2008 BMW 323I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 BMW 323I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical250.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR IS TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING
WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVER SIGNAL IS NOT WORKING, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT NOT ONLY THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE LIGHT SOCKET AND ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED AND MELTED, BUT THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE ASSEMBLY, SO I NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, I WAS VERY SHOCKED, BECAUSE MY CAR ONLY HAS 27030 MILES, AND THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS SUDDENLY BURNED. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS AS THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD DID NOT SPECIFY WHICH LIGHT WAS IT FOR. I THOUGHT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, AND I WAS ONLY NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS BY PASSENGERS CROSSING WHO TOLD ME THEY DO NOT KNOW I WAS TURNING LEFT. I KNOW BMW IS CURRENTLY HANDLING ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEM, SUCH AS TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS AND CAR ON FIRE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEAR SIR/MA'AM, I AM WRITING THIS AFTER AN AWFUL INCIDENT THAT I WENT THROUGH TODAY, I AM SO LUCKY TO BE ALIVE WITH MY FAMILY.I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 BMW 323I WHICH HAS 190,000 KM ON IT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY STARTED VIBRATING AND WENT ONTO ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER TRAILER TRUCK IN FRONT OF US. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE MINUTES OFF THE EXIT. I LIVE IN TORONTO CANADA, THE DEALERSHIP HAS SEEN IT AND THEY SAID I HAVE TWO BROKEN HEADS OF THE BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR ENGINE IN PLACE AND I WOULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE IF I DIDN'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR SINCE 2007 AND I HAVE ALWAYS LIKED BMW BUT NEVER AFTER THINGS LIKE THIS I WOULD RECOMMEND OR BUY ANYTHING FROM BMW.THERE WAS A RECALL BUT SOMEHOW THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $4000 FROM ME TO FIX IT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND ALSO I AM FORWARDING A COPY OF THIS EMAIL TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. PLEASE GIVE ME A GOOD ANSWER AND MAKE SURE THIS IS FIXED ASAP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT MY DRIVER SIGNAL IS NOT WORKING, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT NOT ONLY THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE LIGHT SOCKET AND ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED AND MELTED, BUT THERE WAS ALSO DAMAGE TO THE ASSEMBLY, SO I NEED TO CHANGE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, I WAS VERY SHOCKED, BECAUSE MY CAR ONLY HAS 27030 MILES, AND THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WAS SUDDENLY BURNED. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS AS THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD DID NOT SPECIFY WHICH LIGHT WAS IT FOR. I THOUGHT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE, AND I WAS ONLY NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS BY PASSENGERS CROSSING WHO TOLD ME THEY DO NOT KNOW I WAS TURNING LEFT. I KNOW BMW IS CURRENTLY HANDLING ELECTRICAL RELATED PROBLEM, SUCH AS TAIL LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS AND CAR ON FIRE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .