49 of the
3,777 complaints filed about the BMW 328I
are about the doors, latches and locks —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328I. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that the manual door locks became inoperable. The contact had to climb out of the driver's side window to exit the vehicle. The contact was able to enter the vehicle by using the key fob. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #11613049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK EVEN AFTER MANUALLY USING THE KEY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10903351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN LEAVING ME LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR AND STRANDED. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED 300 MILES TO GET IT BACK HOME WHERE A BMW REPAIR PLACE WAS AVAILABLE. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT DOOR ACTUATORS AT A COST OF $600.00 JUST TO GET BACK INSIDE MY CAR. IF A BABY WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR IT COULD OF DIED BY THE TIME IT WAS TO GET ANYONE TO HELP GET THE DOORS OPEN. THE MOST DANGEROUS DESIGN I'VE EVER HEARD OF. INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WILL NOT WORK AND NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IF IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10668571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM UNABLE TO OPEN/UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. OTHER DOORS ARE FINE BUT I WOULD BE TRAPPED IN CASE OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT. DOOR DOES UNLOCK THROUGH MANUAL KEY (NOT FOB).
NHTSA complaint #10652294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK FAILED AND PREVENTED THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. THERE IS NO MANUAL WAY TO UNLOCK CAR DOOR FROM INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10641309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 328I 2007 AND HAD PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. APPARENTLY ONE OF THE DOOR LOCK FUSES BLEW. I AM UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE PASSENGER DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB NOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I AM ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR MANUALLY BUT THAT IS IT. IN OTHER WORDS, THE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR COULD NOT MANUALLY OPEN THEIR DOORS AT ALL. THEY HAD TO CRAWL THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE! THANK GOD I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WASN'T A FIRE. I'M NOW BEING TOLD THAT BMW HAS TO "RUN A FULL DIAGNOSTIC" BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN ANY PASSENGER DOORS OF THE VEHICLE FOR ENTRANCE OR EXIT UNLESS I POTENTIALLY SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUE. SERIOUSLY? DOES THIS SEEM SAFE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON?
NHTSA complaint #10609296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN. ACCORDING TO DOZENS OF FORUM POSTS, IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS IF THIS FAILS IN AN ACCIDENT AND CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR. ONLY WAY TO GET IN AND OUT IS THROUGH WINDOW OR PASSENGER DOOR. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL LOCKS TO FAIL AND ONLY WAY TO GET OUT WOULD BE FROM THE WINDOWS. EVEN DOOR HANDLE CAN'T OPEN DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10594454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES WITH THE POWER LOCKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL LOCK SYSTEM IN BOTH THE FRONT DOORS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE LOCK SYSTEM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #10515083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THE USE OF THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY, THE FOUR POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD UNLOCK MANUALLY WITH THE KEY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #10483174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON ALL OF THE DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE DOORS FROM BEING OPEN MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF YOU WAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE YOU HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE KEY ON THE OUTSIDE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE UNLOCKED IN THIS SITUATION WAS THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, ANY ONE ELSE IN THE VEHICLE HAS TO CLIMB OVER TO THE DRIVER SEAT TO EXIT. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED AND VERIFIED THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 12/06/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH THE USE OF THE KEY WORKED. UPDATED 12/06/12
NHTSA complaint #10482178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR USING THE MANUAL KEY OR THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS ALSO AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO WAS WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
NHTSA complaint #10477051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A COPY OF AN EMAIL TO BMW: I HAVE BEEN REASONABLY HAPPY WITH MY 2007 328I UNTIL THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS FAILED. I COULD NOT GET IN MY CAR EXCEPT WITH A KEY. I COULDN'T OPEN ANY DOOR EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR EVEN FROM THE INSIDE! IF I HAD AN EMERGENCY BOTH MY PASSENGERS AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE, I FOUND THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT AT ALL UNIQUE MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH FAILING ACTUATORS. WHAT TROUBLES ME IS NOT THE FAILURE OF A PART (THOUGH I DO EXPECT BETTER OF BMW), BUT THE FACT THAT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY WAS POTENTIALLY COMPROMISED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, BMW HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH CORRECTIVE PARTS AND PROCEDURES SO, I AM TOLD THAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, I COULD STILL FIND MYSELF TRAPPED IN MY CAR AFTER AN ACCIDENT. I EXPECTED BETTER WITH THE PURCHASE OF A BMW. I AM PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED THAT BMW DOES NOT THINK ENOUGH OF ITS CUSTOMER'S SAFETY TO APPROPRIATELY ADDRESS AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE SO THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS MECHANICAL OVERRIDES OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PERHAPS YOU HAVE DECIDED, LIKE FORD DID 40 YEARS AGO WITH THE PINTO, THAT THE COSTS OF SETTLING A FEW WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIMS IS CHEAPER THAN CORRECTING A SAFETY DESIGN DEFECT. IN LIEU OF A PROACTIVE ACTION ON YOUR PART, I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #10473213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10467116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK WITH THE FOB. I WAS LOCKED IN SIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT OUT AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM OUTSIDE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS. I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR DURING A HEAVY RAIN FALL ON THE ROAD LAST YEAR DUE TO THE DOORS NOT UNLOCKING.
NHTSA complaint #10463295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10461073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10460789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10455007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK ACTUATOR WAS NOT LOCKING COMPLETELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE GPS SYSTEM DIDN'T ALLOW HER TO PUT IN 95% OF THE ADDRESSES. SOMETIMES, THE GPS GAVE THE CONSUMER THE WRONG DIRECTIONS. ALSO, THE ENGINE VIBRATED AFTER SITTING FOR A PERID OF TIME. UPDATED 05/11/12
NHTSA complaint #10451018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10450297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.