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 2001 BMW 330I. The contact stated that an indicator light had appeared on the instrument panel indicating that the rear taillights were inoperable. Upon investigation, the contact discovered a service bulletin (SIB630611) which he linked to the failure. The dealer was then notified of the service bulletin and the dealer informed him that his vehicle was not manufactured during the eligible period for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and gave the contact the same information as the dealer; he was then referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
My car had been sitting unused since 6:00pm the previous day. At 6:30am I had entered my car parked at pacific coast highway and anaheim street in long beach, ca. (which is a surface street). I started my car then drove a half of a block then stopped and turned off my car at the store 7/11. I went in made a purchase came out my car. I started my car and then left 7-eleven driving down anaheim about.2-.3 miles. I came to the light at anaheim street and park. Both surface streets. I was in the turn lane to turn left onto park. I began smelling something electrical. The time was 6:40 am. I leaned my head out the window and could not smell the electrical smell outside. I discerned that this was coming from inside the car. There was no visible reason for the smell at this time.the light changed I turned left onto park. As I began to turn left white to grey smoke began coming out of the driver side vent which is lower by door and that faces the driver. I got out of my car. I ran over to another vehicle to see if they had a fire extinguisher. He said he would find it. I returned to my car and black smoke began rolling out of the drivers side door. Flames began engulfing the dashboard. Two gentleman came over, one with a fire extinguisher and began spraying into the dashboard. The other gentleman went around to the trunk and disconnected the battery. The last time I had something done to the vehicle was BMW replacing the airbag for a recall. There was no reason for the fire.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330I. The contact stated that only the drivers side doors would open from inside or outside the vehicle using the key fob. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. Consumer stated front passenger and rear doors will not open from inside and outside.
Ground wire to twilights can't handle current and therefore blows out and triggers the light control module which makes the headlights flicker and die prematurely and causes lights on the dash that are in accurate
Our 2001 E46 has electronic door locks which are failing. My wife has found herself locked inside the car, unable to open the door. The locks freeze, and cannot be manually unlocked, trapping the occupant in the car. There is no mechanical override to the system. The incident occurred when she turned the car off and tried to open the drivers door to exit the vehicle.
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Vehicle window regulators had to be replaced for passenger and drivers windows (regulators were cheap). Driver side door lock failed. Passenger door locks failing. Passenger headlight fell out. Rear brake lights need constant repair. If one completely fills up the gas tank, gas fumes will be in the passenger compartment. Air conditioning fan needed replacement. Water pump failed. Instrument panel needed replacement.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 17V047000 (air bags), 13V172000 (air bags), and 14V028000 (electrical system); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issues. The VIN was not provided. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available and parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330I. The contact stated that while stationary, all of the doors locked from the inside and the contact and his family could not exit the vehicle. As a result, the contact and his family required to exit the vehicle from the driver's side door. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Dash indicated left taillight was out when it wasn't, this was random on and off for a few months. After a few months the dash panel indicator light stayed on. As I was driving one day I noticed the smell of smoke coming from the trunk. I stopped, and noticed the melted wires from the tail light harness. As I looked at them I could see them sparking when certain movements occurred., very dangerously and erratic. Both male and female sides melted. This is extremely dangerous as it impedes the ability to warn other drivers when turning or stopping. This was brought to the dealerships attention but they do not consider this an important enough issue to replace it as part of a recall or service recovery.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 330ci. While driving at 40 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition air lock needed to be removed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.
A recall has been issued for this problem for cars produced from 9/1/01 to 02/01/05. [recall campaign 11V-438: Repair ground cable for rear light lamps (side panel)]....updated 09/22/15 I have the exact same problem although my car was produced approximately 14 months prior to the vehicles affected by the recall. Situation one or more of the following lights does not function in the rear lamp assembly, mounted on the rear quarter panel (rear parking light, rear turn signal, and rear brake light). Cause a poor ground connection at the rear lamp assembly (connectors X338 left side " pin # 2 and X339 right side " pin # 3) causes a malfunction of the rear tail lamps.
The three passenger doors on my 4 door car will not unlock using either the key fob or the center console door lock button. I only have a manual door lock key hole on my driver door. So the only door that will unlock and open is the driver door. This is because of a faulty GM5 module. Its a very regular thing on bmws and I cant believe it hasnt been recalled already. If there is an emergency, an accident or car goes into a body of water, the passengers in the vehicle will be stuck and will not be able to get out. Emergency services would not be able to get the doors open if need be without using the jaws of life to cut them off when they should simply be able to pull the door handles. The doors will not unlock at all. I have tried everything. Reading online, this is a huge issue with bmws and the dealership charges $750+ to fix it. Luckily, there is someone online that will repair the modules for a fraction of that but with this being an on going issue with most model bmws, there should be something done about it. I am sending mine off to get repaired because I want my door locks operating properly just in case there is an emergency. Can we do something about this though?
Recalled passenger air bag was replaced by dealer last week, but the dashboard light indicates the passenger air bag is turned off. The dealer says this was an existing problem and refuses to fix without charging several hundred dollars to "diagnose." I maintain this is directly elated to the recalled air bag and should be fixed without charge.
I've replaced the window regulators in my car several times due to the material being cheap. The gears wear out and/or break apart. Each time it's between $150 and $300 to repair. The window stops half-way down and can't be moved. This presents issues with safety during inclement weather and makes it very easy to get into the car to take valuables and potentially steal the vehicle.
My vehicle in the last week has an tail light indicator illuminated the dash. Upon investigation of the part it looks to have the same issues as many have described with the ground wire being scorched. I contacted BMW na because of the similar recall on other BMW vehicles. Unfortunately they were unwilling to help unless I was willing to take the car into a dealership for an 90 dollar diagnosis. Only after that would they be willing to weigh in if they would be willing to cover the cost of the repair or not. This is not a gamble that I'm really willing to take. Recall NHTSA action number: PE09036 should be extend to the 2001 330ci bmws. Please open a investigation into this as it is a widely known issue with these cars.
Electrical ground contact resistance in rear tail lamp has rendered tail lamp non functional and caused warning lamp illumination. Problem appears to be identical to campaign 11V438000.
I was receiving a intermittent left tail light warning indicator and assumed it was a bulb that was going out. After some time had past I received a steady left tail light indicator and when I was about to replace the bulb I discovered the bulbs was fine and found the wiring/connector in the tail light bulb carrier had a short/melted. I believe this is the same issue/problem on the 2002-2005 BMW E46 3series which a tail light recall was issued.
My doors will lock but not unlock. I cannot unlock them with my key fob, center console, or with the door handles. Right now the only two doors that will open are my drivers and drivers rear door. I can only unlock the drivers rear by the inside door handles. Passengers have to climb in the drivers side or window.
Recently my rear taillights were noticeably darker and less responsive. Taking my BMW to my authorized BMW dealership/service center, resulted in a diagnosis that the rear wire harness needed to be replaced at a cost of ~$300. Following the visit to the dealership/service center, resulted in the rear light failing completely. Researching this incident online produced many similar problems w/other 330I models and I also discovered that NHTSA had issued a recall of BMW 3-series from my 02-06. My BMW is a 01. It is apparent, from the many postings on BMW boards and websites, that this defect also occurs in older bmws of the same E46 series earlier than model yr 2002. I ask that NHTSA extend the previous recall to earlier model years of the E46 series of bmws.
There is a current recall for 2002-2005 BMW (various models) regarding the rear lights. We are experiencing the same problems in our 2001 330I. The right rear tail lights do not work and the turn signal blinks and the turn signal sound is twice as fast as normal. I am writing to make your department aware that the model years should be expanded to include the 2001 BMW 330I.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Indianapolis, IN, USA