2007 Bmw X3 Electrical Problems
51 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (51)
After your dealer performed a Takata recall repair on your 2007 BMW X3, your horn stopped working and several steering wheel buttons became unresponsive. When you brought it back to the dealer, they diagnosed a faulty ignition switch as the cause, but the vehicle wasn't repaired. This happened at around 140,000 miles.
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Your BMW's engine light came on after the dealership completed a recall repair. When you returned, the dealership wanted to charge you $100 to turn off the light instead of fixing it under the recall. You used a code reader and found the light was caused by a part that wasn't replaced during the recall service. The dealership has not returned your calls about this issue.
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Your BMW dealer in Murrieta, CA has not been responding to your requests for recall service on your X3. The dealer is ignoring your calls and not calling you back. You may need to contact BMW customer service directly or try a different authorized dealer to get the electrical system recall completed.
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THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING ELEMENT BURNED AND DAMAGED THE SKIN OF THE SEAT AND BURNED MY BACK WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. I WAS SO SURPRISED WHEN THIS HAPPENED THAT I JUMPED IN THE SEAT AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
BMW HAS KNOWLEDGE OF VARIOUS SOFTWARE ISSUES ,AND IF YOU THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,MIGHT URGE THEM TO MAKE SOFTWARE UPDATES READILY ACCESSIBLE FOR ,TRANSMISSION,DME,EGS,ALL THERE MODULES IT WOULD PROBABLY ELIMINATE 80%OF THERE COMPLAINTS.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 BMW X3 THE VEHICLE IN SAN ANTONIO ON BANDERA RD IT LOST POWER ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VECHILE STARTED TO SPUTTER TILL IT'S JUST DIED AND NOW WON'T TURN OVER EVERYTHING WORKS HAS POWER BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK OVER.
I WAS GOING BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH THROUGH CITY STREETS AT ROUGHLY 3AM ON MY WAY BACK FROM MY COMMUTE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 60 MILES. I NOTICED IT STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMOKE WAS VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD VENTS, I PARKED THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HEAT COVER FOR THE HOOD WAS ON FIRE ALONG WITH MOST OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. MY FRIEND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 FOR ASSISTANCE AS I RAN AND TRIED TO WARN NEIGHBORS , WITHIN 7 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARD. NO MAITNANCE LIGHTS WERE ON AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM. THE TWO RECALLS I NEVER RECEIVED BOTH WOULD EXPLAN THIS INCEDENT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000
TURNED ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER AND IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AT THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE OF THE SEAT UPRIGHT PORTION. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF WHEN SMELLED BURNING AND FELT EXTREMELY HOT AT LOWER BACK. DRIVER COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED. SAW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION. THIS COULD SERIOUSLY INJURE SOMEONE ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.
DEALER REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ON MY ENGINE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL PRODUCT THE PCV VALVE. DEALER SAYS THEIR NOT REQUIRED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, THEIR JOB IS TO REPLACE THE RECALL PART
STATIONARY IN PARKING LOT. FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITH ANY METHOD ATTEMPTED. DRIVERS DOOR WILL ONLY UNLOCK USING EMERGENCY KEY FROM EXTERIOR.
DESPITE REPEATED PHONE CALLS TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND STOPPING AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY BMW FOR A RECALL REGARDING A SPONTANEOUS FIRE THAT CAN OCCUR WITH MY VEHICLE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS GARAGED AND NOT IN USE. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPEATEDLY TELLS ME THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I LEARNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM A YEAR AND A HALF AGO FROM THE NEWS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW, ALTHOUGH I VERIFIED WITH THEM THEY HAVE MY VIN NUMBER AND MY CAR IS PART OF THE RECALL. I HESITATE TO EVEN DRIVE MY CAR AND HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT A SPONTANEOUS FIRE SPARKED BY AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. IT SEEMS UNACCEPTABLE AS A CONSUMER NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO REMEDY WHAT COULD BE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE (MY HOUSE BURNING DOWN FOR ONE). I AM GETTING NOWHERE WHEN I CONTACT BMW.
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.
PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT FAILURE - BMW'S, IN PARTICULAR 3 SERIES AND E90 MODELS, HAVE A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE WHERE THE SEAT BASED ELECTRICAL MAT FAILS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR AS THE SEATS OFTEN GO UNUSED BUT SIMPLY FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE ERROR CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEFAULT TO ALWAYS ON, WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO CHILDREN OR SMALL PASSENGERS IN THAT SEAT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS USUALLY $200 FOR PARTS AND $400 FOR LABOR WHICH MEANS MANY DRIVERS SIMPLY DON'T FIX IT CREATING A VULNERABILITY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RECURRING WITH BMWS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND ACROSS MODEL TYPES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS ITS A POORLY MADE PART AND SET UP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES ON BMW FORUMS AND A PARTIAL RECALL FOR SOME MODELS WAS IMPLEMENTED. A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED ON ALL CARS AFFECTED, INCLUDING 2007 3 SERIES MODELS. THE ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR FIXED UNTIL THE F MODEL 3 SERIES CAME OUT. HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4746508#POST4746508 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-496444.HTML
WHEN DRIVING, THE SMELL OF BURNING OR MELTING PLASTIC IS SO STRONG, I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THE SMELL OCCURS ABOUT 5 TIMES A WEEK AND CAN BE SMELLED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. IT OCCURS AT VARIOUS TIMES...ON THE FREEWAY, ON SURFACE STREETS, STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ETC. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL, FOR POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION(PCV) VALVE HEATER, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN OR METHOD OF FIXING THIS. SINCE IT CAN LEAD TO A FIRE, IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO INFORMATION ABOUT EVEN HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE WEBSITE AND LETTER TELLS YOU TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT THEY TELL YOU TO CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA, HOWEVER THEY DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE. THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR AT THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SHIP IN GLENDALE CA HAS NOT RETURNED MY MESSAGES AND THE NUMBER THEY REFER ME TO, BMW NORTH AMERICA AT 800.831.1117 JUST KEEPS RINGING...NO ANSWER. I DON'T FEEL SAFE INHALING THE PLASTIC FUMES AND IT COULD LEAD TO MY CAR CATCHING ON FIRE. BMW NEEDS TOANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE RATHER THAN REFERRING ME TO ADVERTISEMENTS TO PURCHASE A NEW BMW. (THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS ON THEIR "RECALL" WEBSITE). I WOULD LIKE THEM TO PROVIDE A CAR AND KEEP MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL THEY FIGURE THIS OUT. I THINK THEY WOULD FIND A SOLUTION VERY QUICKLY IF THEY HAD TO PROVIDE ALTERNATOR TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR A MOMENT, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKCASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TAKATA RECALL THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE OR ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE CAR IS THUS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 6 WEEKS AT LEAST WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. SECONDLY, THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONA RECALLS THAT HAVE NO "FIX" AT THIS POINT WHICH COULD ALSO RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A HAZARD AND COMPLETELY USELESS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. THE TWO ADDITIONAL RECALLS ARE BOTH FIRE HAZARDS AND ARE NOT CORRECTABLE AT THIS JUNCTURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
BOTH PUGET SOUND AREA DEALERS WERE TOTALLY INDIFFERENT ABOUT LIFE TREATING RECALL NOTICES, UPON CALLING IN IN MID 2017' I WAS ASKED WHAT RECALLS ARE YOU CALLING ABOUT AND BOTH DID NOT GIVE ANY IN FORMATION WHEN I SAID I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL. NOTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU NOW CHECK BACK LATER I WAS TOLD. IN NOVEMBER WHEN I CALLED BACK I WAS AGAIN GREETED WITH SURPRISE THAT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AT SEATTLE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ME TO BE SPECIFIC ON A EXACT RECALL THAT MAYBE IN EFFECT. AFTER GIVING EXACTE REQUIRED DETAILED RECALL INFO ON THIS LIFE TREATING DEFECTIVE RECALLI WAS TOLD THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PARTS AND TO CHECK BACK NEXT YEAR! WHERE THE HELL IS THE WASHINGTON STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL? THIS IS A DISGRACE AND BMW IN MY VIEW SHOULD BE SPENDER FROM SELLING CARS IN WASHINGTON STATE UNTIL THEY MAKE THIS RIGHT. ONE DEATH WOULD COST FAR MORE THAN ALL THE JERKING AROUND AND BAD WILL THEY ARE CAUSING TODAY! I'M WRITING THIS BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT LIVING ,AND HAVE NO PICTURES TO POST. CAN NOT ALLOW HOW THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS A MAJOR CAR COMPANY TO GET AWAY WITH THIS, TOTAL DISGRACE!
2 COMPLAINTS: 1ST COMPLAINT ADDRESSES "TAKATA RECALL" DATED FEB. 5, 2016 RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.16V-071 DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG. *BMW SERVICE CENTER "OTTO'S" IN WEST CHESTER, PA STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS GOING ON 2YRS. * 2ND COMPLAINT ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING (55MPH) ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF- NO POWER! . IT WAS A HUMID SUMMER (JULY) MORNING BMW FAULT COULD HAVE KILLED MANY, A VERY DANGEROUS PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS UNABLE TO DRIVE BMW. *ADDING INSULT TO INJURY THE HIGH HUMIDITY COULD HAVE SET-OFF THE AIRBAG FAULT UNRESOLVED BY BMW 18 MONTHS & COUNTING. OTTO'S SERVICE CENTER WANTED ALMOST $4K TO REPAIR PLUS AN ADDITIONAL HEFTY SUM UNDER ADVISEMENT FOR REPAIRS TO REPAIR THE WORK THEY COMPLETED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO (>$3K) FOR ENGINE LEAKING OIL - CAR OVER-HEATING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS WARMING UP, THE CONTACT STEPPED AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON RETURNING, THE INTERIOR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS BURNING. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED FOR THE SEAT TO COOL DOWN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC WIRING FOR THE SEAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
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
GAS GAUGE DOESN'T REGISTER FULL VS. EMPTY TANK. MY GAS GAUGE ALWAYS SAYS EMPTY EVEN RIGHT AFTER I FILL IT UP. SEEMS TO BE A BIGGER ISSUE, PER MY GOOGLE SEARCH AND THINK IT NEEDS A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3 SAV. AFTER A SEAT WARMER WAS ACTIVATED, THE HEAT GENERATED BECAME SO INTENSE THAT IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT, AS WELL AS THE CONTACT'S JACKET AND JEANS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ALTERED TO THE FAILURE DUE TO A BURNING ODOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY HEATING ELEMENT AND THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.
IN COOL CLIMATE ON NOVEMBER 1, 2016. TURN ON MY HEAT SEAT, THEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNED, THEN I FELT SHARP BURN ON LEFT BUTT CHEEK. THEN I KNEW SOMETHING WRONG WITH HEAT I TURNED OFF, , ON NOVEMBER 7, 2016, I TRIED AGAIN,,, BURNING SMELL IS SO BAD, THE HEAT STILL BURNED ALMOST THROUGH OUT SIDE LAYER OF SEAT
BMW X3 HEATED SEAT BURNED HOLE THROUGH SEAT. IF HEATED SEAT IS TURNED ON, VISIBLE SPARKS OR FIRE WILL COME THROUGH HOLE. HOLE IS DIRECTLY BELOW DRIVER'S LEFT THIGH. BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT THE X3. THE X3 IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME ISSUE.
MY 2007 BMW X3'S DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND BURNT MY THIGH. I REACTED TO THE BURN AND ALMOST RAN OFF THE ROAD. WHEN I STOPPED I FOUND A BLACK BURNED SPOT ON MY SEAT. FROM MY RESEARCH IT SEEMS THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I THINK THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT BADLY.
DUE TO COLD WEATHER, ENGAGED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER. NOTICED A SHARP PAIN IN MY LEG AND THEN BEGAN TO SMELL AND SEE SMOKE. FORTUNEATLY, I WAS QUICKLY ABLE TO REALIZE THE SEAT HEATER APPEARED TO HAVE A SHORT IN IT, AND TURNED OFF BEFORE BURNING THROUGH THE LEATHER AND SETTING MY CLOTHS ON FIRE. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING THEY ARE WILL TO DO. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIUOSLY HURT OR KILLED. THE ENGINE WAS IDLING WHEN SEAT HEATER WAS ON. I WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND DRIVING DOWN STREET WHEN I NOTICED. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD SEAT HEATER ON AND THEN STEPPED AWAY FROM VEHICLE AS IT WAS WARMIMG UP, I AM CONFIDENT THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE OR AT LEAST SEVERLY DAMAGED IT.
WHILE DRIVING THIS MORNING THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS IN USE SINCE IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. I BEGAN TO SMELL THE ODER OF SOMETHING BURNING AND MY LEFT LEG FELT EXTREMELY WARM. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS BURNING I TURNED OFF MY HEATED SEAT AND MY PASSENGERS SEAT WHICH WAS OCCUPIED. I ALSO TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE HEATER AND DEFROSTERS. UPON ARRIVAL AT MY DESTINATION I FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD TWO BURN MARKS JUST ABOVE THE ELECTRIC SEAT CONTROLS WHERE MY LEG WAS AS I WAS POSITIONED WHILE DRIVING.
THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT HEATERS. ONE OF THE HEATING ELEMENTS FAILED, OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT SURFACE. IN DOING RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLES. BMW DID DO A RECALL ON THE X5, BUT DOES NOT SHOW A RECALL ON THE X3. ON VARIOUS SITES, THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED MANY TIMES WITH OWNERS, SOME WITH THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. I FOUND COMPLAINTS ON THE FOLLOWING SITES; CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, BIMMERFEST.COM AND ARFC.ORG. JUST ON CARCOMPLAINTS, THIS COMPLAINT IS SHOWN 23 TIMES; MADBURY, NH, PORTLAND, OR, WESTFIELD, IN, DERWOOD, MD, TAMPA, FL, ANNAPOLIS, MD, LOUISVILLE, KY, BERGENFIELD, NJ, HOLDERNESS, NH, LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH, LAUREL, MD, NOVI, MI, CROMWELL, CT, PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS, HILLSBOROUGH, NC, DALY CITY, CA, ALEXANDRIA, VA, SAGINAW, TX, BETHESDA. MD, PITTSBURG, PA, SELAH, WA. SAME ISSUE WITH EACH. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WAS CONTACTED AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS "IT'S A PART OF WEAR AND TEAR....NO OFFER TO ASSIST" FROM BMW NA. YET, THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED TO ARISE AND BMW NA DID REPLACE THE HEATER ELEMENT AND SEAT SURFACE IN SOME INSTANCES, MAKING THE REPLACEMENT A MATTER OF PREFERENCE OR DISCRIMINATION, OR DEALER'S OPINION OF THE CAR OWNER VERSUS CORRECTING THE MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT PROBLEM. I WOULD REQUEST THE ASSISTANCE OF NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS MATTER AND PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDOUS OVER-HEATING/ FIRE THREATS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN JUST GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND SMELL THE BURNING LEATHER AND TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATING SYSTEM BEFORE A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND ALSO REALIZED MY UPPER LEG WAS IN PAIN. TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND INVESTIGATED AFTER REACHING MY DESTINATION. THERE WAS A SCORCH MARK IN THE SEAT NEAR THE BOTTOM LEFT BOLSTER. LUCKY THIS DIDN'T CAUSE A FIRE OR BODILY INJURY. *TR
APPARENTLY, THE ELECTRONIC KEY IS DEFECTIVE, LEADING TO AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STEER OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT POWER AND RESTART THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO START. I NOTIFIED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AFTER THE INCIDENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THESE KEYS HAVE A NON-REPLACEABLE RECHARGEABLE BATTERY, THAT MAY "WEAR OUT", AND THEREFORE NOT HOLD A CHARGE! THEY INFORMED ME THAT AS MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A REPLACEMENT KEY UNLESS I PURCHASED A NEW ONE ($250), I POINTED OUT THAT NOWHERE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS IT STATED THAT KEYS NEED REPLACEMENT, NOR THE HAZARD OF DRIVING WITH A "WORN OUT" KEY. THE REPRESENTATIVE ([XXX], EMP.#[XXX]) STATED "THERE IS NOTHING BMW CAN DO IN THIS CASE." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE LEFT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK HAS CEASED TO OPERATE ON MY 2007 BMW 328I. IT DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH EITHER THE KEY FOB OR THE MAIN UNLOCK SWITCH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IF THERE WERE ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY INVOLVING THIS DOOR NEEDING TO BE OPENED. *TR
23 MONTH OLD TODDLER GAINED ACCESS TO VEHICLE KEYS AND LOCKED HIMSELF IN WITH THE REMOTE KEY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF HIM TRYING TO OPEN THE DOORS WITH THE DOOR LEVERS, THEY WOULD NOT OPEN. WE HAD A LOCK SMITH ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BY PUSHING THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON LOCATED ON THE UPPER CENTER CONSOLE, BUT THIS ALSO DIDN'T UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FINALLY OPENED AFTER PUSHING THE CENTER LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON AND THEN PULLING ON THE DOOR LEVER TWO TIMES TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO UNLOCK AND OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. THIS ENTRY SYSTEM REQUIRES THE USE OF ELECTRICS PRIOR TO THE MECHANICAL SYSTEM BECOMING ACTIVE. THIS SITUATION COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS DURING HIGH TEMPERATURE DAYS IF A PERSON IS LOCKED INSIDE AND DANGEROUS IN THE EVENT OF AN ESCAPE IF THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILS WITH THE DOORS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEATED SEAT WARMER ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE HEATED SEAT WARMER HAD BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE CONTACT'S PANT LEG, BURNING THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT CAR WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN ANY OF CAR DOORS - ALL THE LOCKS WOULD NOT OPERATE ! ALSO, THE DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE IS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT ASAP. I WAS ABLE TO SEE ON LINE THAT NUMBER OF LIKE AND KIND COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2007 328 XI MODELS ... *TR
REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 13V044000 MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES AS EXACTLY OUTLINED IN THIS RECALL NOTICE SUCH AS THE STARTING ROUGH, NOT STARTING, BATTERY INDICATOR LAMP LIT, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER & DEGRADED PERFORMANCE WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN A CRASH BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL MY CAR OVER. I SPOKE WITH BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY SAID MY VIN WAS NOT SPECIFIED BY THIS RECALL AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA TO GET THIS RESOLVED. I HAVE RESEARCHED MANY OTHER 2007 3-SERIES OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES AND WOULD EXPECT THIS TO BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON. LOCKED DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, NO WAY TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN THEY ARE LOCKED. ONLY WAY TO EXIT VEHICLE IS THROUGH DRIVER'S DOOR IF MANUALLY UNLOCKED WITH KEY. PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT OPEN AND GAS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLES FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. *TR
DRIVING VEHICLE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL, AT FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR, THEN WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER FELT A BURNING PAIN ON THIGH. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF SEAT WARMER AND TRIED TO PULL OVER. FOUND THAT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER HAD BURNT A HOLE THRU THE LEATHER SEAT COVER AND BURNED MY PANTS. THIS COULD HAVE VERY EASILY CAUSED A WRECK! *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT CENTER LANE OF INTERSTATE 384 IN MANCHESTER CT. THE CAR STALLED AND SHE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY 3 OTHER VEHICLES. SHE SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECENT RECALL OF BMWS FOR A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE. BMW WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE TRADED THE CAR IN BECAUSE WE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE OR RELIABLE. *TR
THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK; FROM THE EXTERIOR, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN BE OPENED WITH THE KEY. FROM THE INTERIOR, ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN BE OPENED; NONE OF THE OTHER 3 DOORS CAN BE OPENED MANUALLY OR BY USING THE UNLOCK BUTTONS EITHER ON THE DASH OR ON THE KEY. I THINK THAT THIS CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION-IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OCCUPIED, PASSENGERS WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO EXIT THROUGH THE WINDOWS OR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE IN SOME ACCIDENT SITUATIONS. I SPOKE TO BMW NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT THEY "PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS" TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
I HAD CAR HEATING SYSTEM ON AND FELT SOME THING VERY HOT UNDER MY THIGH. I GOT DOWN TO INSPECT AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE CAR SEAT. I PUT OFF THE HEATING SYSTEM TO REACH HOME SAFELY. I HAVE SENT PICTURES AND MY COMPLAINT TO BMW AG AND BMW USA. *TR
TURNED ON HEATED SEAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES, FELT BURNING ON LEFT SIDE OF SEAT. TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEAT, TURNED ON THE LIGHT AND THE SEAT WAS SMOKING SUBSTANTIALLY. A SMALL HOLE WAS BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A DIME) AND THROUGH MY PANTS. I HAVE A SMALL RED MARK ON THE TOP OF THE BACK OF MY LEG. THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE SMOKE. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR AN ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED. VERY CONCERNING AND WILL LIKELY BE A COSTLY REPAIR. HAVE NOTED SEVERAL OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPOTED ON-LINE. *TR
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN. I WAS LITERALLY TRAPPED INSIDE MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT. DROVE VEHICLE HOME, HAD TO PUT DOWN WINDOW AND HAVE SOMEONE USE VALET KEY AT MY HOUSE TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR. NONE OF THE OTHER THREE PASSENGER DOORS CAN BE UNLOCKED. LUCKILY NO PASSENGERS IN MY VEHICLE. WAS TOLD THERE IS A TSB RELATED TO THIS, HOWEVER IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS CONSIDERED "SAFE" WHEN IF MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS TO GET THEM OUT. BMW IS AWARE THAT THE ACTUATORS ARE PULLING TOO MUCH CURRENT THROUGH THE FUSES AND THAT THE ACTUATORS NEED REPLACED. THEY ARE MAKING TONS OF MONEY OFF OF CHARGING PEOPLE TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AS THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN AVOID HAVING REPAIRED UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO GAMBLE ON YOUR OWN LIFE OR THOSE OF FAMILY/FRIENDS WHO MAY BE IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURS. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE AS A RESULT. I FIND IT QUITE ABSURD THAT THE NHTSA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FOR THIS TO BE REMEDIED? JUST BECAUSE I DRIVE A USED BMW DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED, YET I'VE GOT TWO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN WHO RIDE IN THE BACKSEAT OF THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED, OBVIOUSLY IT APPEARS THAT NEITHER BMW NOR THE NHTSA SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY, MY FAMILY'S SAFETY OR THAT OF ANY OF THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF BMW OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS BURNT THE LEATHER AND CAUSED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING. HEAVY BURNT SMELL IN THE CABIN RESULTED FROM USING THE SEAT HEATER. *TR
ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON ALL FOUR DOORS WITH NO SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE. KEY FOB AND CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM BUTTON INSIDE CAR WOULD NOT UNLOCK ANY DOOR. DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN BY PULLING ON INTERIOR DOOR LATCH HANDLES. THE ONLY WAY TO ENTER/EXIT VEHICLE WAS BY USING KEY ON EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, OR THROUGH THE WINDOWS. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINGLE POINT EGRESS FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN UNNECESSARY INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. I REPLACED THE BLOWN 15A FUSE (#57) WITH A 20A FUSE PER SI B51 19 07 TWICE. FIRST FUNCTIONAL TEST BY PRESSING THE CENTRAL LOCK SYSTEM BUTTON RESULTED IN THE NEW FUSE BLOWING IMMEDIATELY EACH TIME. FURTHER TROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIR WILL BE NECESSARY TO RESOLVE ISSUE (LIKELY BY REPLACING FAULTY ELECTRO/MECHANICAL DOOR LATCH/LOCK/ACTUATOR MECHANISM). *TR
DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN ON 3 OF THE DOORS; HAD TO CRAWL FROM BACKSEAT TO FRONT SEAT TO START CAR. ONCE GOT HOME, HAD TO CRAWL BACK OUT VIA THE BACK SEAT. EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SAFETY CONDITION DUE TO IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, MYSELF NOR MY PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN, WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO ESCAPE. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL BMW DEALER AND HE STATED THIS WAS NOT THE "1ST" TIME HE HAD SEEN THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. APPROXIMATE COST IS BETWEEN $700 TO $1,000 TO FIX. CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING ISSUE. *TR
USING THE KEY REMOTE WOULD ONLY LOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THEN WHEN USING THE KEY REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, THE LIGHTS FLASH AND THE LOCK "CLICKS" BUT THE DRIVER'S LOCK WOULDN'T UNLOCK. I USED THE METAL KEY IN THE KEY FOB TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR AND TRIED IT ALL OVER AGAIN. SAME THING HAPPENED...KEY REMOTE WOULD LOCK ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK...KEY REMOTE TO UNLOCK WOULD FLASH THE LIGHTS BUT NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR...REQUIRING ME TO USE THE PHYSICAL KEY IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THINKING THAT THE CAR WAS NOT REGISTERING THAT THE OTHER THREE DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED, I PHYSICALLY LOCKED THE DOORS WHILE INSIDE THE CAR BY DEPRESSING THE LOCKS ON THE TOP OF EACH DOOR. BAD IDEA! NOTHING WOULD WORK TO UNLOCK THE CAR (WITH ME INSIDE!)...UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY REMOTE...NOPE...LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASH NEAR THE VENTS...NOPE....PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLES OF ALL THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE (MULTIPLE TIMES)...NOPE. ULTIMATELY, TO GET MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND USED THE PHYSICAL KEY IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ONLY. *TR
BMW 2007 328 XI DOOR LOCK FUSE #57 BLEW. NONE OF THE INTERIOR DOORS WOULD OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, USE THE KEY FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. I THEN HAD TO PULL MY KIDS FROM THE CAR THROUGH THE WINDOWS AS THE OTHER THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. FORGET THE TOYOTA "ACCELERATOR"; THIS SEEMS LIKE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
REGULAR USAGE. ONE DAY, THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM SIMPLY DIED WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE WAY OF UNLOCKING THE PASSENGER DOORS AFTER THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM DIED. *KB
BMW E90 3 SERIES SEDAN, AFTER THE DOOR LOCK FUSES BLOW THERE IS NO WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE EXCEPT BY A WINDOW. IS A FAILING IN ALL THESE MODELS AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD LATCHES THAT ARE BEING REPLACED AS THEY FAIL UNDER WARRANTY, THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM FOR EXITING THE VEHICLE IF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS. *TR
BMW X3 NEEDS NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM DUE TO WATER DAMAGE ALLEGEDLY EMANATING FROM A CLOGGED DRAIN IN THE SUNROOF. NEW COMPUTER COSTS APPX $2,000. DEALER AND BMW SAY THE DRAIN CAN'T BE SEEN OR ACCESSED BY OWNER AND IT ISN'T CLEANED AS PART OF ANY SERVICING. CLEAR DESIGN FLAW. I KNOW OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME SITUATION AND BMWS RESPONSE IS TO TRY AND FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. *TR