After consulting many others that own or previously owned 328i bmw from around the same years (2015-2017); a common issue was found and assumed to be the timing belt. when i press on the accelerator moderately/ as per usual, my RPMs and speedometer hesitate for a solid second then it will catch up and start shaking. i suspect its the timing belt.
NHTSA complaint #11540161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My front axle support has extensively rusted, even though the vehicle is only approximately nine (9) years old. During installation of my Winter tires, a dealership technician found this component rusted through on the passenger side of the vehicle. The technician described this as severe damage to the suspension system, that is not repaired, could result in an accident. I have had the component replaced by my independent BMW specialist. The cost of this repair to me was approximately $1,900.00. I have retained the component and it is available for inspection. I believe that the protective coating applied to the component did not provide adequate protection from road salt and water, allowing it to rust. Much of this component is covered by underbody cladding, hiding it from view.
NHTSA complaint #11448276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
CHASSIS STABILIZATION LIGHT ON. DRIVE MODERATELY. ABS LIGHT ON. BRAKE LIGHT ON. PICTURE OF A CAR SKIDDING. THESE WARNINGS COME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #11218028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE FRONT END WILL SHAKE AND LURCH LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING AT OR BELOW 25MPH, AND A SMALL BUT SHARP BUMP IN THE ROAD IS DRIVEN OVER, THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WILL SHAKE AND THE SUSPENSION IN THE FRONT (IN PARTICULAR THE DRIVERS SIDE) WILL MAKE A LOUD CLUNKING/POPPING SOUND. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES. THEY TELL ME THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL AND COMMON ON THIS YEAR AND MAKE. WHEN GOING ONLINE AND TYPING INTO GOOGLE "2016 BMW 328I STEERING NOISE/SUSPENSION NOISE" THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF EXACTLY WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING. I'M AFRAID THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE CONTROL AT SOME POINT IF THE STEERING OR SUSPENSION FAILS.
NHTSA complaint #11162347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS MAKING UNHEALTHY NOISES WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND ALSO WHEN GETTING ON AND OFF THE THE VEHICLE. NOISES WERE COMING FROM THE REAR AND MOSTLY UNDERNEATH, AS TIME GOES BY THE NOISES WERE PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE SUB-FRAME COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF FROM THE MAIN FRAME OF THE CAR. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PROBLEM CAN OR MAY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, EVEN DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #11001190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED AND HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BUSHING HAD SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10983102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON 3-2-16 WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO ISSUES . SAME DAY I DROVE IT WAS MAKING A NOISE I IMMEDIATELY CALL THEM THEY SAID I CAN BRING IT UP TOO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY WHERE I BROUGHT THE CAR FROM . WENT TOO SHOP NO ANSWER NO ONE WAS THERE SO I LEFT I THEN MADE APPT TOO GET IT CHECK OUT FOR 3/8/16 THEY TOLD ME BAD NEWS AND CAR IS UNSAFE TOO DRIVE I WENT BACK TOO THE SHOP THERE NOT EVEN TRYING TOO REFUND ME ANY MONEY BACK .
NHTSA complaint #10845562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNT POINT FAILURE. THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH CLASS ACTION SUIT IN 2009, AND WAS INSPECTED BY BMW IN 2010--WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS OK AND IT WILL NOT FAIL SINCE ONLY ONES WITH VISIBLE DEFECT WILL FAIL. BUT MINE FAILED ANYWAY 5 YEARS LATER. THIS SHOWS EVEN IF THE DAMAGE/DEFECT IS NOT VISIBLE IT CAN MANIFEST ITSELF AT ANY TIME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS GOING STRAIGHT, ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, SHIFTING GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSIVE BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR WITH AN ALARMING JOLT THAT TRIGGERED AN INTERIAL LOCK ON SEATBELTS, MADE ALL OCCUPANTS SCREAM IN SHOCK AND CHILDREN CRYING. INSPECTION OF UNDERCARRIAGE REVEALED THAT THE FLOOR PAN WHERE THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME ATTACHES TO HAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED, LEAVING DRIVER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME, DIFFERENTIAL, AND REAR AXLE FLOATING WITH CHUNKS OF SHEETMETAL FROM MOUNT POINT MISSING. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE AND I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THE CAR, AND THE ONLY REASON OF FAILURE IS DEFECT IN THE CAR. MECHANICS BELIEVE THIS FAILURE POSES SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD SAYING IT CAN EASILY SEPARATE THE REAR AXLE AND IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, THE SEPARATED REAR AXLE WILL PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE AND LOCK IT UP, IMMEDIATELY STOPPING THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY IT CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC COLLISION INCIDENT, ENDANGERING LIVES. THEY WERE SHOCKED THE CAR WAS NEVER FORMALLY RECALLED FOR SAFETY. HUNDREDS OF CARS ARE AFFECTED AND THIS IS JUST ONE GLIMPSE OF THE EXTENT OF THE FAILURES: HTTP://FORUM.E46FANATICS.COM/SHOWPOST.PHP?P=16850066&POSTCOUNT=1473 IT IS APPALLING THAT SUCH DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT IS SO WELL-KNOWN AND PREVALENT IN 1999-2000 BMW 3 SERIES HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED TO MAKE BMW ACCOUNTABLE. REPAIR ESTIMATE MIN. $5000
NHTSA complaint #10821825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME STRUCTURE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A RECENT INSPECTION, REVEALED THE SUB-FRAME WAS CRACKED. WITH THE CRACK, THE CONSUMER WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE DEFECT WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION SUIT LAUNCHED AGAINST BMW OF NORTH AMERICA.
NHTSA complaint #10806982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND ACCIDENTALLY HIT A POT HOLE IN THE ROAD. AFTER DOING SO THE 2000 BMW 328I DROVE NORMALLY. HOWEVER AFTER THIS INCIDENT I BEGAN TO HEAR A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR AREA OF THE VEHICLE EVERY TIME I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ANALYSIS AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A TEAR IN THE SUBFRAME. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CAR IS NOT REPAIRABLE BECAUSE THE 1999 TO 2006 BMW 3 SERIES HAVE A MANUFACTURING SUBFRAME DEFECT, AND THAT ONCE THE DIFFERENTIAL BEGINS TO SEPARATE FROM THE DEFECTIVE SUBFRAME THE VEHICLE IS RENDERED WORTHLESS. HE SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE BEEN WITH TRYING TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE OF THE INHERENT DEFECT. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND FILED A CLAIM. THEIR ADJUSTER LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED THAT IT IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, THE ADJUSTER SAID USAA WILL NOT PAY ANYTHING ON THE CLAIM BECAUSE IT IS A PRE-EXISTING MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I CONTACTED BMW AND FOUND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF THE MANUFACTURING SUBFRAME DEFECT RENDERING THE VEHICLES UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WORTHLESS. BMW PAID FOR REPAIRS TO RE-WELD THE SUBFRAME BUT QUIT PAYING IN 2006. BMW ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING OF MY CAR, SO NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT IS TOTALLY WORTHLESS AND CAN ONLY BE SOLD FOR PARTS. BMW'S REFUSAL TO RECALL AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MODEL YEARS FOR WHICH IT MANUFACTURED DEFECTIVE SUBFRAMES, THEREBY CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD END IN DEATH FOR THE CAR'S OCCUPANTS, IS INEXCUSABLE. BMW SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND REIMBURSE ALL PERSONS LIKE MYSELF FOR MANUFACTURING A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSES THE VEHICLES TO BECOME WORTHLESS ONCE A TEAR OCCURS IN THE SUBFRAME.
NHTSA complaint #10701844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST AFTER GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, I GOT AN WARNING MESSAGE THAT READ - "CHASSIS: DRIVE MODERATELY. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER." THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I GOT THIS WARNING. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE THE PAST 2 TIMES. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A GOOD ANSWER FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHAT PROBLEMS THIS MIGHT CAUSE. I DO NOTICE THE SUSPENSION DOESN'T WORK AS WELL WHEN IT THROWS THIS ERROR.
NHTSA complaint #10618132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2011 BMW 328I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, SHE NOTICED WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LOWER, APPLYING THE BRAKE, OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SURGING FOR A SECOND TIME, AS SHE PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND INTO SOME BUSHES. AS A RESULT, SHE RECEIVED WHIP-LASH TO HER NECK AND SLIGHTLY BRUISED HER ELBOWS, KNEES AND HURT HER CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. BMW SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE A WEEK LATER, THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME ISSUE. A MONTH LATER, THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY SURGED FORWARD AND HIT A PARKED SUV IN FRONT OF HIM, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS FINE AND IT WAS READY FOR PICK-UP. HOWEVER, TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE SURGED AGAIN, AS THE CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED THREE TIMES, WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS OF FINDING THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANISM/GEAR WOULD SHIFT WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OR RIDING THE BRAKE AT A LOW SPEED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SAGGED ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MECHANICS, BUT IT CANNOT BE FIXED. UPDATED 05/13/14. *JB UPDATED 06/10/14
NHTSA complaint #10564110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 26MPH, I HEARD AND FELT TWO LOUD CRACKS ON MY LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, MY CAR SLOUCHED ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS KNOCKED OUT FOR A WHILE AND WHEN THE AUTHORITIES ARRIVED, WE INVESTIGATED THE AREA AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION WITH ANYTHING OR ANYONE, OTHER THAN BOTH OF MY TWO LEFT-SIDE RIMS WERE CRACKED RADIALLY AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION. IN ADDITION, THE AUTHORITIES CONFIRMED THERE WERE NO POTHOLES, OBSTACLES, OR ANY OTHER OBJECT THAT COULD HAVE PRODUCED THE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10514577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM NEAR MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL. LIFTED THE CAR AND FOUND THAT THE SUBFRAME HAD PULLED THE MOUNT FROM THE BODY CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND NEARLY SIDESWIPED A PERSON IN THE NEXT LANE.
NHTSA complaint #10464815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD HEARD THAT SUBFRAME FAILURE WAS EXTREMELY COMMON ON BMW E46 MODELS (1999-2006) BUT HAD NO PROBLEMS, UNTIL TODAY. I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 BMW 328I WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD POP, THE STEERING BECAME LOSE AND THERE WAS A CONSTANT KNOCKING NOISE. ONCE I GOT IT HOME I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SURE ENOUGH THE SUB-FRAME HAD RIPPED COMPLETED AWAY FROM THE BODY, THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE WAS RIPPED OUT LEAVING TWO BIG HOLE IN THE UNDER BODY OF THE CAR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE WAS A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST BMW NA BUT THAT CLAIMS HAD TO BE FILED BY 2010. THEY ARE NOT REFUSING TO FIX IT. THIS IS A CLEARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THERE ARE 10'S OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS IN ONLINE BOARDS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME THING.
NHTSA complaint #10435369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUB FRAME WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A MAINTENANCE CHECK WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOUNT FOR THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE REAR AXLE AND SUB FRAME. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER IN REGARDS TO THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS WON IN JUNE OF 2009 AND THAT THE TIME FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO MAKE THE REPAIR HAS ELAPSED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE REAR WHEELS HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #10419875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.