105 of the 3,777 complaints filed about the BMW 328I are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.
105
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
7
Crashes
2
Fires
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Received recall notice 5 months ago from BMW. Why is it taking so long for them to address this issue?
NHTSA complaint #11636154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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BMW issued a recall 10/23/2023 for VANOS Assembly (Engine) Bolts and I have been trying to get my vehicle repaired since January 2, 2024 when my care started having a rough running engine with the Check Engine lamp illuminated and the car was barely maintaining speed on the interstate. I was fearful of having a wreck or being run over by the other cars since my car was not responding to giving it gas to accelerate on the road. I have contacted BMW on 1/2/2024, 4/15/2024, and gain today 5/21/2024 and they are telling me the remedy is still not available. I had Groves Automotive, a certified BMW repair shop, who are my automotive repair shop call for the repair too. My car was just serviced at Groves in the last 3 weeks and passed inspection. The Check Engine warning lamp came on again this morning while driving to work and again the vehicle was not able to accelerate and was running very rough. I am fearful of my safety and the safety of others when I have to drive back and forth to work.
NHTSA complaint #11589880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I got up to leave my house and entered my vehicle and proceeded to start my car. I started it and moved the gear shift so that I can reverse out my driveway. With my foot on the brake I attempted to put the car in reverse and soon as I took the car out of park, my car accelerated forward and the brakes completely locked up. It accelerated so hard and fast that it broke through my gate and knocked down my other gate. I turned the car off when it accelerated because the brakes locked and even with the power off the car accelerated. There is no possible way my foot was on the gas because I was pulled in my driveway facing my house and had that been the case I would’ve went backwards not forward. The very second I took the car out of park it accelerated forward and would not stop. Luckily I thought to turn it off as a last resort and even then it continued to accelerate and knock down my second gate as well. I was very scared and as a safety precaution, I will no longer drive the car. Had I been anywhere but home this could’ve caused serious injury to myself or others and had it been parked a few feet over it would’ve accelerated into my living room where my son was sitting.
NHTSA complaint #11571775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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The contact owns a 2009 BMW 328I. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power steering assist while driving at an undisclosed speed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used excessive force while driving back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where metal shavings were found in the steering pump. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11531255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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The steering rack in the car failed prior to 100,000 miles. BMW has had issues from models 2012 to 2015 and recalled their steering racks. The same issue was happening in the 2016 year.
NHTSA complaint #11527449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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You guys have aluminum bolts that hold down the cylinder head they corrode or become loose thus pulling up the cylinder head and the head gasket is protruding out the front of the cylinder head causing oil and coolant to leak on to the belt causing the serpentine belt to slip off while it's raining and eventually causing a blown head gasket it's because of the aluminum bolts on the top of the engine that hold the cylinder head down the head gasket protrudes out the sides on the front where the camshaft sensors are and leaks onto the belt plus causing the belt to come off the track and possibly get sucked into the engine it's not something easy to get to or to fix for a person with low income
NHTSA complaint #11514696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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Car doesn’t hold a battery Wants to start 2% of the time Engine shook the pulley off so have troubles steering It’s under recall for a few things I would love a new car from bmw because this one is a nightmare the bmw tech advised me not to drive it so have been carless all year pretty much
NHTSA complaint #11476276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel locked up not allowing the contact to turn the steering wheel. The contact stated the chassis stabilization warning light was illuminated on the control panel. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it has yet to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13V454000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #11421647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT WHO OWNS A 2015 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A.R.T.S. AUTO SERVICE (1899 GRAND CENTRAL AVE, HORSEHEADS, NY 14845) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT CORROSION CAUSED THE STEERING RACK TO SEPARATE AND DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,115.
NHTSA complaint #11397377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS I DROVE ONTO A HIGHWAY. AS THE VEHICLE APPROACHED SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME "NOTCHY" ALMOST AS IF IT WAS JUMPING FROM 15-20 DEGREES BUT NOT SMOOTH. IT BECAME INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND CHANGE LANES. IT SEEMED ALMOST LIKE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND NOT MECHANICAL. ONCE I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND WENT BELOW 40MPH THE STEERING RETURNED BACK TO NORMAL SMOOTH OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #11383616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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AIR BAG IS BROKEN STEERING IS VERY HARD TO TURN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WENT OUT AND 1S GEAR IS HAVING PROBLEMS TAKING OFF. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY ONLY CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WITH THESE RECALLS PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #11378065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A VERY DEFINED RATTLING SOUND OVER SMALL CRACKS AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AT THE SAME TIME THAT PROBLEM OCCURED. I TOOK IT IN TO GET AN ALIGNMENT AT BELLE TIRE, AND IT IS UP TO SPEC. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A BMW AND NOBODY IS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY OR STREET, THE CAR TENDS TO PULL IN ONE DIRECTION. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH, AND IT ONLY STARTED OCCURING AFTER A A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THE CAR FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND "SENSITIVE" TO STEERING. IT IS VERY CHALLENGING TO STAY IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE WILL SWAY LEFT AND RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #11375575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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VEHICLE HAS UNDER 30,000 MILES AND REQUIRES A NEW POWER STEERING MODULE WHICH INCLUDES THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY, NEW COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE FACTORY INSTALLED POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY MODULE IS TURNING OFF AND BACK ON; WHEN OFF THERE IS NO POWER STEERING ASSISTANCE MAKE IF VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE CAR ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. WHEN THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE IS AT SPEED IT CREATES A VERY SENSITIVE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSES DRIVER TO OVER STEER THE VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN LIKE WHEN TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET AND THE POWER STEERING IS OUT THE DRIVER HAS TO "MUSCLE" THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE THE TURN; IF DURING THAT TURN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST RETURNS THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO OVER STEER THE CAR EITHER INTO TRAFFIC OR OFF THE ROAD. AS OF 10/07/2020 THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS COMPLETELY OUT AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11363159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FROM 40MPH TO 60MPH THE STEERING WHEEL GETS A SHAKING, WOBBLE THAT DOESN'T STOP ITS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 TO 2014 BMWS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. ON MANY BMW FORMS THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS WHO SAY THEY HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING RACK, STEERING ASSEMBLY AND IT WILL FIX IT FOR THE TIME BEING BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY DEFAULT AGAIN. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL YOU'LL HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT SOUNDS AS IF THE FRONT AXLE IS GOING TO REMOVE ITS SELF FROM YOUR PRESENCE. TO HAVE THIS FACTORY PROBLEM FIXED IS UPWARDS OF 2,000$, THAT OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BECAUSE IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALMOST EVERY BMW. ALSO BMW HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR OR HEATER MOTOR. IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE MODEL BMWS THAT BMW REFUSES TO RECALL. THE HEATER WILL NOT WORK AT ALL OR ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE WILL BLOW SLIGHTLY WARM AIR BECAUSE OF BMWS FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR. ALSO THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WILL POWER OFF OR STOP WORKING IN GENERAL. THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT ISSUES THE VEHICLE IS HAVING. BMW HAS TO HAVE SOME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THESE ISSUES BASED OFF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE SAME ISSUES, BUT HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO INSURE THE SAFTEY OF THE PEOPLE OPERATING THERE VEHICLES WITH THESE FACTORY DEFAULTS. MOST OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE WERE HAPPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #11361364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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POWER STEERING FAILURE RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY BMW BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL OR SERVICE NOTICE. UPON RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE CRASH AND INJURY. BMW HAS ADMITTED ISSUES WITH BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE POWER STEERING FAILING, WHICH CAN DAMAGE AND BREAK THE POWER STEERING. YET THERE IS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED. I HAVE LINKED THE NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2019/MC-10153729-9999.PDF
NHTSA complaint #11318539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND MY 3RD TOP CENTER BRAKE LIGHT HAS NEVER WORKED. MY TIRES THE TREAD SEEMS LOW AND I SHOULD HAVE HAD NEW TIRES ON THE CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE STEERING SEEMS MORE DIFFICULT WHEN TURNING THAN IT SHOULD BE. ALSO I DIDN'T RECEIVE 2 KEYS. MY OWNERS MANUAL SAYS I SHOULD RECEIVE 2 KEYS. I ALSO HAD TO ORDER MY OWNERS MANUAL AND MY CAR DIDN'T COME WITH IT'S OWNERS MANUAL.
NHTSA complaint #11291148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE CAR NOW HAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS INCREASINGLY DETERIORATED, BECOMING VERY SLOPPY AND EVENTUALLY LED TO A KNOCK IN THE STEERING WHEEL RACK. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN HUNDREDS OF ONLINE CHATS, VIDEOS AND FORUMS, THAT BMW HAS BEEN CHANGING THE ENTIRE RACK. THEY HAVE RECENTLY RELEASED A KIT WITH AND UPGRADED BUSHING TO REPAIR THE RACK, THUS ACKNOWLEDGING A COMMON ISSUE DUE TO A FAILING THRUST ARM BUSHING. THE ORIGINAL BUSHING IS PLASTIC AND SMOOTH, THE NEW BUSHING IS METAL AND RIGID.
NHTSA complaint #11289926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL ASSIST POWER STEERING (EPS) WHILE VEHICLE STATIONARY - 2013 BMW 328I, 89,500 MILES UPON STARTUP, WHILE TURNING STEERING WHELL TOMOVE CAR, STEERING SYSTEM EMITTED WHINING NOISE, BANGS AND THUMPS, THEN HIGH PITCHED WHINE. ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST, AND CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO BMW DEALER. DIAGNOSIS WAS MECHANICAL FAILURE OF BOLTS HOLDING POWER STEERING BOX TO THE STEERING RACK, THUS CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH COMPONENTS. DAMAGE REQUIRED ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM TO BE REPLACED AT $5K+ COST. CAUSE, AS DIAGNOSED BY BMW DEALER: EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING COMPONENTS TOGETHER CAUSED BOOT FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT COMPONENT DAMAGE. NHTSA ISSUE: UNSAFE COMPONENT DESIGN, AS BOLT FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED COULD CAUSE CATASTOPHIC ACCIDENT. REMEDIES: 1) NHTSA REQUIRE GENERAL RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR BOLT CHECKING AND REPLACEMENT IF CORROSION PRESENT. 2) NHTSA REQUIRE BMW TO PROVIDE TYPE 316 STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS WITH SUITABLE DIS-SIMILAR METALS PROTECTION WHERE SAFETY-CRITICAL COMPONENTS EXPOSED TO ROADWAY SALT EXPOSURE. 3) IF THE ABOVE IS NOT WARRANTED DUE TO SMALL NUMBER OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, NHTSA REQUIRE BMW TO ISSUE SERVICE NOTICE FOR ALL AFFECTED VIN NUMBERS TO CHECK CONDITION OF STEERING BOX MOUNTING BOLTS AS PART OF STANDARD INTERVAL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURE. ATTACHMENTS: PICTURES OF TWO AFFECTED UNITS: MY 2013 328I CORODED POWER STEERING UNIT, AND A SIMILAR ON FROM A 2012 328I, DOWNLOADED FROM ENTHUSIAST FORUM ON INTERNET, SUGGESTING A PATTERN.
NHTSA complaint #11288471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING UP WHICH CAUSES THE CAR NOT TO START. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED
NHTSA complaint #11242371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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SUSPENSION FAULT WHEN DRIVE FEELS LIKE THE CAR ITS LOWERED AND FEEEL EVERITHYNG WITH NO REASON AND THE STAVILITY ITS WEAR I ALMOST KILL MYSELF BMW HAVE TO CHECK THIS ERROR ON SUSPENSION OXNARD CALIFORNIA 93033
NHTSA complaint #11229501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.