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.
Noticed a very slight tapping when the car was first cranked--but no engine warning lights. After driving it for a few miles, a warning light indicating "charging malfunction" flashed on, and the battery symbol appeared. Because I was the passenger, I googled "BMW 328I charging malfunction" and the first result that came up read "BMW/ January 2013/ recall campaign no. 12V-550: Engine belt idler pulley bolt" for mys 2009-2012 BMW X5 xdrive 35S savs. Before I could inform driver, he complained that he had lost power steering. As we were literally yards from our destination, we parked, and returned to the car two hours later. When we recranked the car, same warnings. We decided to drive to local BMW service station. At a stop light a few miles further, many warning lights turned on simultaneously, the windshield wipers turned on, but the panel said it was still drivable and needed service soon. When the light changed, the panel went off, and the car was stopped dead in the middle of a major road. Pushed it to the side of the road to find the bolt broken and the pulley and belt loose. Upon having it towed to BMW repair, we were told the A/C compressor w/clutch, belt tensioner and belt, and oil filter housing gasket needed to be replaced to the tune of about $5090. (car had been given a clean bill of health during last oil change, and the A/C was working well earlier that morning.) wondering why the ebip bolt was recalled in so many other BMW models that year but not in ours. Information contained in their recall notification exactly matched the description of our problem.
He tenido varios problemas con el carro, corriendo al voltear SE me apago dos veces Y fue muy peligroso porque los carros que iban atras casi me pegan Y claro SE molestaron mucho al sacar la vuelta rapido para no golpear mi carro, lo lleve al mecanico Y tardo mucho para hallar el problema, la flecha derecha (blinking light) esta quebrada lo hace muy rapido Y al checar me dijeron que SE tiene que reparar todo incluido el foco de atras, problema con los cables de bateria eso si me lo arreglaron gratis porque tiene recall, pero luego la bateria empezo a fallar Y hubo que cambiarla, el volante esta muy duro Y al voltear tengo que hacerlo con mucho cuidado para no pegarle al del otro carril, el mecanico no ha podido componer ese problema, a veces SE hacelera solo cuando estoy haciendo un alto Y no SE ni porque lo hace, Y tampoco SE cuando va a pasar.
On 8/21/2015, I was driving my 2009 BMW 335D to work when it suddenly lost power and started spewing smoke on jefferson ave. I pulled over near my work and saw smoke seeping in from the steering column. I exited the vehicle immediately and opened the hood and saw that the engine compartment was on fire. I ran inside my workplace and grabbed a fire extinguisher and cautiously returned to the vehicle. I was able to put out the fire. After filing a claim with state farm, the claims adjuster and plaza motor company BMW came to the determination that the car's wiring harness malfunctioned and that they're going to replace it. But that's not my issue. I'm concerned with how the fire started in the first place. Plaza motors nor state farm can tell me why or how it happened but they are willing to replace the defective part and have me drive the vehicle again without any assurances that this will never happen again. I was fortunate enough to had exited the vehicle before the car was engulfed in flames and I was also fortunate enough to had been close to a fire extinguisher. My complaint is that I feel like my claim is being handled in a very leisurely, run-of-the-mill manner akin to changing a flat tire or a dented bumper. But a car spontaneously catching fire is anything but typical. Plaza motors and state farm's casual nature is disconcerting to say the least. I do not feel safe driving this car ever again. I don't feel like BMW is taking any responsibility for their catch spontaneously catching fire. Also, one week prior to the fire, I had a diagnostics test conducted on my car by autohaus BMW in St. Louis, mo and the two minor issues were unrelated to the electrical fire.
- Florissant, MO, USA
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Upon returning to seattle, wa, since I flew down to berkley, ca to purchase my vehicle, I noticed excessive headlamp shake when going over any bumps on the highway, especially expansion joints. Both left and right headlamps shake equally as bad, and I consider that a safety hazard while driving. It is very distracting and searching many online forums, people have been having many issues with the adaptive headlamp bracket arms being broken. Cpo warranty does not cover headlamps according to BMW, and they are not willing to pay for both replacements.
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.
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.
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- Flowery Branch, GA, USA