112 of the 3,777 complaints filed about the BMW 328I are about the body and structure — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.
112
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
7
Crashes
9
Fires
STRUCTURE:BODY
Door handle plastics are disintegrating in to a soft sticky matter. Please advice as this seem to a poor decision on the type of material need in the door handles.
NHTSA complaint #11694622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? + AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN HEAD-ON COLLISION How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? + DUE TO FAILURE, DRIVER SUSTAINED MILD CONCUSSION WHEN HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL AND PUT AT RISK OF LIFE THREATENING INJURY AND IMPAIRMENT Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? + UNKNOWN; HOWEVER, NO RECALL OR WARNINGS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? + UNKNOWN Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? + NO, NONE, NEVER
NHTSA complaint #11563737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
While driving at city speed limit the headlights started flicking on-off very difficult to see in the dark. I pulled over to the side of the road for safety but now realized the turn signals not working and also the hazard lights are not working either. I was in a very dangerous situation sitting on the side of the road without any warning light on. Not only for mine safety but also dangerous for other drivers passing by without seen my car in the dark. Its due to well known BMW FOOTWELL MODULE that has high failure incidents rate but BMW refused not to do a recall. Since this a safety issue NHTSA should request BMW to do a recall instead of just extended the warranty to 10/150K miles which my car is not qualify for. I've contacted BMW customer care but they refused to offer any assistance. I feel that BMW has deserted their customer and leaving a high cost burden on their customers although failure/flaw was directly from BMW.
NHTSA complaint #11557086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My interior door handle cannot unlock the door. As I pull on the interior door handle, the door lock pin would come up partially, but it doesn’t unlock or open the door. I tried multiple pulls, because this car required two pulls to unlock.
NHTSA complaint #11549722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact then stated that he noticed that the front passenger’s side interior door handle disintegrated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the door handle melted and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the local dealer was notified of the recall notice and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall repair however, the contact was advised to call the manufacturer. The contact was concerned that touching the door handle could cause harm to a passenger touching the door handle and could catch fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that the repair was being developed and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts distributions disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11492555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
My vehicle caught on fire while parked and unoccupied. Fire started in the engine compartment.
NHTSA complaint #11490965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
The sunroof of my 2014 BMW 328i sedan exploded while driving on a highway at 75mph. The explosion sounded like a gunshot or a truck tire exploding. Thankfully I kept control of the car and the pull shield was closed preventing a majority of the glass from raining down on me and my passenger. We did pull over to the side of the highway were a witness described the glass as exploding up and sliding down the back of the car. Glass was found in the trunk crevasse of the car and inside the vehicle. Next, we proceeded to a safe location off the freeway and found the sunroof glass to have a hole in the center. The remaining glass was protruding upwards in a convex shape. To note, I did not have cars in front me during the explosion so no direct impact from a rock or other debris. My dealership has the car for inspection and repair. A claim with my insurance has been submitted. My car had a comprehensive service in May of 2022.
NHTSA complaint #11482088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Passenger door lock failed and does not allow the door to be opened in an emergency. The door is designed to be unlocked by the first pull of the door handle then unlatched with the second pull of the handle, however after the first handle pull the lock immediately locks again preventing the second pull from unlatching the door. The system would be available for inspection. This problem has been reproduced and confirmed by manufacturer's dealer, but has not been inspected The electric door lock actuator had failed about a year ago, but still allowed the door lock to be used manually without any disruption to being able to open the door.
NHTSA complaint #11457701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Sunroof exploded while driving on the highway
NHTSA complaint #11455939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Car spontaneously caught fire
NHTSA complaint #11447048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I was driving just my 3rd day of having my car and i come outside and its wrecked someone hit the driver side front panel and bumper
NHTSA complaint #11428705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Door operation mechanism breakage - inability to Unlock or to Egress/Ingress.
NHTSA complaint #11421418 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CHILD SAFETY LOCK WINDOW GET STUCK AND REMAIN STUCK, GLASS WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. THE ROTARY ON THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURING IS DAMAGED AND I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS RESEARCH TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A BIG COMMUNITY OF FRUSTRATED BMW OWNER WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT BMW IS NOT WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FAIL WINDOW MANUFACTURING ERROR. THIS IS THE REAR CHILD SEAT WINDOW AND IT STUCK. IT HAS STUCK BEFORE AT A PARKING LOT AT WORK AND I HAD TO END UP SEATING THERE TO FOR ALMOST AN HOUR UNTIL IT ROLL UP. THIS TIME IT WILL NOT ROLL UP AND I HAD TO LEAVE THE WINDOW DOWN WHILE PARKING THE CAR AT THE HOSPITAL. PLEASE DO DILIGENCE AND RESEARCH THIS AS MANY OWNER ARE FRUSTRATED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE 700 TO FIX IT!
NHTSA complaint #11376840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WON'T UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR USING THE DOOR HANDLE. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN UNTIL IT'S UNLOCKED. DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED USING THE ELECTRIC CENTRAL LOCKING, AND THEN OPENED USING THE HANDLE.
NHTSA complaint #11360679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
ON 7/10/2020 VEHICLE WAS BACKED IN AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. WE HAD A HEAVY RAINFALL (ITS STORM SEASON) NEXT MORNING WENT TO GET IN CAR, THERE WAS 2 TO 3 INCHES OF WATER ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORBOARD MOON ROOF CLOSED, WINDOWS UP. WATER SEEMED TO BE DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. CHECKED VENTS UNDER HOOD, CLEAR. CLEANED IT ALL UP AND DRY VACUUMED. TODAY, 7/15/2020 ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVY RAINFALL...CAR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY ON SLIGHT SLOPE, ALL CLOSED UP. CHECKED AFTER RAIN STOPPED, ON PASSENGER SIDE 2 INCHES OF RAIN, DRIVER SIDE 1 INCH OF RAIN. DRIPS APPEARED TO BE COMING OUT OF PASSENGER VISOR MIRROR. IMMEDIATELY DRIED IT UP WITH TOWELS. NO ACCESS TO NEIGHBORS DRY VAC TODAY (THEY ARE OUT OF TOWN). I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD ONCE AND I BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLY THE SEAL AGAIN. HAVE NOT GONE TO DEALERSHIP YET, I AM BUSY WITH A FUNERAL IN THE FAMILY. I SEE I COULD HAVE SENT A PHOTO, I WAS UNAWARE UNTIL I RESEARCHED POSSIBLE RECALLS OF THIS WEBSITE.
NHTSA complaint #11339615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
JUST FINISHED DRIVING ABOUT 10 MILES FROM HOME TO WORK, ABOUT 70 DEGREES-F OUTSIDE, SUNNY, GOOD WEATHER AROUND 11AM. DID NOT OPERATE AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER OR VENT FAN. CAR SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE, NO STRANGE NOISES. HAD NO RECENT MAJOR REPAIRS. WE ARE SECOND OWNERS OF CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW, HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS AND DRIVEN ABOUT 50K MILES SINCE PURCHASE. AFTER ARRIVING AT WORKPLACE, STOPPED AT WORKPLACE PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE IDLING FOR A FEW SECONDS TO WAIT FOR PARKING GATE TO OPEN. HOWEVER, BEGAN SEEING WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OF ENGINE HOOD. TRIED TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE OUT TO THE STREET AND MOVED ABOUT 10FT BEFORE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WITHIN 15-30 SECONDS A PLUME OF FIRE ERUPTED OUT OF THE FRONT HOOD THROUGH THE GRILL. WITHIN 3 MINUTES ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND ITS PROXIMITY TO OTHER CARS IN THE LOT CAUSED FIRE DAMAGE TO 4 OTHER VEHICLES. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS INCLUDING ALL POSSESSIONS WITHIN IT. ELECTRONIC LOCKS QUIT WORKING AS SOON AS FIRE STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #11323581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LEATHER COVERING ON THE FRONT PASSENGERS DOOR HANDLE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTOBAHN BMW FORT WORTH, LOCATED AT 2828 WHITE SETTLEMENT RD, FORT WORTH, TX 76107, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #11307358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY LICENSE PLATE HAS 1 SCREW THAT FITS INTO THE METAL MADE HOLES. IT IS SUPPOSE TO HAVE 2 SCREWS THAT FIT INTO THE METAL HOLES IN THE TRUNK. THE PLATE ITSELF HAS SCREWS WITH NO BACKS AND ARE STRIPPED. I DON'T WANT THE LICENSE PLATE TO RATTLE AND FALL OFF FROM FAULTY WORKMANSHIP WITH LICENSE PLATE PANEL. ALSO THE FRONT PLATE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE BACK LICENSE PLATE PANEL AND THESE SCREWS LOOK STRIPPED TOO.
NHTSA complaint #11291152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRONT/DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN I PULL THE HANDLE
NHTSA complaint #11286932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
INTERMITTENTLY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE USING THE DOOR HANDLE.. THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE. THE ONLY KNOWN WORKAROUND IS TO FIND THE "UNLOCK ALL DOORS" BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT THIS IS A VIABLE SOLUTION FOR ALL CASES. HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE ISSUE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=V7_UBSGJTQQ THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE FOR THE F30 GENERATION OF BMW PASSENGER CARS (2011'2019). WHAT I 'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS: HOW IS SOMETHING THIS CRITICAL TO SAFETY (BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY) NOT SUBJECT TO A RECALL OR A AT THE VERY LEAST A TSB? I WAS TOLD THAT THIS REPAIR FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY WOULD COST OVER $1000. SEE THE FOLLOWING SEARCH RESULTS FROM GOOGLE FOR AN IDEA FOR HOW WIDESPREAD THIS ISSUE IS: HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?RLZ=1C1GGRV_ENUS759US759&BIW=1745&BIH=807&SXSRF=ACYBGNTJHYHICQSR6M1A49NA0N40U5TD0G%3A1569262080808&EI=AAQJXCXUMIR4SGX-P7_YBW&Q=F30+DOOR+WON%27T+UNLOCK+SITE%3AF30.BIMMERPOST.COM&OQ=F30+DOOR+WON%27T+UNLOCK+SITE%3AF30.BIMMERPOST.COM&GS_L=PSY-AB.3...215545.216457..216631...0.3..0.92.611.7......0....1..GWS-WIZ.......0I71.D3HEQY0Q1_U&VED=0AHUKEWJF7ORNXOFKAHUKVKWKHF7TD3SQ4DUDCAS&UACT=5
NHTSA complaint #11257405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.