98 of the 1,149 complaints filed about the BMW 3 Series are about the engine — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.
98
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
5
Fires
ENGINE
See attached document for complaint
NHTSA complaint #11610158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
COOLANT HOSES RELEASED AND RADIATOR SPLIT OPEN -- APPEARED WHILE DRIVING --- FLUID RELEASED ONTO WINDSHIELD
NHTSA complaint #11228499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 80 AND THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN, WAS UNABLE TO STEER, LEFT ME AND MY 9 YEAR OLD STRANDED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES UNTILL IT STARTED BACK UP, EVERYDAY EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED IT SHUTS DOWN AND HAVE TO PRAY THAT I DON'T GET HIT BY A CAR OR AM ABLE TO GLIDE TO SAFETY, VERY UNSAFE NOT KNOWING WHEN THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN ON ME, TOOK TO MECHANIC THERE WERE NO CODES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING, THEREFORE COULDN'T BE FIXED, SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH CAR, CAR ONLY STARTED DOING THIS FROM APRIL 2019 TO PRESENT,IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M ON HIGHWAY, STREET, STOPPED HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED, LIKE I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.IM GOING TO GET KILLED ONE OF THESE DAYS OR SERIOUSLY INJURED
NHTSA complaint #11220155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS AT ROUGHLY 3AM ON MY WAY BACK FROM MY COMMUTE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 60 MILES. I NOTICED IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD VENTS, I PARKED THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HEAT COVER FOR THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH MOST OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. MY FRIEND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AS I RAN AND TRIED TO WARN NEIGHBORS , WITHIN 7 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARD. NO MAITNANCE LIGHTS WERE ON AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM. THE TWO RECALLS I NEVER RECEIVED BOTH WOULD EXPLAN THIS INCEDENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000
NHTSA complaint #11162148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
RECALL FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT & PCV VALVE HEATER NOT COMPLETE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS TO REPAIR THESE RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #11161124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ON MY ENGINE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL PRODUCT THE PCV VALVE. DEALER SAYS THEIR NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, THEIR JOB IS TO REPLACE THE RECALL PART
NHTSA complaint #11154758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
FOUND A BROKEN BOLT OF THE INTAKE CYLINDER HEAD, WAS BROKE WITHOUT ANY REASON. I NOT THE ONLY ONE, FOUND THIS VIDEO. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=A7HIZIB96PQ THERE ARE 3 MORE BOLTS INSIDE THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE ON THE ENGINE IF BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #11145232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
RECALL # 17V676, 17V683 IT HAS BEEN NEARLY A YEAR AND I'M STILL UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIR APPOINTMENT WITH BMW DEALER FOR REASON OF PARTS UNAVAILABLE. MY AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COULDN'T KEEP CAR COOL ENOUGH AS HEAT FROM THE ENGINE IS HIGH.
NHTSA complaint #11131585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
IN NOVEMBER 2017 I RECEIVED TWO (2) RECALL NOTICES FOR MY 2009 BMW 328I. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING (RECALL CAMPAIGN # 17V-676) AND PCV VALVE HEATER (RECALL CAMPAIGN # 17V-676) WERE DEFECTIVE. I WAS FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT NO REMEDY FOR EITHER DEFECT WAS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. IT IS NOW SEPTEMBER 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND BEEN ADVISED THAT AT THIS TIME A REMEDY REMAINS UNAVAILABLE. I AM CONSIDERING SELLING OR TRADING IN MY VEHICLE BUT BECAUSE THIS RECALL HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED MY RESALE PRICE MAY BE LOWERED. IF TWO (2) RECALL REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED 10 MONTHS AFTER A RECALL NOTICE HAS BEEN ISSUED, WHY BOTHER ISSUING THE RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2017 IF IT IS FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE THAN BUREAUCRATIC PAPER SHUFFLING FOR BMW TO CLAIM TO THE NHTSA THAT BMW IS GOING TO FIX A DEFECT WHILE ACTUALLY DOING NOTHING TO REMEDY THE DEFECT?
NHTSA complaint #11130329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY 2008 BMW 3 SERIES ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED 45 MPH. I RECEIVED NO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER A LANE AND GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE AN IMPACT FROM OTHER VEHICLES. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE, MULTIPLE TIMES AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I RECEIVE NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPENS AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ON HIGHWAYS, STREETS, ANYWHERE WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, TURNING AND ANY OTHER MANEUVERS.
NHTSA complaint #11104658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
BLOWER MOTOR WIRING AND PCV RECALL ISSUED NOV. 2017 REMEDY UNAVAILABLE
NHTSA complaint #11093924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN 10E-A02: N54 CAR IS SMOKING EXCESSIVELY DUE TO FAULTY FUEL INJECTORS DUMPING FUEL INTO THE ENGINE IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. FUEL LEAKING AND FUMES/SMELL, HAZARD, WILL CAUSE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11089880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELLING AT A RATE OF ABOUT 45 MPH, IT DID SOMETHING I NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. IT STARTED TO SHAKE, SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER WHILE ASCENDING A ON A PAVED CITY STREET THAT HAD ABOUT A 20 DEGREE UPHILL GRADE. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME DIDN'T EXPECT MY SUDDEN SPEED CHANGE AND NEARLY REAR ENDED ME.. THE ENGINE ICON APPEARED ON THE DASH AND I SPUTTERED ALL THE WAY HOME.
NHTSA complaint #11083091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
2003 BMW 325I LOW FUEL STALL
NHTSA complaint #11074692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
OIL KEEP LEAKING OUT OF TRAINING. IT WAS FIXED TWICE SO FAR. BACK BRAKE LINE KEEPS BREAKING WHEN YOU DRIVE IN SNOW.
NHTSA complaint #11064320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE OR ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE CAR IS THUS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 6 WEEKS AT LEAST WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. SECONDLY, THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONA RECALLS THAT HAVE NO "FIX" AT THIS POINT WHICH COULD ALSO RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A HAZARD AND COMPLETELY USELESS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. THE TWO ADDITIONAL RECALLS ARE BOTH FIRE HAZARDS AND ARE NOT CORRECTABLE AT THIS JUNCTURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11053341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
RECENTLY I GOT A LETTER FROM BMW THAT MY VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR TWO ISSUES WHICH I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SINCE A YEAR. 1 OVERHEATING 2. PLASTIC BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT. I BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR BMW'S NOTICE MANY TIMES WHICH THEY IGNORED. AND RECENTLY WHEN I GOT THIS RECALL LETTER FROM BMW I GAVE THEM A CALL(PRINCETON BMW), THEY GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT SAYING THEY WILL FIX THAT. I TOLD THEM CRYSTAL CLEARLY THAT I WAS THERE FOR THE TWO RECALL ISSUES ONLY AND NOTHING ELSE. AND TO MY SHOCK ,LET ALONE REPAIRING THE MANDATORY RECALL ISSUES, THEY GAVE A BIG LIST OF OTHER THINGS, WHICH I DID NOT EVEN ASK FOR, AND THEY CHARGED ME AROUND 170 DOLLARS(ATTACHED COPIES). I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOUR NOTICE FOR SOLELY ONE REASON, AND THAT IS THERE ARE MILLIONS OF UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THIS MALPRACTICE WHO WILL BE FALLING INTO THIS KIND OF TRAP. BMW IS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THIS SITUATION TOO. I AM ATTACHING ALL THE COPIES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND PLEASE MAKE THEM REALIZE THERE IS AN AUTHORITY WATCHING. I FELT LIKE SOMEBODY STOLE MONEY FROM ME. HOPE TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NHTSA complaint #11052943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE RAMP TO ENTER A HIGHWAY AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME UP. THE ENGINE HAS ONLY 42000 MILES. TOOK IT TO BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VANOS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE BOLTS PROBABLY CAME OFF. A RECALL IS IN PLACE FOR EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE FOR OTHER 3 SERIES, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND BMW IS NOT COVERING THE REPAIR. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR A VEHICLE TO BE INCLUDED ON A RECALL GIVEN THAT IS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #11046571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
POWER STEERING PULLEY COMES INTO CONTACT OF AXLE CARRIER, IT'S A CLEAR DESIGN FLAW AND THIS CAR HASN'T HAD MUCH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DONE, THE COMPANY KNOWINGLY PUT AN UNSAFE BETA CAR ON THE MARKET. MY BELT BROKE BECAUSE OF THE PULLEY TO FRAME CONTACT AND STALLED ON THE 405 FREEWAY AND ENDED UP GETTING INJURED WHEN THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED AT 60MPH. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN WITHIN BMW'S SYSTEM DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE AND THEY WANT CONSUMERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. I SPOKE TO CORPORATE AND THEY HAVE GIVEN ME THE COLD SHOULDER SO FAR. MY MISSION IS TO GET THIS ESCALATED TO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
NHTSA complaint #11046022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
ENGINE BOLTS - ALUMINUM BOLT HEADS WERE FOUND BY MECHANIC IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALTHOUGH MECHANIC HAS STATED THIS DOES NOT POSE SAFETY RISK, SEEMS NUMEROUS CUSTOMERS WITH A BMW 3 SERIES 2006 HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ALUMINUM BOLT SHEERING OFF ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11030035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.