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.
The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328I. The contact stated that after the vehicle was in the park position, the steering lock system failed to activate. In addition, the contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the vehicle began to smoke from under the hood of the vehicle. After the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the smoke was coming from the crank shaft. The contact also mentioned that the serpentine belt fractured causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering lock failed and that the steering lock module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was partially repaired due to the dealer not being granted approval for the repairs to be performed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
After, I parked my car in the garage. (nothing out of the ordinary, daily routine, normal conditions). My car wouldn't start. It displayed a "power steering wheel locked" icon warning when I tried to start the ignition. The ignition spark wasnt there. The lights also dimmed as I tried to get started.
Battery died. Jumpstarted, drove for a bit. Turned off, turned back on drove home. Parked the car. Tried to restart and the red electronic steering wheel lock indicator was on. Plenty of juice in the battery, car will not even attempt to turn over. Can not get into neutral to tow out. Car is dead where it sits because of the electronic steering lock. Thank goodness we weren't in the middle of nowhere.
Drove to mall. Parked car. Came back out to a red steering wheel with a padlock on the dash. I put the key in the car. Pressed the button, car would not start. Tried to unlock the steering wheel but it would not budge. I searched the symbol to find out this is a common problem "intermittent ir immediate steering wheel lockout". I had the car towed to the dealer because this is what BMW said was the only option. Diagnosis need a new steering column. No warning. No steering issues. No visible damage. Just automatically locked out and left stranded.
I parked on my drive way normally with everything fine. The next day when trying to turn the car on, it wouldn't start and it gave me a steering wheel lock issue.
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.
My wife and I have a 2007 BMW 328I. In 2010, we got in the vehicle and there was a steering wheel lock warning on the dash. We took it to get looked at and they stated it was a "fault code". we had the exact same experience in 2012 and 2014 with the same result, "fault code". we now have this icon warning again. This time we are told that the whole steering column will need to be replaced ($1200). According to many references, this is a common problem and BMW is aware of it. Also, according to several references, there is no warning or prediction when the steering wheel lock will fail in the locked position. If you are first getting into the vehicle and the steering wheel lock has failed in the locked position, it will not allow you to start the engine. The question that I have is whether the steering wheel lock can fail in the locked position while the vehicle is being driven. Apparently, this question has been raised by numerous people. I have asked this question to the dealership as well as several BMW websites. The results are, they don't know or the answers have been inconsistent and often contradictory. Aside from this particular problem being far too frequent to ignore by BMW, this appears to be a very real safety concern. BMW continues to ignore this problem.
Yellow warning light indicated wheel is locked; car will not start. This has happened multiple times. Whereas it did not affect my driving, it affected driveability. Have been far from home late in the day -work related. Dealership said this is a common problem. What if wheel locks while driving? shame on BMW.
Vehicle has a constant steering wheel lock warning. The steering wheel does not actually lock, but the warning is constant. Dealer has stated that the only remedy is to replace the steering wheel column.
Steering column lock failed and stranded consumer. This is a well known issue in the 2007 328xi and the manufacturer has done nothing other than force the consumer to make expensive repair/replacement of an obvious manufacturing/engineering flaw.
Everything was fine. I hadn't noticed any changes except the cruise control would shut off by itself. Then I needed a jump and it took right away. The next time I needed a jump it wouldn't take. Took the battery to autozone and had it checked and it was fine. So realized it wasn't the battery. Id try to start the car but nothing happens not even a clicking noise nothing. But the lights still came on windows still rolled down radio even worked it just wouldn't start.
Red warning light steering problem stop car immediately. BMW and internet states this was common problem $1800+ to fix I had extended warranty but it still cost me approx $600.
Passenger airbag seat pad does not detect. Steering wheel lock fault both these problems have been recalled on other vehicles of same models same year but not mine. Both problems have occurred on my vehicle and I refuse to pay to get it fixed when others get there covered with a recall.
Steering wheel lock sign keeps appearing and locking me out of the car. This has happened 4 times in the last two weeks and has left me stranded every time and 3 of the times a tow truck was unable to reach my car to tow it. I have had it at the dealer for a week now and the sign has not popped up for them so they say they can not do anything. When I dropped off the car to them after being stuck for 45 min, as soon as I parked it at BMW the service woman tried to go into it and start it and it showed the sign. The service team has been unable to diagnose the problem. So I am pick up the car today with nothing that has been done to it and it will most likely happen again in the next couple of days since it will be driven normally.
I had just exited off of the freeway and was making a left turn at a light when the steering "locked up". I couldn't get the car to steer and the "service engine soon" light came on. Luckily, the car "coast" to the side of this non-busy road. I turned the car off and restarted and everything was back to normal. I was also able to drive back home without any issues a couple of hours later. However, this incident has me and my family freaked out as we frequently travel with our children. I cannot imagine the consequences if this lock up were to happen on a freeway at speeds in excess of 60mph. I have seen several folks complain of this issue and am afraid it may resurface anytime without warning. I'll have my car taken to a service shop near my home and have them diagnose, but having read so many complaints it appears to be along similar lines of the steering column issue. Has BMW owned up to this and are they issuing a recall?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Englewood, CO, USA