEY DUE TO SPENDING IT ON "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE".. LOOK AT THIS SITE "HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG/COMPLAINTS_2009Q3.HTML" MANY PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO PAY $5000 ON A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION IF I WASN'T WARNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BY BMW! THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH AND AGAIN I'M ONLY 17 AND WORK A PART TIMED JOB.. THIS IS MY ONLY RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, I AM AFRAID ON FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND PROBLEMS IF I DON'T FIX THIS ISSUE AND I'M CONCERNED ON MY SAFETY AND OTHERS WHO RIDE WITH ME IN THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE READ THIS AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE WHO DRIVE THIS MODEL WITH THIS ISSUE AND HELP US OUT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461073June 8, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ELECTRIC LOCKS FAIL TO UNLOCK IN HOT OR HUMID WEATHER. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS ARE ALSO UNABLE TO UNLOCK THREE PASSENGER DOORS MANUALLY, THOUGH THE KEY CAN BE USED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN PASSENGERS ARE LOCKED IN CAR. THE ONLY METHOD TO EXIT AT TIMES IS TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS AND CRAWL OUT. IN THE INSTANCE OF AN EMERGENCY WHERE PASSENGERS NEED TO EXIT QUICKLY, THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435564November 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY 1999 NMW 328I WONT GO INTO REVERSE ON OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN A DARK PARKING AREA ALONE. THE CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING. I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ALL THE DAY AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I GOT INTO THE CAR LATER TO GO HOME AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE CAR SO THAT I COULD GO INTO DRIVE WHICH WORKS FINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BMW PLACE AT 10,000 MILES TO GET TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO NEED BECAUSE IT WAS A LIFETIME TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE BMW PLACE IN TALLAHASSEE FLORIDA CAPITAL EURO CHECKED THE CAR. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR THEM SO THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND IT WAS FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND STARTED AGAIN. IT DOESN'T DO IT OFTEN BUT IM SCARED TO DRIVE IT FAR OR TO MUCH SO IM LIMITED TO WHERE I CAN GO BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD A NEW TRANSMISSION RIGHT NOW AND MY CAR IS PAID FOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427632September 27, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW), BUT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419875August 17, 2011
SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A MAINTENANCE CHECK WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR AXLE AND SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS WON IN JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT THE TIME FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIR HAS ELAPSED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
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
#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
#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
#10378895January 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM (GM5 MODULE) IS MALFUNCTIONING AS IT FAILS TO OPEN THE DOOR LOCKS. THE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN MANUALLY AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE CANT EXIT THE VEHICLE. ONLY AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS DOES THE DOOR FINALLY OPEN. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT OR THE TEMPERATURE RISES THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE EXITING OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359940October 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1999 BMW 328I (E46 BODY). WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I HAVE HAD RECURRING ISSUES, USUALLY ON HOT OR COLD DAYS, WHERE THE DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN LOCKED, THE CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF AT RANDOM INTERVALS. I'VE EVEN HAD ONE INSTANCE WHERE THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AUTOMATICALLY AND THE DOORS LOCKED WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE CAR AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET OUT WAS BY UNLOCKING THE DOORS WITH THE ELECTRIC KEY FOB. NEITHER OPENING THE DOOR HANDLE OR UNLOCKING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE WORKED. SOME RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THESE SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON INDICATORS OF A FAULTY GM5 MODULE AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN. GETTING IT FIXED WOULD REQUIRE A SERVICE VISIT, PERHAPS MULTIPLE DIAGNOSES, AND CLOSE TO $1000.00 TO FIX. I FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A FAIRLY SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD NOT WANT TO FIND MYSELF LOCKED IN MY CAR WITH NO WAY TO EXIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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