34 of the 672 complaints filed about the BMW 328XI are about the transmission — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.
34
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND IS REPORTING THE SAME TROUBLE CODES RELATED TO RECALL NUMBER: 17V683000. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF THIS MATTER COULD BE INVESTIGATED AND MY VEHICLES VIN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11413051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WITH THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11267690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAD RECENTLY HAD ITS 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REFILLED TO THE CORRECT CAPACITY AND WAS LOW. THE CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING DRIVETRAIN ERRORS AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED THE CAR INTO PARK WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. AS I APPROACHED A STOPLIGHT AND SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 6 MILES AN HOUR THE COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK CAUSING SIGNIFICANT GRINDING OF THE SHARK LOCKING GEAR. THERE IS A BUG IN THE CONTROL SOFTWARE DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE CAR WAS ROLLING AT A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED WHEN IT DECIDED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE COMPUTER SHOULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN PARK IF THE CAR IS FULLY UNDERWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11186915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THERE ARE TWO OUTSTANDING (FOR WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN NOTICES) DEFECTS ON THE CAR. I GOT THESE IN NOVEMBER OF 2017. I HAVE CALLED BMW SEVERAL TIMES TO GET A STATUS AND THEY HAVE, ON EACH OCCASION, TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT YET ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. IT IS NOW 10 MONTHS LATER. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS LONGER THAN ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR ITEMS THAT DEMAND WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF DEFECTS. SO, I AM WRITING TO ASK YOU TO ASSIST IN GETTING THESE RECALL ITEMS ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11128314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSFER CASE NOISES
NHTSA complaint #11128116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
CAM BOLTS SHEAR OFF AND FALL INTO ENGINE RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE FREEWAY WHILE IN DRIVE, EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD FIX THIS HOWEVER ALL THEY DID AT BMW TRI CITIES WAS PUT NEW BOLTS ON AND THERE ARE MASSIVE ISSUES HAPPENING RELATED TO BOLTS FAILING, THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS
NHTSA complaint #11122787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
JERKING WITH CHANGES OF LOWER GEARS (AUTOMATIC) ON CITY STREETS LOSS OF TRACTION IN INCLIMATE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, TRANFER CASE REPLACED AT 55K BELIEVE IT TO BE FAILING AGAIN
NHTSA complaint #11118370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ERROR - "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER." THIS WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BMW OF SILVER SPRING, MD) AT FIRST. THEY SAID IT WAS THERMOSTAT ISSUE. SO, THEY INSTALLED A NEW THERMOSTAT AND I PAID MY $100 DEDUCTIBLE. THE SAME ERROR STARTED APPEARING AGAIN JUST A FEW DAYS LATER. THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUDDERS, JOLTS AND SHIFTS FROM ECO MODE TO COMFORT MODE IF DRIVING ON FREEWAY. IF THE ERROR APPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, THE CAR DOES NOT SWITCH FROM PARK MODE TO DRIVE MODE UNTIL YOU TOTALLY YOU SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, THEN RESTART AND DRIVE OUT IMMEDIATELY. INSTANTLY, IT SHOWS "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" ERROR ON SCREEN. THE ENGINE MAKE A GROANING NOISE. YOU CAN FEEL THE POWER OF THE ENGINE IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. YOU HAVE TO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEEP TO EXTRACT POWER OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE TACHOMETER (THE RIGHT DIAL ON DASHBOARD) MOVES UP IN THE REGION OF 3X1000 TO 4X1000 /MIN RANGE EVEN TO GET TO A SPEED OF 30 MILES/HOUR. SO, WHEN DRIVING MODERATELY, IT CAN SUDDENLY STALL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK ON CITY ROADS AS ONE CAN GET HIT AND BE REAR-ENDED BY A CAR FROM BEHIND WITH YOUR FAMILY INSIDE THE CAR. I FEEL MUCH UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR NOW. BMW SHOULD FIX THIS DRIVETRAIN ERROR ON INSTALL A NEW ENGINE ALTOGETHER. MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A RECURRENT ERROR, AND IT DOES NOT GO AWAY. I AM LOSING FAITH IN BMW.
NHTSA complaint #11100654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
2009 328XI BMW FIRST BATTERY GOES DEAD,ONE MONTH LATER CAR STOPS WHILE DRIVING,BMW SAID IT WAS FUEL PUMP AND HOSE,THEY FIXED THAT,WHILE AT DEALER THEY SAID FAULTY CODE CAME UP FOR ALTERNATOR . ALL THIS WITHIN 1 MONTH. NO SIGNS OF LIGHTS DIM,CAR NOT STARTING,HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE AND WITH NO WARNING.SEEMS THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE.DEALER FIXED FUEL PUMP.BUT HOW DOES ALTERNATOR GO WITH NO SIGNS.
NHTSA complaint #11091990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THERE IS A BLUE LEAK ON THE GROUND COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE, MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID WAS FILLED UP AND WENT EMPTY WITH INT WEEKS.
NHTSA complaint #11067360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING 65MPH IN HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE TURNED OFF. SAFELY PULLED OVER. RESTARTED. DROVE ANOTHER 5 MILES, ENGINE TURNS OFF AGAIN. RESTARTED. INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD RESET EXCEPT CLOCK AND ODOMETER. FOLLOWING DAY CAR STARTED AND RAN. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN LOCAL ROAD, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, STEERING LOCKED, ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TURNING RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #11010166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, IT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ISSUE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10938816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING, ABOUT ONCE A YEAR, BEGINNING A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW. I EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE DISPLAY READS "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION, MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER." PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING THE CAR MAKES THE PROBLEM GO AWAY. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=667636 BMW REFUSES TO MAKE ANY FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE WARRANTIED PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE IT AT WILL.
NHTSA complaint #10934792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
INCIDENT DATE: 9/18 LOCATION: NEW YORK STATE VEHICLE MILEAGE: 15,000 VEHICLE ACTION: ENTERING & ACCELERATING ON HIGHWAY DESCRIPTION: AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5HRS OF DRIVING, ON THE WAY HOME FROM A WEDDING IN RURAL NEW YORK, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, SIGNIFICANT ENGINE VIBRATION AND A WARNING MESSAGE WHICH DISPLAYED "DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION" WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENTER AND ACCELERATE ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ACTION TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND MAKE A SAFE EXIT FROM THE HIGHWAY. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE LIGHT, OTHERWISE THIS COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. TEMPORARY FIX: ONCE SAFELY ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, I CONTACTED BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE DISCUSSING OPTIONS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. AFTER 5-10 MINUTES ON THE PHONE, WITHOUT A GOOD SOLUTION (GIVEN THE RURAL LOCATION AND DAY OF THE WEEK), I DECIDED TO RESTART THE CAR. UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER SUCCESSFULLY AND DID NOT INDICATE AN ERROR. I DECIDED TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, WHICH MADE IT THE BALANCE OF THE 4+ HOUR TRIP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON THE OPEN OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY 9/19, I INTEND TO CONTACT MY LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED IMMEDIATELY.
NHTSA complaint #10907470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I BELIEVE THAT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED MY ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. I WAS REVERSING SLOWLY OUT OF A STEEP DRIVEWAY. ONCE OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SO THAT I COULD SWITCH GEAR IN TO DRIVE. WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. THE BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO FAST, THAT WHAT STOPPED ME WAS HITTING A HORSE FENCE ACROSS THE STREET. I WAS GOING SO FAST, THAT I ENDED UP GOING AIRBORNE, AND ONLY DAMAGED THE TOP OF THE HORSE FENCE. MY FRONT PART OF MY CAR THEN FELL FORWARD AND BROKE THE TIE ROD IN HALF. I ENDED UP WITH WHIPLASH AND A CONCUSSION, REQUIRING POST-CONCUSSION SYNDROME PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR 4 MONTHS. I ASKED BMW FOR A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION INTO MY CAR TO SEE IF IT MALFUNCTIONED. MY CAR WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE FIXED PRIOR TO THE INVESTIGATION AND HAD TO BE DONE AT A BMW DEALER, WHICH IT WAS. EVERYTHING WAS A SECRET WHEN BMW INVESTIGATED MY CAR. THE BMW DEALER SERVICE MANAGER WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE TOLD ANY FINDINGS OR WATCH THE INVESTIGATION. BMW SENT ME A LETTER AFTERWARDS STATING THAT THE CAR DIDN'T MALFUNCTION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 33 YEARS WITHOUT ONE ACCIDENT OR TRAFFIC VIOLATION. I HAD DRIVEN THAT CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND I KNOW THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE BUT I WAS ACCELERATING FASTER AND FASTER AND COULDN'T STOP THE CAR. I HAVE READ OTHER REPORTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND WHAT IS DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. I AM LUCKY AND THANKFUL THAT NO CAR OR PERSON WAS BEHIND ME, BECAUSE I COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKE, BUT UNINTENDED ACCELERATION HAD ME GOING IN REVERSE ABOUT 50 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL I HIT HORSE FENCE. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I HAVE PHOTOS OF HORSE FENCE AND BROKEN TIE ROD BUT ONLY ALLOWED TO UPLOAD 5 FILES.
NHTSA complaint #10884895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 8 MONTHS & THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE I NEED SOMEONE TO ASSIT ME WITH THIS PROBLEM I DON'T HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET THIS FIX MY CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED
NHTSA complaint #10883620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF AT THE JOINT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE VIBRATION IN THE MOMENTS BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I WAS ON A CITY STREET AFTER JUST GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10860350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND HER ENTIRE CAR JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING NEARLY CAUSING HER TO BE KILLED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER WE HAD CAR TOWED TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY VALVETRONIC SENSOR/SEAL ISSUE...BUT THIS WAS SCARY AND NEARLY KILLED MY WIFE SO I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE
NHTSA complaint #10794834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ONE EVENING IN DECEMBER 2014, MY CAR (2007 BMW 328XI) SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLANGING NOISE AND VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVESHAFT (PROPELLOR SHAFT) HAD BROKEN. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSFER CASE FAILED - DAMAGE FROM THE DRIVESHAFT THAT HAD BEEN UNDETECTED AT THE TIME OF THE DRIVESHAFT RUPTURE. IN JANUARY 2015 I CONTACTED BMW AS I HAD HEARD OF OTHER DRIVERS OF SIMILAR 3 SERIES BMWS HAVING DRIVESHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE PROBLEMS, BUT BMW DENIED THERE WAS AN ISSUE. BUT IN AUGUST 2015, BMW ANNOUNCED A "COMPONENT SPECIFIC LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION" FOR THE DRIVESHAFT FOR THE BMW X5 - FOR 10 YEARS AND 120,000 MILES. NO SUCH PROGRAM HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE 328XI. GIVEN THAT THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVESHAFT AND TRANSFER CASE OF MY 328XI WAS VERY PREMATURE AND THAT IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE REPEATED DRIVESHAFT FAILURES THAT LED TO THE ACTION ANNOUNCED FOR THE X5, I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS FOR THE 328XI AND MERITS AN INVESTIGATION AND ACTION BY NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #10776520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
SECOND EPISODE WITH THIS 2015 BMW 328XI AFTER THE BRAKES FAILED IN THE FIRST REPORTED EPISODE WITH SPORT MODE. ON TUESDAY APRIL 21 IN THE AFTERNOON MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON WINTERS AVE. IN PARAMUS NJ IN ECO MODE, HAVING DECIDED TO NEVER TOUCH THE DEFECTIVE SPORT MODE BUTTON AGAIN. SHE WAS DRIVING NORMALLY, THEN OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY DOESN'T WANT TO GO AND CARS BEHIND STARTED BEEPING AND THEN THE CAR STARTS SWERVING AND LIGHTS UP THE ORANGE SYMBOL OF SWERVING ON DASHBOARD. SHE WENT INTO A PARKING LOT WHILE STILL SWERVING AND CALLED ME. SHE PARKED AND TRIED TO SHUT CAR OFF TO LET IT RESET. SHE RESTARTED IT AND IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE PARKING LOT. SO WE CALLED AAA WHO TOWED THE CAR HOME AND WE CALLED BMW DEALER. NEXT AM WEDNESDAY APRIL 22 BMW DEALER SENT TOW AND TOOK MY WIFE AND THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP GARAGE. THE CAR HAS BEEN THERE FOR A MONTH AND IS STILL THERE. THEY NEED TO CANCEL AND LET US OUT OF THE LEASE OF THIS VEHICLE AND REFUND OUR DOWN PAYMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10722107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.