2007 BMW 3 Series Interior & seats Problems

FOR OVER A YEAR NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS ONLY TURNING ON WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. NOW IT TURNS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PERSON SO I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE IS MALFUNCTIONING TOO. IN ADDITIONAL THE SEATBELT LIGHT IS TURNING ON TOO NOW. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT IS THE AIRBAG AND SEAT SENSORS THAT HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. EACH TO FIX IS OVER $500. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS AND TO WAIT FOR A SUPPOSABLY RECALL LETTER. HOWEVER, THAT WAS A YEAR AGO AND I NOW HAVE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT GOING OFF. I'VE ALSO COME ACROSS MANY BMW FORUMS (OWNERS) TALKING ABOUT THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. IT'S SURPRISING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT YET NOTHING IS BEING RESOLVED. THERE HAS TO BE A REMEDY FOR THIS ANNOYANCE AND LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY BMW. IF ANYTHING THERE HAS TO BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS ON BMW'S PART SINCE THE CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEM FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE YEARS NOW.

NHTSA ID

11098714

Incident

Dec 20, 2016

Mileage

71,555 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PRODUCES A FAULT IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, ON A HIGHWAY, AND WHEN TURNING. THERE IS NO DAMAGE OR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS USED NORMALLY AND AS INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THE SEAT MAT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE OF PEOPLE SITTING ON IT. OVER TIME THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT FAILED AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SINCE THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

11000535

Incident

Jun 21, 2017

Mileage

148,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. MY 2007 BMW 328XI AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY MODEL CAR FROM 2006 UP, BUT THAT MY VIN# IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL EVEN THOUGH ALL SYMPTOM AND ISSUE WAS THE SAME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS THE SENSOR MAT IS THE SAME ISSUE AS NOTED IN THIS RECALL US NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID:13V564000

NHTSA ID

10818819

Incident

Nov 15, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT IN THE 2007 BMW 328XI IS DISPLAYED ON MY DASH INSTRUMENTATION FOR OVER A YEAR.IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD BE DEACTIVATED RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT INDICATED THAT THE MODEL WAS RECALLED. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I UNDERSTAND THAT NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE MADE A SIMILAR COMPLAINT ABOUT THEIR VEHICLE AND RECALLS ARE USUALLY INITIATED IN THIS MANNER. REGARDLESS OF THE PRODUCTION TIME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MADE, MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECT AS THE OTHER VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY BMW.

NHTSA ID

10724520

Incident

Jun 10, 2015

ON A VERY COLD DAY, I GOT INTO MY CAR, AND TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY X3. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THE SIDE OF MY WAIST FELT HOT AS IF I WAS ON FIRE. I REALIZED THAT IT MUST BE THE SEAT HEATER SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED IT OFF. I STOPPED MY CAR, GOT OUT AND NOTICED MY COAT HAD BEEN BURNT. I NOTICED A BURNED HOLE ON THE SIDE OF MY SEAT, IN WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF MY COAT CATCHING FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678990

Incident

Dec 16, 2013

Mileage

81,201 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10616429

Incident

Jul 14, 2014

Mileage

144,500 mi

I OWN A BMW 3 SERIES 2007 THAT I PURCHASED 3 YEARS AGO WITH A DEALER. SIX WEEKS AGO A DASH BOARD LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". A DETAILED MESSAGE SAYS "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY THE NEAREST BMW CENTER". I HAVE SEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND IT SEEMS BMW 3 AND 5 SERIES CARDS MANUFACTURED IN 2003 - 2008 HAVE THIS ISSUE. IT IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT BMW SHOULD RECALL AND FIX IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558234

Incident

Nov 15, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10522779

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

50,311 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10491872

Incident

Jan 8, 2013

Mileage

21,000 mi

DOOR LOCKED IN POSITION, UNABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. NO MANUAL WAY TO GET OUT OF CAR. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. FINALLY ABLE TO UNLOCK USING KEY. WHEN SPEAKING TO BMW SERVICE CENTER (WALTERS OF RIVERSIDE) ABOUT ISSUE, THEY SAID IF KEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IGNITION THE CAR WOULD HAVE UNLOCKED. NOW EPISODE HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT UNABLE TO GET OUT OF CAR. KEY DOES NOT WORK EVEN IF IN IGNITION. LUCKILY, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS UNLOCK AND I WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT. NOW DOORS ARE LOCK SO I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I AM UNABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10479502

Incident

Aug 13, 2011

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10470673

Incident

Aug 7, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10438519

Incident

Nov 14, 2011

Mileage

53,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10435690

Incident

Nov 14, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10416554

Incident

Jul 30, 2011

Mileage

40,000 mi

I HAVE A 2007 3 SERIES. PRIOR TO THAT, I OWNED A 2000 BMW 3 SERIES THAT NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CAME OUT TO MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH REMOTE. AFTER CHECKING TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T THE BATTERY IN THE FOB, I THEN HAD TO MANUALLY USE KEY TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THEN UPON BEING INSIDE CAR, I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK DOOR USING BUTTON ON DASH. MY CAR IS IN SHOP AND I AM TOLD IT IS A BLOWN FUSE NEEDING AN ACTUATOR REPLACED. I WAS TOLD IT'S ALSO AFFECTING MY GAS TANK, MEANING I WOULD BE UNABLE TO OPEN GAS TANK TO PUT IN GAS. AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2007 3 SERIES. AND A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE OF GETTING TRAPPED IN YOUR CAR. I AM REALLY UPSET I AM HAVING TO SHELL OUT MONEY FOR THIS, AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION WITH 25K MILES. I HOPE THIS WILL BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL AS THIS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD/LAW SUIT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10408425

Incident

Jun 18, 2011

Mileage

26,000 mi