1999 BMW 323I doors will not unlock with keyless entry remote or unlock button inside the car. Passengers (90% of the time) and sometimes drivers side door (10%) will not unlock trapping occupants inside. Problem usually occurs when temperatures are above 75 degrees. After researching the problem I will be replacing the general module 5. if problem is not recognized by car owners, occupants of the car may be trapped inside during an accident resulting in possible injury or death.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

My BMW 323I door locks don't open. Once we are inside the car, doors don't open using the door handle.

- San Jose, CA, USA

1999 BMW 3 series and later has a defect that causes the rear and passenger doors to lock and they are unable to be opened either from the outside or inside. Only the driver's door can be opened manually. Remote key will not open doors or the gas tank flap. Doors are locked and can't be opened in any way, either by the inside or outside handles, by the power lock button, or manually with key. Passengers are locked inside can only get out by climbing over the seats and out the driver's door. This is caused by a faulty component on the circuit board that in hot weather malfunctions and locks all doors. Problem will go away in cooler weather. Apparently heat related, circuit board is located behind the glove box, under the dashboard and overheats in the sun. In the event of an accident or other situation, passengers cannot exit the vehicle when this situation occurs. This problem is well known by dealers and BMW car owners.

- Upper St. Clair, PA, USA

Auto accident results in death of a passenger due to the inability to unlock car doors in an attempt to exit auto which caught fire short after an intersection accident, the passengers were unable to open door latch, unable to pull on door lock knobs that are flush to door panels and unable to press on main door lock switch which would otherwise have allowed them to exit vehicle quickly and safely. Three passengers exited through a broken window but unfortunately one was not so lucky. BMW chose to ignore all requests for a recall on a "general module 5 - door relays" for 1999 BMW 323I's due to unwanted costs to the auto maker, unfortunately this time the cost was paid by a family who had to endure the loss of a loved one. Many complaints have been filed in regards to this door lock module yet no action has been taken to correct this default. Hopefully a police report, a death certificate, and letters from the victims family members will be enough to shed light to this deadly issue.

- San Diego, CA, USA