This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
HEADLIGHTS. FIRE HAZARD BECAUSE OF BRITTLE AND BARE WIRING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT HOUSING. Confirmation is as simple as looking inside of headlight to change a bulb. The vehicle does not set any codes to make you aware of wiring issue.
Headlight wiring harness sleeves have rotted, the exposed copper wiring can short inside the vehicle causing a spark, prolonged contact between bare wires will generate heat capable of melting the headlight unit and plastic components around it.
While the vehicle is in motion as well as stationary the window pinch protection light flashes at 30 second intervals along with an audible noise. This creates a dangerous distraction while driving and there is no way to turn off the noise or notification. Once the window pinch protection has been reset on each window the notification remains flashing every 30 seconds while the car is running. This audible noise is heard while driving at any speed and creates an unsafe distraction.
About a month ago, (today's date is 10/8/18) my drivers side reverse light went out. With it being a light that isn't really a necessity or safety hazard, I didn't have any urgency replacing. Last night I decided to peel the cover off the trunk to access my tail light, and once removed, the entire bulb housing falls out of the tail light. There is a lot of melted plastic (it was very very hot) in the tail light. I examine the bulbs, none being burnt out. No where on the part that the lights actually go into has any heat damage (burnt and cracked plastic). I then contact my mechanic with a video asking him what I need to resolve the issue now that I see my tail light is literally melted. He says he'll have to check it out and will come by in the morning. He was 'baffled' and said that it is entirely a manufactures defect, after inspecting the connector, as well as all the wiring. I then had him, (out of curiosity) check and see if the passenger side was also defected. I get on google and see that this is a common problem with my exact car, and numerous peoples vehicles have burst into flames but there isn't a recall"? even people's cars that are turned off??" I have two toddlers and just traveled 750 miles away 1500 miles from home and back. I am very angry at the fact that they as well as my own safety was in danger the entire time and we had no knowledge of. And I'm even more angry that I could have been taking my niece to an appointment tomorrow morning (I do have to find other means to get her there) and my car just combusts, had I not cared to replace the bulb, my car could catch on fire while typing this complaint. I have seen a lot of people say BMW is taking no responsibility for this issue.
Replaced blower motor twice 4 months 1st one made noise and stop blowing air out vents now second one is making loud rattling noise. Constant tail light bulb issues display tail light malfunction.
Both front headlamp assembly's have had to be replace three times due to the bulbs melting their bases - this includes melting of both turn signals bulbs. The cost to replace a single front headlamp assembly is $990, $1,980 for both, times three times.... this is unbelievable and is a big problem with BMW 3 series cars
Front headlight assembly's, both right and left, the wiring insulation is falling off of all the headlight wires thus leaving an array of completely exposed copper wiring. Upon reading in the bimmer computer forum this is a common happening in most ~ 2000 vintage BMW's. BMW's response is this is normal wear and tear and blamed on Florida weather even though this doesn't exist in other auto model's.
Blinkers continue to go out the bulbs are fine so are the sockets. They sometimes work but most of the time not after reading online I found there are several others with similar if not the same exact issues. They have found there to be something wrong with the frm modules. If you play with the bulb long enough or very slowly turn the socket it might come on but decides wether to stay on or not there is no pattern to it.
Passenger turn signal bulb was thought to be out. Brought to local BMW dealer and had them tell me I need a whole headlight since the turn signal burned inside.
Wiring insulation cracking degrading leaving exposed bare wiring causing shorts and possible fire in headlight wiring harnesses, wires are stationary do not move. Insulation is craked and falling off wires. Noticed failure during bulb replacement. Made this complaint after reading about numerous other BMW owners noticing same fault
Insulation failed on wiring inside headlamp assembly, crumbling off and creating multiple exposed bare copper wiring. Discovered during lamp replacement procedure Nov 21, 2015. I overlaid all accessible wires with electrical tape in hopes to prevent a short and fire. Since then I've read of similar problems reported by several BMW owners on bimmerforums.com, with attached correspondences from BMW denying any problem. Dealers and reputable independent repair shops are very aware of this issue.
Plastic insulation has cracked and peeled on all wiring inside my front headlight housings. Exposed wiring creates a potential short circuit and fire hazard.
This is an addition to our previous recall problems as all electrical shut off as well. Here are the additional documents to be added to public record that indeed 6 recalls were recorded to our registered VIN and yet was told BMW had no obligation to adhere to these documents?! its also crazy that we have tons of documents and yet we are allowed to show a mbyte at a time. How convenient.
Xenon adaptive headlights - the wire inside my xenon adaptive headlights is brittle and the insulation is flaking off. I discovered the problem when I opened one of my headlight assemblies to replace a bulb. Significant amounts of wire insulation have flaked off and exposed copper wiring. I have lots of pictures. I am fortunate that I did not have a short or a fire. This is a safety issue and completely unacceptable. BMW must already know that they have a wiring defect in their cars. BMW replacement headlight assemblies are $2600 plus labor. I am the second owner of this 2007 BMW 328I E92 with 48,000 miles. BMW would not stand behind their product and replace the headlight assemblies.
Shielding on daytime running lights has frayed and is peeling. Addressed this matter with dealership who in turn referred me to regional brand manager. Brand manager indicated that the wire just doesn't fray and I must have modified my vehicle to cause the problem. My vehicle is completely stock except for a K&N filter has had all services performed at the dealer until about a 10 months when the factory extended warranty expired. I still take it to the dealership for major services but perform oil changes and spark plug changes on my own. Brand manager offered to discount a new set of headlights by 20% to resolve the problem but at over $1K for each headlight assembly it seems unreasonable for a manufacturing defect. I'm addressing this problem now as my drl bulbs (H8's) have blown on each side twice over the past four months and the shielding drl harness has completely peeled away. A potential fired hazard as both negative and positive leads are exposed. Having the hid adaptive headlights in such close proximity to the exposed harness seems like a potential for a short which may result in a fire.
I was driving on an empty road when the car shut off completely, the cabin lost all power and the car went on black out mode. I began to press the brake but it was rough and unresponsive, I pulled the emergency brake to continue to stop slowly, once on the side of the road, I began to examine the vehicle, opened the battery compartment in the trunk of the vehicle and seemed to be fine, I popped the hood open, examined a little bit more for fluids or signs of over heating and was unsuccessful, called a tow truck, the driver tested the battery and said the battery was not taking the charge, so he towed me home, the next day I took the battery to the place I purchased it from since it was still under warranty, this battery had a 2 year warranty and was used for 8 months. I installed the battery and the power in the cabin and dash was reestablished, a warning light came on the dash shortly after I try to start the car and a clicking noise from where the fuse box is located, on the passenger side began. I pulled the key out, attempted to start the car again and an icon of a steering wheel and locked popped up, all in red. I ceased to attempt to start the car, I researched the following day and it seems like it had to be taken to the BMW dealer, on Tuesday 4/22 the car was towed to the dealer, I was informed the battery was dead once again and that the issue was the steering column mechanism which was locked, they wanted to charge $1200 to perform the labor, apparently they reset the code and the car was turned on, once I realized the car was drivable and that there is no special coding to perform the job, I asked for the car to be released after paying $160. The vehicle has an electrical issue that causes the battery to put out higher voltage than the car needs and therefore causes the battery to malfunction.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Saybrook, IL, USA