49 of the 1,149 complaints filed about the BMW 3 Series are about the doors, latches and locks — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
49
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. ALL PASSENGERS NEEDED TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IN AN ACCIDENT AND PASSENGERS COULD NOT OPEN DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10631412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE LEFT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK HAS CEASED TO OPERATE ON MY 2007 BMW 328I. IT DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH EITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE MAIN UNLOCK SWITCH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THERE WERE ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY INVOLVING THIS DOOR NEEDING TO BE OPENED.
NHTSA complaint #10616429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. ALL PASSENGERS COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. PULLING ON THE DOOR HANDLES DID NOT OPEN OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY FOB DID NOT WORK. THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE AND CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. 4 PASSENGERS HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE DRIVER DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10614828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD NOT ALLOW REAR DOOR TO OPEN. HAD FIXED AND THEN DRIVERS DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPEN. COULD NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10564660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
VEHICLE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS (ACTUATORS) DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. UNABLE TO EXIT DRIVER'S DOOR FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE BY PULLING HANDLE. IF THERE WAS A CRASH AND/OR FIRE, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO EXIT QUICKLY. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO BMW FORUM IN THE INTERNET (BIMMERPOST).
NHTSA complaint #10562410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE GENERAL MODULE 5 (GM5) IS ELECTRONIC HARDWARE THAT AMONGST OTHER FUNCTIONS PRIMARILY CONTROLS THE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING OF THE BMW E46'S. THIS MODULE HAS DECIDED TO STOP WORKING IN MY VEHICLE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE FROM ANY OF THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS (KEY FOB BUTTON, CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON, OR DOOR DOUBLE LOCKING HANDLE). THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO QUICKLY ESCAPE THE VEHICLE DUE TO INABILITY OF THE DOORS TO UNLOCK. AFTER THOROUGH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS FLAW. THERE IS NO WAY TO MANUALLY OVERRIDE THE GM5 TO UNLOCK THE DOORS SO WITHOUT IT PASSENGERS ARE ESSENTIALLY TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MODULE ALSO CONTROLS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, POWER WINDOWS, AND TRUNK RELEASE. HAVING THESE FEATURES INOPERABLE ON TOP OF THE INABILITY TO UNLOCK FOR ANY GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS A RECALL AND REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10532798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT CAR WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN ANY OF CAR DOORS - ALL THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE ! ALSO, THE DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT ASAP. I WAS ABLE TO SEE ON LINE THAT NUMBER OF LIKE AND KIND COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2007 328 XI MODELS ...
NHTSA complaint #10522779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
YESTERDAY, THE DOORS ON MY 2006 325I WOULDN'T UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. I USED THE ACTUAL KEY TO ENTER THE CAR AND THE CENTRAL LOCKING/UNLOCKING BUTTON DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE DOOR TO THE GAS TANK IS ALSO LOCKED. THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE PASSENGER DOORS WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. IN READING THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10504242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH SWITCH OR REMOTES. CENTRAL LOCKING DOES NOT WORK EVEN WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. MY KIDS AND I HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE CAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES. THIS IS A SERIOUS RISK TO MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF OTHERS ON THE ROAD. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE VIDEO OF ME TRAPPED IN THE CAR. I ADDRESSED HIS PROBLEM WITH BMW BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP BUT THEY STATE SINCE THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT IDENTITY ANY PROBLEM IT'S NOT COVERED. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10493675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK; FROM THE EXTERIOR, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. FROM THE INTERIOR, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN BE OPENED; NONE OF THE OTHER 3 DOORS CAN BE OPENED MANUALLY OR BY USING THE UNLOCK BUTTONS EITHER ON THE DASH OR ON THE KEY. I THINK THAT THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION-IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED, PASSENGERS WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO EXIT THROUGH THE WINDOWS OR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE IN SOME ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I SPOKE TO BMW NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT THEY "PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS" TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10491872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
AS MY WIFE OPEN THE DOOR AND SITS , SHE PULLED THE DOOR TO CLOSE BUT IT WONT LOCK UP TRY SEVERAL TIMES TO DO IT WITH THE REMOTE BUT WONT LOCK UP. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR!!!
NHTSA complaint #10490036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE KEY. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL UNLOCK WITH THE KEY INSERTED, BUT ONCE INSIDE THE CAR, THE PASSENGER DOORS WILL STILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE INSIDE BUTTON OR BY PULLING THE UNLOCK LEVER ON EACH DOOR. THE LEVERS DO NOT WORK BY PULLING TWICE EITHER. VERY DANGEROUS!!! I'VE HAD PASSENGERS WHO HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OVER THE CONSOLE AND INTO THE BACK SEATS.
NHTSA complaint #10486056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKED IN POSITION, UNABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. NO MANUAL WAY TO GET OUT OF CAR. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. FINALLY ABLE TO UNLOCK USING KEY. WHEN SPEAKING TO BMW SERVICE CENTER (WALTERS OF RIVERSIDE) ABOUT ISSUE, THEY SAID IF KEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IGNITION THE CAR WOULD HAVE UNLOCKED. NOW EPISODE HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT UNABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. KEY DOES NOT WORK EVEN IF IN IGNITION. LUCKILY, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS UNLOCK AND I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT. NOW DOORS ARE LOCK SO I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I AM UNABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10479502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM MARCHING BAND PRACTICE ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HER HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT OUT, I WENT TO LOCK THE DOORS. I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS DOORS WERE LOCKED, THE PASSENGERS DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT WORK ANYMORE ON ANY OF THE DOORS BUT WOULD WORK ON THE TRUNK. I GOT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND CRAWLED OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND TRIED THE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE CENTRAL LOCK BUTTON ALSO WOULD NOT WORK. I CRAWLED OUT AND TRIED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WITH THE KEY. IT DID UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS WOULD RESPOND FROM THE INSIDE. AFTER I GOT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK WITH THE KEY, MY KEY FOB WOULD WORK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ONLY. BECAUSE MY KIDS DECIDED TO "HELP MOM" BY PUSHING THE LOCKS DOWN MANUALLY - NOW ALL OF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND WON'T BUDGE EXCEPT THE DRIVERS SIDE. I EFFECTIVELY CAN'T USE THE CAR FOR ANYONE EXCEPT MYSELF BECAUSE NO ONE CAN ENTER - AND MORE IMPORTANTLY EXIT FROM THE CAR EXCEPT FOR CRAWLING OVER SEATS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS MANUALLY. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS - BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT CHOOSES NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10478009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT WORK. THE DOOR STAYS LOCKED AND WHEN IT FIRST OCCURED THE PASSENGER HAD TO CRAWL OUT THE WINDOW. NEITHER THE ELECTRONIC KEY LOCK NOR THE PUSHBUTTON LOCK CONTROL ON THE CONSOLE WILL OPEN THE DOOR LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL OTHER LOCKS WORK FINE, INCLUDING THE TRUNK. THE MANUAL DOOR OPENER WILL NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR EITHER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE, IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10472119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN. I WAS LITERALLY TRAPPED INSIDE MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, HAD TO PUT DOWN WINDOW AND HAVE SOMEONE USE VALET KEY AT MY HOUSE TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. NONE OF THE OTHER THREE PASSENGER DOORS CAN BE UNLOCKED. LUCKILY NO PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. WAS TOLD THERE IS A TSB RELATED TO THIS, HOWEVER IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS CONSIDERED "SAFE" WHEN IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS TO GET THEM OUT. BMW IS AWARE THAT THE ACTUATORS ARE PULLING TOO MUCH CURRENT THROUGH THE FUSES AND THAT THE ACTUATORS NEED REPLACED. THEY ARE MAKING TONS OF MONEY OFF OF CHARGING PEOPLE TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AS THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN AVOID HAVING REPAIRED UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO GAMBLE ON YOUR OWN LIFE OR THOSE OF FAMILY/FRIENDS WHO MAY BE IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE AS A RESULT. I FIND IT QUITE ABSURD THAT THE NHTSA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FOR THIS TO BE REMEDIED? JUST BECAUSE I DRIVE A USED BMW DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED, YET I'VE GOT TWO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE BACKSEAT OF THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED, OBVIOUSLY IT APPEARS THAT NEITHER BMW NOR THE NHTSA SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY OR THAT OF ANY OF THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10470673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. NO WAY TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR EVEN WITH INTERNAL HANDLE. PASSENGER TRAPPED AND HAD TO CRAWL OVER TO DRIVER'S SEAT. WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10466941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER EXITED CAR TO PUMP GAS. PASSENGERS REMAINED IN VEHICLE. GAS DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED AS MAIN DOOR LOCK WAS ENGAGED (THOUGH DRIVERS DOOR WAS UNLOCKED). KEY FOB UNLOCK FUNCTION WOULD NOT WORK TO UNLOCK CAR / GAS CAP. DRIVER PUSHED KEY FOB BUTTONS TO ATTEMPT UNLOCK, DRIVERS DOOR BECAME LOCKED DURING THIS ACTIVITY. NOW NO DOORS COULD BE UNLOCKED. DUE TO FAILURE ALL DOORS EXPERIENCED "2 PULL" DOOR UNLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE, THIS "2 PULL" SYSTEM, THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ENSURE DOORS CAN BE OPENED FROM INSIDE IF LOCK IS ENGAGED APPARENTLY REQUIRE SAME POWER AS GENERAL LOCKING SYSTEM. DRIVER COULD ONLY ENTER CAR BY USING EMERGENCY KEY AND UNLOCKING DRIVER'S DOOR. PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS REMAINED LOCK (AND ARE STILL LOCKED / INOPERABLE DUE TO SYSTEM FAILURE). POWER FAILURE IN DOOR LOCK SYSTEM (OR OTHER ASSOCIATED FAULT) MADE DOOR OPERATION IMPOSSIBLE. ALL DOORS WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE FROM THE INSIDE. PASSENGERS COULD NOT EXIT VEHICLE AS DOORS WERE LOCKED AND HANDLES DID NOT WORK. DRIVER COULD NOT ENTER VEHICLE BY KEY FOB UNLOCK FUNCTION. DRIVERS DOOR EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT OPERATION UNTIL SOME KIND OF MANUAL OVERRIDE, OR SOME OTHER SYSTEM CHANGE, MADE DRIVERS DOOR FUNCTIONAL BY "2 PULL" DOOR UNLOCK / OPEN METHOD. IF DRIVER HAD NOT BEEN PRESENT (IE: IN STORE PAYING FOR GAS OR FOR SOME OTHER REASON) PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN CAR. IF ANY PASSENGER HAD BEEN PHYSICALLY DISABLED AND UNABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF CAR VIA DRIVERS DOOR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR PASSENGER TO EXIT CAR !!!!!. DOOR LOCK SYSTEM REMAINS INOPERABLE, PASSENGER AND REAR DOORS STILL LOCKED CLOSED WITH NO WAY TO OPEN THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10466934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AND DRIVER BECAME LOCKED IN CAR. DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED INSIDE THE CAR WITH KEYS, INTERNAL BUTTONS, OR DOOR HANDLES.
NHTSA complaint #10460287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR USING THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR WITH THE HANDLE AND WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON ALL OTHER DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS ON ALL DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,700. UPDATED 05/31/12 *BF THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ACTUATORS. A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE FAILED AND THE DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT WORK. THE KEY ONLY WORKED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10457750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.