10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 80,879 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328xi. Ever since the vehicle was purchased, the front end vibrated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine mount bracket bolts were fractured. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the cost of repairs.
- Fredericksburg, VA, USA
On 11/12, my 2008 BMW 328xi caught fire in a parking lot. Two private appraisers deemed this a manufacturer error based on a faulty electrical system.
- Wethersfield, CT, USA
The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328I. While the vehicle was stationary, none of the doors (except for the driver's side door) would unlock or open. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000. The VIN was not available.
- Bishop, TX, USA
Motor mount bolts shearing off. Common problem that needs to be addressed with a safety recall.
- Rancho Mission Viejo, CA, USA
My family and I left for vacation in the middle of the night and were driving on the interstate from Florida to Virginia. There were no other cars around since it was so late. We were driving at roughly 78 mph. We had the sunroof angled open. Suddenly, we heard an explosion, which sounded like a gunshot, and we were all covered in bits of glass. The sound was so sudden and loud that I nearly ran off the road. We realized the source of the falling glass was from our sunroof, which now looked like a dome. Something caused it to warp in an outward position. Tiny pieces of glass were falling on us like snow. We pulled off at a truck stop and vacuumed out the glass inside the car. Then, as we shut the car door, the left side of the sunroof collapsed, creating a gaping hole. We then bought duct tape to seal the entire structure so that we could make the rest of our 13 hour drive to our destination. When we arrived, my husband found a Ford dealership who gave us a huge sheet of window tape to help seal it off better. We then called the BMW manufacturer in greer, S.C. to file a complaint.. they advised me to take the car to our local dealership and have them document the problem. I was there today, 7/8/2016, and was told it would cost $400 to remove the headliner and complete a diagnostic test. I promptly walked out. I've read of hundreds of complaints about this exact situation happening to other people. Why is this type of glass not under a recall notice" I'm scared to death for my 16 year old to drive this car with the roof angled upward. No one, from what I've read, can seem to find any reason for the glass to completely change shape and explode. If glass can't hold up to highway speeds, why is it being used"! this is unacceptable.
- Safety Harbor, FL, USA
Door failed, unable to open from inside, outside or through key. I am an R&D engineer and upon evaluating the failure mode of the door I am concerned at a operators ability to escape a vehicle that is disabled and in a dangerous state. I would be surprised F this defect cannot be linked to fatalities.
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Electronic door locks failed to unlock thus trapping myself in the car. No mechanical override exists to manually unlock the doors. I had to roll the window down and climb out through the window. The 4 door sedan has small windows and I hurt myself (pulled muscles and joints) climbing out. If the windows failed (they did not), I would have had to break the windows and then climb out. Elderly or handicapped occupants would not be able to get out! any power failure will trap occupants since no mechanical override exists!
- Tempe, AZ, USA
Black mold formed on rear seats, dashboard intermittently worked (1/2 of dashboard active, 1 fuse powers the dash), 6" of water pooled in rear back passenger footwell (location of main electrical unit); water was dripping on my foot when resting on petal of my 42000 mile, $50,000, 2008 BMW 328xi coupe. I contacted BMW of na who advised me not to use the car because it was dangerous. After several attempts to work with BMW of na & BMW dealership (place of purchase) a vapor barrier leak was found but more was believed to be at cause. The dash needed to be removed, for $1800. I refused to pay; requested BMW of na to pay. Request denied. The dealer said BMW of na would only pay vapor barrier repair costs. I asked for no repairs; towed the car home. Finally reaching linda vitale, exec. Customer services of BMW na, NJ, she told me the dealer did do the repairs. This was against my expressed wishes. I wanted the car investigated elsewhere too. In a later conversation, [xxx] claimed the reason for the water was from a leak from a 3rd party windshield instillation. Note: Mold, water, and electrical problems existed previous to 3rd party windshield installment. [xxx], proven wrong, due to dates, stated, in a subsequent recorded conversation, per the dealer, the water entered the car because the doors were dismantled and incorrectly put back. Note:[xxx] has proof that the doors were never removed. [xxx] totaled the car due to black mold contamination, health risks; risk of injury to me and others due to mold, the electrical compromised, and possible power cut to engine while in motion. A paid loan but having no car, BMW of na wished only to compensate me with $1000 towards a new BMW. I found many forums, on the internet, regarding 2002-2015 BMW's w/the same problems & owners sustaining same loss of property with no ethical or sustainable compensation from BMW of na. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
- Waterbury, CT, USA
Door locks failed, with doors in the locked position. No way to open the 3 passenger doors. Driver can escape by double pulling the handle, but only if there's a person (weight sensor?) on the driver's seat. Passengers cannot get out! reading the online message boards, this is a common problem with E90 bmws (and a similar one with the previous generation E46). There are hundreds (thousands?) of posts describing this exact problem. A serious safety issue.
- Fort Collins, CO, USA
Drivers door locked as normal when car reached a certain speed but made a weird noise. Now it will not unlock with keyless or unlock button on dash of car. Will only unlock manually. Door lock actuator"?" I have heard this is a common problem with these cars... I hope they are covered with a recall soon!
- Commerce, GA, USA
- Bonney Lake, WA, USA