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.
I was on my way to work and had driven only 4 1/2 miles at 6:55am on Thursday, August 15, 2019. I was about 1/2 from work on a city street when smoke began coming out the air vents and steering column. A smell of plastic, electrical filled the car and I pulled into the nearest place when the smoke was quickly increasing. My son and I jumped out of the car and called 911. The fire department arrived almost immediately, and upon pulling up, before they could get out of the truck, the driver's side curtain airbag exploded, the firemen heard the explosion. By the time they pulled their hoses and lifted the hood, smoke was heavily coming from the car. When the airbag exploded, a large piece of plastic shrapnel was blown to the passenger side of the car and stuck between the windshield and the window and stuck into the edge windshield frame. The firefighters tried for several minutes to get the source under control and finally was able to when they disconnected the battery. I had my car towed to BMW columbus, they "repaired the recall" and said that the fire was not a result of the recall. I believe that if the firefighters did not respond as quickly as they did because they were nearby, then my car would have gone up in flames.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525-I. the contact stated that the vehicle was parked with the engine turned off, smoke started emerging from the engine compartment. The hood was opened and a fire was discovered coming from the passenger side. The fire department was called and they extinguished the fire. The police was present and a report was issued. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 307,726.
Because of poor quality of fiber optics wiring used on the headlight they tend dry rot resulting in a burnt out headlight. Which can become a safety hazard.
My BMW appears to the have an issue with the passenger air bag sensor, but the VIN isn't include in the recall list. Kindly request recall, as the vehicle hasn't been in an accident, but passenger air bag light remains on.
- Culpeper, VA, USA
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Computer drawing down battery and car will not start seems to happen more when it's damp and raining this happens when the car is parked passenger airbag light is on BMW would like $2500. To reboot computer I think its a scam
Navigation display reboots constantly. Works periodically. This display gives me access to all of the cars features including warnings and malfunctions with the vehicle. If the display works when the car is on it may not work if you turn off the card and turn it back on.
Head lights angle lights wires getting very dry from the heat of the light and the insulation coming off the optical wires, lights go out, possible shorting and become very unsafe.
My BMW was parked outside a restaurant in overland park, ks, at lunch time on March 7, 2017. Auto was locked and all windows and skylight were closed. When I returned to my car after lunch, the car was unlocked and all windows and skylight were open. The key was in my purse and was untouched. Possible theft attempt?
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525xi. While driving, the contact noticed an odor of burning rubber and the alternator warning indicator illuminated. Also, the power failed without warning. The contact stated the vehicle was not able to start without receiving a jump. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the wires connected to the battery were burned. The contact stated they would take the vehicle to the dealer to receive an official diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Mcm burned up got wet and stank up whole trunk because of design flaw by BMW we were driving as it burned up till we had to pull over because of the awful smell
Main headlight failure during night driving cause by electrical short circuit, due to headlight internal electrical wiring insulation failure. Internal electrical wiring insulation seems not to meet sae, nec, asme, etc. Codes and standard for the uses, like engine electrical wiring, subject to heat exposure from headlight bulb generation. Major safety issues can result from sudden headlight failure without previous notice, which can cause accident at dark roads. Headlight failure occurs while driving in a dark road at night.
While I was driving on a street road my stirring wheel got stuck and I lost control of my car swerved into other lane and nearly caused an accident. I pushed the wheel back hard and bought my car on the side of the road. A mechanic found that nearly two inches of water had accumulated in the trunk of my car, the water damage caused electrical failure making the car to become inoperable. By shoddy construction. The modules, are installed in the spare tire well and insufficiently protected from moisture, making them especially prone to water damage that can be caused through the normal and ordinary use of the vehicle. My life was put in danger because of this shoddy construction by BMW. When I notified them, they denied and refused to pay or fix. They literally put my life as well as other drivers life in danger, because my car swerved uncontrollably.
A message on the vehicle display screen indicated that the right-side low beam headlight was malfunctioning. I removed the headlight assembly to replace the bulb and found the wiring insulation is crumbling to the touch, resulting in a short circuit. The headlight bulb is not actually burned out. There are many complaints about this on the BMW forums but BMW and the headlight manufacturer, hella, refuses to acknowledge the problem or do anything about it.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525I. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the micro power module needed to be replaced. In addition, the technician discovered that the micro power module wires were melted and burned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.
Since 2011, I have needed to have my, 2006 BMW 530xi, vehicle serviced. Serviced for trunk leakage, battery cable replacement, sunroof/moonroof non-drainage issues and passenger airbag sensor issues. I have paid perhaps three - to five thousand dollars for alleged repairs. None of those repairs were permanent and the issues continued on/off until 5/10/14. On that day/date I drove the car several hours shopping and preparing for mother's day. When I stopped the engine in my driveway the car shut off but I could not remove the key fob from the ignition. There was no power throughout the vehicle, e.g. no dash lighting, no internal lighting, no alarm light flashing and no ability to lock doors or open the trunk. Neither BMW-N.a. nor dealership accept any responsibility for the water leakage or other repair issues, even though some manufacturer recalls were announced to the public for these issues, those were said to me to be only for specified VIN numbered vehicles and not mine. I would like to participate in a class action against BMW for these issues and I have saved all my repair receipts to validate my vehicle problems.
One day while driving, my car had an alert come on the I drive saying the passenger restraint system was malfunctioning. It stayed on a few months and then went away for a few months. Now the problem is occurring again.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 5 series. The contact stated that the battery failed twice. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the battery under warranty. The failure recurred within one month. The contact replaced the battery and did not notify the dealer or the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current 40,936.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- New York , NY, USA