10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 46,046 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
On my 2009 BMW 328I the rear right turn signal began blinking fast and an error code came on saying I needed to replace rear turn signal, I researched it to find out that they have been several service bulletins out about the rear turn signals getting corrosion. I called the dealer and they stated it was out of warranty and they would not pay to fix it. They stated they knew the service bulletins were out but it was not a recall. After further searching I found out the older models had a recall to fix this issue. If they know they have an issue then why don't they fix it.
- Palm Harbor, FL, USA
On my wife's 2009 BMW 328I the rear right turn signal quit working, I researched it to find out that they have been several service bulletins out about the rear turn signals getting corrosion. I called the dealer and they stated it was out of warranty and they would not pay to fix it. They stated they knew the service bulletins were out but it was not a recall. After further searching I found out the older models had a recall to fix this issue. If they know they have an issue then why don't they fix it.
- Macon, GA, USA
Purchased the car used appx 4 months ago with just under 25K miles. Last week while driving in traffic appx 45 - 50 mph the car started to skip and lose forward power. While waiting for a tow truck the car just lost all electrical power as well. I could hear relays clicking but nothing worked. At the shop (non-BMW) to be evaluated I had to purchase a new battery (this replaced the original). Final evaluation was that the fuel pump needed to be replaced which I have now paid for out of pocket. I am afraid that there is some electrical issue lurking as well, but so far the car is driving well. Since I purchased the car used I was not aware of any recalls but now I have searched by VIN and found the recall on the battery cable and have that scheduled. 29,520 miles is too soon to need a fuel pump replacement!
- Suwanee, GA, USA
I took my car into eastbay BMW for a lightbulb change (a tail/brakelight) and the technician noticed the housing of the taillight is melting on both sides, not just the one that needed a light bulb change. He mentioned it was part of a recall and then the representative said, that my car wasn't included in the recall. BMW has stated that it probably isn't the light bulb and that even though this isn't something that I have caused, that they are not responsible. They agreed that this is a faulty part, but is not covered under any recall or warranty. BMW offered to pay half the repairs which my responsibility is $475, which seems like they are admitting some fault in the matter. I have called BMW customer relations and the representative [xxx] said she isn't willing to escalate the issue because she knows it won't go anywhere. In addition, I did some research and there were over 241,000 BMW's recalled for this same reason that the cars were older than mine and out of warranty. Since this is occurring on both sides and not just one, it seems that part, the electrical receptacle is producing too much heat on both sides and therefore melting the taillight which is a major safety issue and should be considered part of another recall & therefore fixed at no cost to the consumer. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- San Leandro, CA, USA
I was driving on when my car caught fire. The fire broke out inside the cabin, directly behind the rear passenger-side seat. I believe this fire could have been easily avoided if the sonnen BMW service department had performed their job more diligently. A week before the fire, I began to smell a burning rubber odor when I turned on my heater/defroster. I immediately drove the car to sonnen BMW. The service advisor responded that it was not BMW's problem. I brought the car back into BMW for service. I also mentioned repeatedly that I smelled burning rubber whenever I turned on the heater/defroster. BMW kept the car for a week. Apparently, because I mentioned the heater, BMW got fixated on looking for the problem within the heating ducts and never thought to check the electrical system. After having the car for a week, they told me that they had determined that the cause of the odor was a leaf that had gotten sucked into the blower assembly. They charged me $320 to open the assembly and clean out the leaves. When I picked up the car I insisted to speaking with one of the service managers, as this made no sense to me. I pointed out that burning leaves do not smell like burning rubber, and I doubted this was the cause of the problem. The service manager insisted that they were unable to find anything else wrong with the vehicle and that, after cleaning out the blower assembly, they were unable to duplicate the issue. It is apparent to me that BMW never once turned on the defroster during the whole time they had the car'even though I indicated that this was part of the issue. If they had, they would have immediately replicated the issue and known that it had nothing to do with leaves in the blower. Rather then apologizing, the assistant manager immediately tried to shift the blame be stating that we told them the odor was coming from the heating ducts.
- Novato, CA, USA
2009 BMW 328I, the directional light at times blinks rapidly and a warning of light problem illuminates. The directional blinks fast and light is dull on exterior tail and front lamps. At times works normally and then begins to blink rapidly with a bell warning and electrical warning light sign displays. This problem has known to BMW as the service dealers received a bulletin. Will not cover if out of warranty but seems to be a common issue enumerated by many customers.
- Slingerlands, NY, USA
TL - the contact owns a 2009 BMW 328 conv. The contact stated that burning fumes were emitted into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the wires connected to the A/C heater blower and fuses box were burning causing it to malfunctioned. As a result result, the A/C heater blower needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 100,000.
- Madison, AL, USA
I have a 2009 bmw328xi, which I bought brand new and paid a lot of money for. I only have 59,000 miles. On August 3, 2013 the car temperature light went on, first yellow and not even two seconds later red. With out warning the car didn't move. So I shut off the engine immediately. Thinking the car is over heating. Instead, after getting it towed found out the water pump and electric thermostat went. I am very unhappy that a 4 and half year old car shouldn't have such problems. I've had many high end cars in the past for 11 years and never had a problem in such a short life of a car.
- Great Neck, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving 26 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the lights on the instrument panel were blinking and the brakes seized. The front passenger and driver's side air bags then inadvertently deployed. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and the mechanic performed a diagnostic but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The failure and current mileage was 62,000.
- San Antonio , TX, USA
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 328I. While driving approximately 10 mph, the air conditioning unit activated independently and the contact could not turn the unit off manually. In addition, the radio would activate without engaging the control device. The trunk lid opened independently on three separate occasions while the contact was driving. The failure recurred when driving at any given speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer eight times and they were unable to duplicate the problem. Most recently, the computerized system was updated however, the failure recurred after the repair. The contact was in the process of taking the vehicle back to the dealer for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Des Moines, WA, USA