RoadVitals

2000 BMW 323I Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest May 28, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 401 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 BMW 323I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 28, 2013

THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK IF THEY ARE PARKED IN THE SUN IN TEMP. IN EXCESS OF 80-85 DEGREES. THE DOOR CENTRAL LOCKING DOES NOT WORK WITH EITHER THE KEYS (TWICE CLICKS TO UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS). ONCE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS OPENED IT TAKES 1/2 HOUR OF AIR CONDITIONING BLAST TO HAVE THE SYSTEM COOL DOWN AND ALLOW THE UNLOCKING WITH THE BUTTON OR THE REMOTE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513883
Incident
Jul 31, 2008
Mileage
120,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Jan 23, 2012

AFTER HAVING THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED AND A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT COMPLETED AT A BMW SERVICE DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TX, APPARENTLY THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN) FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THIS SENSOR FAILED, ALL THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CEASED TO WORK. ACCORDING TO THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO RE-CALIBRATE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AFTER AN ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETED. ADDITIONALLY, PER THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE REPLACING STEERING ANGLE SENSORS IN A VARIETY OF BMW AUTOMOBILES AT "3 TO 4 PER WEEK". ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $500 - $1000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10444910
Incident
Jul 9, 2011
Mileage
121,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Oct 4, 2011

THE DOOR LOCKS OF MY CAR ARE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VIA REMOTE AND A BUTTON ON MY CENTER CONSOLE. THE GM5 DOOR LOCKING MODULE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES, ONE OF WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS WHILE YOU ARE IN THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT ONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR REMOTE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10428445
Incident
Oct 4, 2011
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 27, 2006

LTR FROM (CA) RE 2000 BMW 323I, DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY MALFUNCTION CAUSE COMPUTER FAILURE WITH SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER & DECELERATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TS THE VEHICLE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER THE EMI, CHECK ENGINE SOON, AND DSC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALER. *NM

NHTSA ID
10175355
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Mileage
47,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 2006

2000 BMW 323I - EML, CHECK ENGINE SOON AND DSC LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR POWERED DOWN ON THE FREEWAY (BRAKED ITSELF AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE). NEEDED TOW TO DEALER. CAR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND PROGRAMMED THE DME (DIGITAL MOTOR ELECTRONICS) . THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM - THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM AND AFTER PICKING UP CAR AT DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS REQUIRED THE RELAY TO BE REPLACED. THE DAY AFTER THE CAR WAS PICKED UP THE DOOR AND WINDOW LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY AND THE GEAR SELECTOR LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE GENERAL MODULE. TOTAL REPAIR TIME - APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10166054
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Mileage
47,588 mi
ElectricalOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Nov 15, 2005
1 injury reported

TIRE. NO OTHER DETAILS WERE PROVIDED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142677
Incident
Nov 14, 2005
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Sep 24, 2003

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT." DEALER HAD REPLACED ONE SENSOR UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT/ONE SENSOR ON THE DASHBOARD, AND RE-ATTACHED THE WIRING SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10040488
Incident
Sep 24, 2003
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 3, 2000

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICTATING A DEFECT. DEALER CLAIMS COMPUTER NEEDS TO UPDATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
857855
Incident
Feb 20, 2000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .