29 of the
672 complaints filed about the BMW 328XI
are about the doors, latches and locks —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENED WAS THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR. THE OTHER DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #11099846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE FOB, CENTRAL BUTTON ON THE DASH, AND THE METAL KEY STORED INSIDE THE FOB AND NOTHING WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE CAR IS TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR AND REACH OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND PULL THE HANDLE. WITH A CHILD IN THE CAR IN A SAFETY SEAT, MY CONCERN IS THAT ALL OF THE DOORS WILL SUBSEQUENTLY FAIL AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET MYSELF AND MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL VEHICLE AND TWO YEARS OLDER - EITHER DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY, PASSENGERS DOORS ONLY, OR ALL OF THE DOORS - AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THEN IS THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10615692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD REPORTED IN THIS COMPLAINT TAKES PLACE WHEN THE PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE CAR BY OPENING THE DOORS, GETTING TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. IT WILL WORSEN TO A CRITICAL LEVEL WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPENS WITH PASSENGERS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY INSIDE THE CAR OR IN CASE THERE IS A BABY SITTING IN A CHILD SEAT INSTALLED IN THE REAR SEAT. WHEN THE DESCRIBED FAILURE MODE HAPPENS, ALL PASSENGERS WILL NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUN ROOF (IF AVAILABLE) OR THROUGH THE WINDOWS. IN CASE OF FIRE THIS COULD BE A LETHAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL PASSENGERS. AND IN CASE OF VOLUMINOUS PERSONS SITTING IN SEATS OTHERS THAN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. HOW THE FAILURE HAPPENED: AFTER DRIVING FOR APROX. 10 MINUTES AND HAVING PARKED, THE DOORS OF THE CAR DID NOT UNLOCK. THEY DID NOT UNLOCK EITHER USING THE FOB, NEITHER THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR NOR THE UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CENTRAL DASHBOARD. THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH THE SUN ROOF OR CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE DRIVER'S DOOR FINALLY UNLOCK AND COULD BE OPENED. ONCE OUTSIDE THE CAR, I COULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR (BUT NOT ANY OTHER DOOR) MANUALLY WITH THE METAL KEY INSIDE THE FOB. THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I HAVE BEEN TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR IT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A BLOWN FUSE DUE TO OVER CURRENT IN ONE OF THE ACTUATORS OF ONE OF THE DOORS. THE EFFECT IS THAT THE PASSENGERS CANNOT COME OUT OF THE CAR AS THERE IS NOT ANY MANUAL MECHANISM TO UNLOCK. THERE IS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN NHTSA ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE (FOR EXAMPLE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10459121). I RECOMMEND THAT NHTSA CONDUCTS A SAFETY INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK ON THIS OR ANY OTHER AFFECTED MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10586458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED, MAKING ALL OF THE PASSENGER DOORS UNUSABLE, EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY CANNOT GET OUT EXCEPT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR, REPRESENTING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY, PASSENGERS IN MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED, UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE IS NO MECHANICAL LOCK RELEASE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. BMW HAS RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE FUSE 57 WITH A 20 AMP FUSE INSTEAD OF A 15 AMP FUSE, BUT THIS DOES NOT FIX THE BASIC PROBLEM OF HAVING NO ESCAPE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE FUSE WITH A 20A, IT BLEW AGAIN AND WOULD HAVE TRAPPED PASSENGERS AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT THIS SAFETY HAZARD HAS PERSISTED SO LONG WITHOUT A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10568116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REMOTE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS AND THE KEY HAD TO BE USED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #10495127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 07 BMW 328XI, ON 10/03/12 I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND TRIED LOCKING IT AND ONLY TWO DOORS LOCKED. THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE FOB OR THE DOOR SWITCH LOCATED IN THE CAR. IN ORDER TO GET INTO CAR I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT THE SAME HAD TO HAPPEN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A ACTUATOR PROBLEM, SO ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO GET THE DOORS UNLOCKED TILL MY APPT. I MADE. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME NO AND UPON READING SOME FORUMS HE COULD HAVE SAID USE THE KEY HIDDEN IN THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR OR CHECK THE #57 FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE LOCKS. UNFORTUNATELY, I PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY DEALER BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE POTENTLY PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, HE COULD HAVE TOLD ME THESE THINGS BUT HE CHOICE TO SAY NOTHING TO GET ME IN THERE. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH BMW'S AND COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF THE CAR WAS TO RUN OFF THE ROAD IN A BODY OF WATER AND THE PERSON HAS TO OVER SEATS TO GET BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10479407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
91 YEAR OLD PERSON COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR, FUSE 57 FAILED AND ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED AND ALSO DOOR HANDLES AND KEY FOB WERE INOPERATIVE. BMW SHOULD HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, PEOPLE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR. WHAT A DISGRACE BMW!
NHTSA complaint #10475181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK. THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT THE BACK DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL. I COULD OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY AND THATS PRETTY MUCH IT.
NHTSA complaint #10460422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. THE CARS LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR USING THE KEY FOB, NOR WOULD PULLING THE HANDLE UNLOCK OR OPEN THE DOOR. I CALLED BMW ASSIST AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD HEARD OF SEVERAL SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT THE ONLY OPTION MAY BE CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CPO FROM A BMW DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS PRIOR.
NHTSA complaint #10459121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR LOCKS BUT THEN WILL NOT UNLOCK, I HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE, THE FUSE KEEPS BLOWING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED THE FUSE TWICE IN 3 MONTHS. I HAVE LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 BMW 328XI. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THE THOUGHT OF SOMETHING HAPPENING WHERE WE ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR FRIGHTENS ME.
NHTSA complaint #10441568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DOORS REMAINED IN LOCKED POSITION AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE ON FOB OR CENTRAL DOOR CONTROL INTERNALLY. DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY ONCE DOOR LATCH DEPRESSED. DRIVER DOOR ONLY OPENED THROUGH WINDOW TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR SEATS TO EXIT. OBVIOUSLY, VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT. AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT, NO PASSENGERS COULD RIDE IN CAR UNTIL ISSUE WAS RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10429534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 328XI CURRENTLY AT 65700MI. UNABLE TO UNLOCK CAR USING KEY FOB OR INSIDE BUTTON ON DASH. WINDOWS WORK, HANDLES LIGHT UP. CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE SOUND WHEN CAR IS TRYING TO UNLOCK. CANNOT OPEN WITHOUT USING VALET KEY. CAN EXIT FROM DRIVER SIDE ONLY USING HANDLE. ALL OTHER DOORS CANNOT UNLOCK AS WELL AS GAS CAP. SAFETY HAZARD IF PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10418066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POWER LOCKS IN MY 2007 BMW 328XI SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE ALARM ARMS/DISARMS WITH THE USUAL BUTTON PRESSES, BUT THERE IS OTHERWISE NOTHING THAT TAKES PLACE. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE VALET KEY UNLOCKS FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE DOOR -- DIDN'T TEST PASSENGER'S -- THE FUEL DOOR REMAINS LOCKED. I HAVE A BUSINESS TRIP PLANNED EARLY IN THE MORNING. THE SAVING GRACE IS THAT I DIDN'T ENCOUNTER THIS FUEL DOOR FIASCO ON I-95 IN SOME BACKWOODS TOWN, BUT WOW... HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL?!?!?! I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE! DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FIRST? WOW!
NHTSA complaint #10413658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE POWER LOCKS WERE FUNCTIONING. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANUALLY BY USING THE KEY. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE DOORS, EXCEPT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #10410879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NONE OF MY DOORS WILL UNLOCK IN MY 2007 328XI WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE MANUAL KEY AND THEN IT ONLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER DOOR...ALL OTHER DOORS AND THE GAS TANK WILL NOT UNLOCK....NOT EVEN PULLING THE HANDLES FROM THE INTERIOR. THIS IS A VERY BAD DESIGN FLAW AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE A 5 AND A 2 YEAR OLD. WHAT IF I WERE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE MY BATTERY WERE TO DIE AND THE WINDOWS WERE UP. I AND MY CHILDREN WOULD PERISH IN THE HEAT OF OUR GEORGIA SUMMER. THE ENGINEERS NEED TO FIX THIS SAFETY HAZARD IMMEDIATELY OTHERWISE A LIFE IS GOING TO DIE!
NHTSA complaint #10407416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 BMW 328XI. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UTILIZING REMOTE NOR OPEN/CLOSE LOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN OPEN EVEN FROM THE INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10393536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA HAS LEARNED OF THROUGH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE? MY 2007 BMW 328XI DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED AT 52,660 MILES: THE KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS (THE DOOR HANDLES WILL LIGHT UP). I HAVE TO USE THE VALET KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT ONLY THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL UNLOCK. EACH OF THESE DOORS (DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER) CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING ON THE HANDLE. THE OTHER TWO DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. THIS ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN: SUPPOSE I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CAR WAS ONE OF THE TWO DOORS WHICH ARE NOT UNLOCKABLE?
NHTSA complaint #10376543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.