2007 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

A BLOWN FUSE CAUSED THE DOOR UNLOCKING MECHANISM TO FAIL, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS IN THE CAR. THE DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BY ANY MEANS, AS THE FAILURE ALSO DISABLED THE NORMAL MECHANISM BY WHICH PULLING ON AN INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE RELEASED THE ASSOCIATED LOCK. THE SOLE EXCEPTION IS THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR COULD BE OPENED BY ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW, AND REACHING OUT AWKWARDLY THROUGH THE WINDOW TO THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WITH THE MECHANICAL AUXILIARY KEY. HOWEVER, THE ONLY EXIT AVAILABLE TO BACKSEAT PASSENGERS WAS THROUGH THE WINDOWS, ASSUMING THE PASSENGERS WERE SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT THROUGH THEM. NEITHER OF THESE MODES OF EGRESS WOULD BE SATISFACTORY IF EXIT NEEDED TO BE QUICK. FORTUNATELY, THIS PARTICULAR FAILURE HAPPENED TO MY FAMILY WHILE THE CAR WAS SAFELY PARKED. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR FIRE THAT REQUIRED RAPID EVACUATION OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. IDEALLY, THE LOCKS SHOULD BE MECHANICALLY LINKED TO THE DOOR HANDLES SO THAT AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WOULD NOT RENDER IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS. ABSENT THAT, AT LEAST HAVING INDIVIDUAL FUSES FOR EACH LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD LEAVE THREE FUNCTIONING DOORS IF ONE FAILED. *TR

A/C STOPPED WORKING WITH THE CAR'S ODOMETER AT 65K MILES (CAR IS 6YRS OLD). DEALER DIAGNOSED AS EVAPORATOR FAILURE WITH ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $4500. ON THE WEB, OTHERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AT 50K MILES, WHILE OLDER GENERATIONS OF THE SAME CAR FROM THE SAME MAKER NEVER HAD SUCH ISSUE. THIS IS CLEARLY AN IMPURITY CASE AND THE PART SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS EVAPORATOR SHOULDN'T FAIL AT SUCH AGE. *TR

VEHICLE WILL NOT START, REPLACED BATTERY AND ICON DISPLAYING ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK (ELV) SHOWS IN THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WILL NOT START AS STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND CAN NOT BE RELEASED DEALER SAYS THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, DEALER SAID THE SEE ABOUT 3 CARS A WEEK WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

VEHICLE DISPLAYS MODERATE OVERHEAT WARNING AND WITHIN MINUTES DISPLAYS HIGH TEMPERATURE OVERHEAT WARNING AND GOES INTO FAILSAFE MODE WHICH MAKE THE CAR COME TO A HALT. THIS COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A BUSY HIGHWAY. PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS FAILED WATER PUMP. *TR

CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE INTERMITTENT ABS BRAKE FAILURE AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR. BMW WON'T REPAIR UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. I HAVE ALREADY HAD 1 ELECTRICAL RELATED SAFETY RECALL DUE TO BATTERY CABLE. SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE BMW FORUM HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AS WELL, HERE IS JUST 1 EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=558662 SEE BELOW TSB #SIB270212 FOR THE ABS BRAKE FAILURE: ___________________________ VEHICLE: 2007 BMW 3 SERIES ________________________________________ NATURE OF DEFECT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BULLETIN NUMBER: SIB270212 BULLETIN DATE: DEC 2012 ________________________________________ SUMMARY: BMW: DSC WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE WARNING LAMPS FOR DSC, ABS AND BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THERE MAY ALSO BE A WARNING IN THE CONTROL DISPLAY FOR CHASSIS CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10051459 ), *TR

"TAKATA RECALL" THIS VEHICLE IS 10 YEARS OLD. WHERE IS THE NEW AIR BAG? HOW MUCH TIME IS REASONABLE?

I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALER AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRIC WATER PUMP. I DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. 4 HOURS LATER MY NEIGHBOR ALERTED ME TO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. *JS

THE KEY FOB DID NOT UNLOCK THE CAR DOORS NOR DID THE CENTRAL CONTROL BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR UNLOCK THE DOORS. ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR COULD OPEN FROM INSIDE THE CAR. NO OTHER DOOR COULD BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE WITH THIS MALFUNCTION. FOUND OUT A FUSE WENT BAD CREATING THE PROBLEM. *JB

I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AS DESCRIBED IN EXISTING RECALL NUMBER 17V605. I HAD THIS REPAIRED FOR OVER $1168.16 MY VEHICLE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.

I DROVE MY CAR APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES THEN GOT HOME AND TURNED MY CAR OFF. 10 MINUTES LATER I LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND MY CAR IS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT. STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AND THAT IT LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR

SUDDENLY ALL 3 DOORS (EXCEPT ONE PASSENGER DOOR) FAIL TO UNLOCK AND EVEN THE INSIDE DOOR KNOB WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOOR. IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BUT BMW WOULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT HAPPENS, AND MY WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. *TR

RED INDICATOR FOR ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. CAR FAILED TO START UNLESS MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK COLUMN BY INSERTING AND REMOVING KEY. DEALER SAYS THE COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CAR REPROGRAMMED TO "ACCEPT" THE NEW COLUMN. THE CAR IS COVERED UNDER A CPO WARRANTY, SO THE PARTS WILL BE COVERED, BUT THE "REPROGRAMMING" IS NOT. AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR "BMW ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION" RETURNS MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE MODE. IN SOME CASES MULTIPLE TIMES PER VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US! BMW IS IGNORING THE ISSUE OR KICKING-THE-CAN DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK. THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT THE BACK DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL. I COULD OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY AND THATS PRETTY MUCH IT. *TR

THE WASTEGATE VALUE ARMS ARE LOOSE AND THEY RATTLE. THEY MAY COME LOOSE AND NOT WORK. WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE NOT WORKING. IT GET WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE THE CAR. THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON YOUTUBE THAT ALL 2007 335I'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I JUST FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD MAKE THIS A RECALL. *TT

THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THAT THE WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS NOT COVERED ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. MY BMW 2007 328 CONVERTIBLE HAS THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM AS IDENTIFIED BELOW. I HAVE REPAIRED IT AND IT HAS CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE, WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE STOPPED, CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULD THERE BE AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS FAULTY PART MUST HAVE BEEN USED IN MY 2007 328 CONVERTIBLE. AUGUST 2008 -- BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES (SPORT SEAT), MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES (STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT), AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN OCCUR. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. BMW IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES: MY 2006 6-SERIES, 3-SERIES (STANDARD SEAT), MY 2004-2005 Z4, MY 2004-2006 7-SERIES, MY 2006 X5, AND MY 2004-2006 5-SERIES (COMFORT SEAT). UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT IN A VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCES THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS RECALL WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA08-001, CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION. 08V384. *TR

FIRST OCCURRENCE OF PROBLEM HAPPENED BACK IN MAY 2012. ME AND MY FIANCEE WERE EXITING THE VEHICLE BUT ONLY MY DRIVER DOOR WOULD OPEN. MY FIANCEE WAS FORCED TO CLIMB OVER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE OF THE VEHICLE AND EXIT THROUGH MY DOOR, WITH A SHORT DRESS ON. I LATER LOOKED ONLINE ON A BMW FORUM TO FIND THE CULPRIT TO BE THE LOCK ACTUATORS BLOWING FUSE 56. I REPLACED FUSE 56 WITH THE APPROPRIATE FUSE, INCREASING THE 15 AMP TO A 20 AMP AT THAT TIME. ON 30 JUNE 2012 I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHILE ON VACATION IN OGUNQUIT, ME. ONCE AGAIN MY PASSENGERS WERE ALL LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR THE 335I'S DOORS ONCE THE FUSE BLOWS. ALL THREE PASSENGERS WERE FORCED TO CLIMB THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, CREATING A DANGEROUS AND UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION. THIS TIME I REPLACED FUSE 57 AND IT SEEMED TO WORK JUST FINE AFTERWARDS. LASTLY, IT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO WITH JUST ME IN THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP (IN RHODE ISLAND) AND THEY TOLD ME ALL DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WERE DEFECTIVE/FAULTY. THEY SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE DOOR ACTUATOR ON THE CAR, TOTALING A COST OF $1600. I CALLED BMW OF NA AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS OF A BLOWN FUSE IN THIS VEHICLE. I DESPAIR WHEN I THINK OF THE PROBLEMS THIS COULD CAUSE DURING AN ACCIDENT. THE ABSENCE OF A MANUAL OVERRIDE WOULD CAUSE PASSENGERS TO BREAK OPEN WINDOWS IN ORDER TO ESCAPE DURING AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. *TR

THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED WHEN THE CAR WAS AT 80MPH. THE CAR WAS LATER DIAGNOSED FOR FUEL PUMP FAILURE. *TR

AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALUMINUM BOLTS THAT CONNECTED THE OIL PAN WERE CRACKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONSTANT VIBRATIONS FROM THE ENGINE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000. ....UPDATED 06/18/12 *BF

2007 328I -- I WAS DRIVING THRU MY NEIGBORHOOD IN NYC AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY; NO POWER, NO BRAKES, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL.. AND THE THING IS NO WARNINGS EVER SHOWED UP.. I HOPE EVERYONE WHO'S HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS REPORTS THEM TO BWM BECAUSE THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I'M LUCKY I WAS DRIVING LOCALLY AND THERE WEREN'T ANY CARS AROUND BECAUSE IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED DRIVING A CAR. HOPE BMW STEPS UP BEFORE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS, LIKE TOYOTA HAD THEM. *TR

WATER PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 5MPH. POSTINGS ONLINE SHOW THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE (POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE LIKE THE FUEL PUMP). CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED FOR $1033. *TR

MODEL: 2007 BMW 328I. THE ELECTRONIC "DOOR ACTUATORS" FAILED. AS A RESULT, IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN ANY DOOR OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSIDE, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. WHEN THESE ELECTRONIC DOOR ACTUATORS FAIL, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP (WEATHERFORD BMW, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA) EXPLAINED THAT HE NEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED A BULLETIN REGARDING THIS (MEANING THIS IS A "KNOWN ISSUE" TO BMW WITH THIS MODEL CAR! MY QUESTION WAS IF BMW HAS RECEIVED MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, WHY WOULD"NT IT BE RECALLED...HE ADVISED ME THAT ARE NORMALLY PERTAINED TO "SAFETY", WE"LL WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER THIS SITUATION...SAFE? $900.00 WAS MY QUOTE TO HAVE THIS FIXED! RIDICULOUS!!! WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THIS DEFECT BE INVESTIGATED, AND THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BE RECALLED SO THAT THE DEFECT CAN BE CORRECTED BEFORE DEATHS OR INJURIES OCCUR. *TR

RED WARNING LIGHT STEERING PROBLEM STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY. BMW AND INTERNET STATES THIS WAS COMMON PROBLEM $1800+ TO FIX I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IT STILL COST ME APPROX $600. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT CENTER LANE OF INTERSTATE 384 IN MANCHESTER CT. THE CAR STALLED AND SHE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY 3 OTHER VEHICLES. SHE SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL OF BMWS FOR A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE. BMW WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE TRADED THE CAR IN BECAUSE WE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE OR RELIABLE. *TR

DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK" ALERT. NO OTHER OUTWARD SYMPTOMS. CAR IS DRIVABLE. DEALER SAYS WHEEL COULD LOCK UP AT ANY TIME AND SAYS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT ($1400) IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY PERVASIVE PROBLEM ON MANY BMW MODELS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SO BAD THAT BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN WITH ONE WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM WITH THE PART. MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO AN INHERENT AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. BMW SHOULD MAKE THIS REPAIR AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *JS

STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WHICH IS INHERENT ON THIS MODEL. BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THE ITEM. THEY HAVE SINCE CORRECTED THE MALFUNCTION ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. REPAIR COST $1800 MIN. I WILL ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO THE EVER GROWING LIST I AM SURE YOU HAVE ON THIS MODEL. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ATTEND TO THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS YOU CRASH. *KB

MY 2007 BMW 335I BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER DURING A DRIVE DOWN A STEEP GRADE. A BATTERY NOT CHARGING ERROR WOULD APPEAR ON DASH SHORTLY AFTER... HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND NEEDING TO BREAK HARD ON A TURN TO AVOID HITTING A DEAD ANIMAL ON THE ROAD I SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND THEN HEARD A NOISE THIS NOISE I DISCOVERED LATER IN THE DAY WAS MY POWER STEERING BELT BREAKING. I LOST ALL POWER STEERING WENT OFF THE ROAD OUT OFF CONTROL DUE TO LOSE OF POWER STEERING AND ALMOST HIT A BIKE RIDER AND CAME VERY CLOSE TO GOING OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD. LATER THAT DAY I DECIDED TO GOOGLE MY PROBLEM AND SEE IF THERE WOULD BE AN EASY FIX TO THIS PROBLEM. I DISCOVERED THERE IS NOT AN EASY FIX FOR A BROKEN BELT ON MY MODAL OF CAR. I DISCOVERED THIS IS COMMON ON MANY BMW MODELS AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT SEE SIB 11-09-08. I QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. BMW KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NOT RECALLED ANY CARS. THERE DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM IS UNDER SIB 11-09-08. I WILL BE BRINGING MY CAR BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVE AND HOPE THEY FOLLOW THE SIB 11-09-08 WHICH NOTES NEW STYLE SUB FRAME REPLACEMENT WILL BE REQUIRED. I BELIEVE AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE MADE REGARDING POWER STEERING BELTS BREAKING. THESE BELTS SHOULD NOT BE BREAKING UNDER THE CONDITION I WAS DRIVING AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HOPE TO SEE THIS RESOLVED SOON BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. AT THIS TIME I DON'T FEEL THE CAR WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT. I'VE SPOKEN TO MANY BMW OWNERS AND HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING QUIET OFTEN. *TR

DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED. CANNOT UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE CAR WITH CENTRAL UNLOCK, KEY FOB, OR DOOR LEVER. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT. IF I DRIVE NORMAL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE NORMAL IT LOCKS. I CAN'T RESTART THE CAR. I TURN THE STEERING BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO UNLOCK. I HAVE EVEN GONE AS FAR AS TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND THEM RESTART IT. I'M SCARED THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK WHILE I'M DRIVING I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I DON'T WANT OUT LIVES AT JEOPARDY. *TR

DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE: FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED DISALLOWING EXIT FROM ALL DOORS EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. PASSENGERS COULD ONLY EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CRAWLING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND BOTH REAR DOORS COULD NOT BE OPENED BY USING THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR DOORHANDLES. FURTHERMORE, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISALLOWED ANY UNLOCKING OF THESE THREE DOORS AS WELL. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING THIS DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. DURING THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. CAR WAS TAKEN TO BMW DEALER (PASSPORT) FOR REPAIR AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS SAID IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT ALL CARS WITH ELECTRONIC LOCKS RESPOND THIS WAY WHEN THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM FAILS. *TR

MY STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP ON ME OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BMW DEALER IN RALEIGH NC (LEITH BMW ON CAPITAL BLVD) SAID THAT TO FIX IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. *TR

CAR WAS PARKED, AND WHEN KEY FAB WAS USED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS TO ENTER THE CAR THE LOCKS DID NOT WORK. ONLY WHEN THE EMERGENCY KEY WAS USED DID THE DRIVER DOOR OPEN MANUALLY. NO OTHER DOORS WOULD OPEN LOCKING ANY PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED CHANGE OF FUSES WHICH WAS DONE AND DID NOT SOLVE THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM WAS STILL NOT WORKING. DEALER RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE DOOR ACTUATORS FOR $3000 EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. CENTRAL LOCKING ALSO CAUSED THE GAS CAP TO REMAIN LOCKED AND POSSIBLY STRANDING THE DRIVER AT THE GAS STATION. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND A RED LIGHT WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND PAD LOCK CAME ON. I CONTACTED SOMEONE REGARDING THIS LIGHT AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON AND THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY LOCK UP ON ME. I CONTACTED IRVINE BMW TO INQUIRE ON THE COST AND SOMEONE ANSWERED ASKING ME IF I HAD SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I RESPONDED NO IT WAS MY FIRST TIME CALLING. I BELIEVE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND AM REQUESTING THAT SOMEONE LOOK INTO THE MATTER. I'M HAVING TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN WHICH COST $1460 AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST ENDED AND MY VEHICLE JUST CAME ON ITS 5TH YEAR. *TR

A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR (STEERING WHEEL WITH PAD LOCK). I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD CALLED EARLIER WHICH I HAD NOT. I WAS SOMEWHAT ALARMED THAT THIS SOUND LIKE A COMMON ISSUE ALTHOUGH IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS CONCERN. I WAS INFORMED THAT NORMALLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW BMW X3 IN 2007. THERE WERE SMALL ISSUES IN THE PAST BUT WITHING MY MANUFACTURER WARRENTY PERIOD. I HAD MY REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED ON JAN 23, 2012. ON JAN 30, 2012, WHEN I DROVE MY X3 OUT MY SUBDIVISON TO GO TO WORK, THE BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND 4/4 LIGHT ALL ON, PLUS LOAD CLUNK TYPE NOISE FROM REAR, IT WAS DIFFICAULT TO MAKE A U-TURN, MANAGED BACK TO HOME, CALLED BMW UNITEDBMW DEALER AND TOWED MY VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY FIRST TOLD ME THAT IS SOFTWARE FAILURE, THEY WOULD TRY REPROGRAM TO FIX, THEN CALLED TO TELL THE RE-PROGRAM DID NOT WORK, IT WAS MECHANICAL TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR BROKEN, A NEW ONE MUST BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL CHARGE FOR REPAIR (PART + LABOR - DISCOUNT) IS $2354.97. IT WAS IN THE DEALER FOR ONE WEEK. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT IT WAS MY BAD LUCK, NOT CAR'S OWN ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE MILAGE IS LESS THAN 40K. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, FOUND THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF SIMILAR CASES AND CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS. LOOKS LIKE BMW (2007 AND 2008) MODELS HAVE LUBRICANT PROBLEM, LATER BMW SWITCHED WITH DIFFERENT LUBRICANT. INTERNET ESTIMATION SAYS THAT ~30% OF THE VEHICHLES (2007 & 2008) DEMONSTRATED THIS ISSUE. AS A CONSUMER, I AM TRYING TO URGE ANY CAR MAKER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PRODUCTS. BUT I NEVER GET ANY NOTICE OR RECALL FROM BMW DEALERS OR MAKER IN THE PAST AND WHEN THE PROBLEM SURFACED. *TR

WE DID NOT BUY BMW JUST FOR THE LOOK BUT WE BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF HOW GOOD THEY MAKE THERE CARS AND NOW THIS HAPPEN AND BOY I WAS FOOLED. *TR

OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. THE ALUMINUM BOLTS USED IN THE ENGINE WARPED CAUSING LEAK. HAD TO REPLACE HEAD GASKET AND ALL HEADBOLTS. *JS

I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHT SHOWING. I WAS NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR AT ALL AND I WAS UPSET BECAUSE I COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CLOSEST PLACE WHICH WAS AN EXTREME BURDEN ON ME FINANCIALLY. *TR

AFTER BEING SERVICE BY DEALER FOR 4 DAYS WHICH INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR HEAVY TOXIC SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF VENTILATOR OF AC SYSTEM. I IMMEDIATELY STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND IN A FEW MINUTES SMOKE AND FLAMES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT BURN THE CAR. FLAMES AND BLACK PLASTIC WERE COMING ALSO UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT RIGHT IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER QUOTED $25000 FOR REPAIR AND INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT TOTAL LOSS. CAR WAS DELIVERED TO DEALER WHO HAS KEPT IT FOR A MONTH, ENGINEER FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA CAME AND INSPECTED BUT NO REPORT HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THEM OR DEALER. THIS COMPANY HAS NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY OF CONSUMERS AND SHOULD BE PENALIZE. AFTER HAVING OWNED SIX BMW'S I FEEL THESE AUTOS ARE NOT SAFE. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT

EVERY TIME I HAVE A PASSENGER THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THEN GETS OUT OF THE CAR, THE SENSOR THINKS THE PERSON IS STILL SITTING IN THE SEAT AND KEEPS REMINDING ME TO PUT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT, PLUS THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER 3 TO 4 DAYS, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF. BUT LATELY, THE LIGHTS REMAIN ON FOR MONTHS. IS THE PROBLEM RELATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT? ISN'T THIS SUPPOSE TO BE A DELTA GOVERNMENT REGULATED ISSUE? ISN'T IT ALSO DANGEROUS? DOES THIS MEAN THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED? WHAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE A PASSENGER? PLEASE HELP. *TR

SENSOR IN FUEL TANK DID NOT REPORT AMOUNT OF GAS IN TANK TO DASH. CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY GAS BUT REPORTED A QUARTER TANK. WHILE DRIVING AT ROUGHLY 45 MILES AN HOUR, CAR SUDDENLY DIED IN CENTER LANE. BARELY HAD ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OVER. THE WORST PART IS I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND MY SPEED WOULD HAVE BEEN ROUGHLY 70-75 MPH. ON A HIGHWAY, HAD MY CAR DIED IN THE SAME MANNER MY SAFETY WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED! I ENDED UP BLOCKING A STREET WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE CAR ALONE. DEALERSHIP STATED THE SENSOR IS A PART OF THE WHOLE TANK AND THE TANK MUST BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, BECAUSE IT IS A SENSOR ISSUE MIGHT HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS DEFECT! *TR

CAR STARTED TO RATTLE ESPECIALLY UPON PRESSING GAS PEDAL WHILE RUNNING AT AROUND 50MPH IN A FREEWAY. SIGNIFICANT REDUCED POWER WAS NOTICED. SOON "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIT ON THE TACHOMETER. WHEN STOPPED A RAW GAS TO ROTTEN EGG SMELL WAS AROUND THE CAR. BY TURNING ON/OFF IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES, IT STOPPED RATTLING AND REGAINED FULL POWER. SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN ON A LOCAL ROAD AT AROUND 50MPH ABOUT A MONTH LATER. POWER REGAIN WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH SAME WAY. "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WENT OFF 24HRS LATER. BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO A LOCAL BMW CENTER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, CYLINDER #2 MISFIRE AND BOTH PRE-CAT OR POST-CAT OXYGEN SENSOR LOW RESPONSE. A SERVICE AGENT DECIDED NOT TO DO ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE HE COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE I DESCRIBED ALTHOUGH HE DID FIND THE MALFUNCTION CODES. HE INSTEAD TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR WHEN THE SAME SYMPTOM OCCURS. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE TECHNICIAN WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR BELIEVED THAT A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE MISFIRE AND BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS MALFUNCTION CONSEQUENTLY. *TR

CONSUMER STATED, MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 10-15 MPH HER BMW SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE HYDRAULIC PUMP UNIT AND DSC FAILED. *JB

STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PER DEALER. *KB

CONSTANT DAILY ISSUE WITH BMW. WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR AT A MERGING INTERSECTION, WHEN I TRY TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE THE CAR, IT HAS A 2 SECOND DELAY BEFORE IT MOVES. HOWEVER IF I HAVE THE DTC (DYNAMIC TRACTION CONTROL) ON THERE IS NO ISSUE. APPARENTLY THERE IS A MOUNTAIN OF COMPLAINTS ON THE ONLINE CAR FORUMS REGARDING THIS; BUT NO RESOLUTION FROM BMW ON THIS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS. PLEASE HELP! THIS DELAY/LAG CAN EASILY CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY IF NOT DEALT WITH. *TR

THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR IS ON. MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE STEERING WHEEL. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AT IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AS TONS OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. *TR

DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN ON 3 OF THE DOORS; HAD TO CRAWL FROM BACKSEAT TO FRONT SEAT TO START CAR. ONCE GOT HOME, HAD TO CRAWL BACK OUT VIA THE BACK SEAT. EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, MYSELF NOR MY PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN, WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL BMW DEALER AND HE STATED THIS WAS NOT THE "1ST" TIME HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. APPROXIMATE COST IS BETWEEN $700 TO $1,000 TO FIX. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING ISSUE. *TR