Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 BMW 325I 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET LEAKED ON TO ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO OVER HEAT AND MELT INTERNAL COMPONENTS WHICH CAUSING LACK OF POWER AND MULTIPLE FALSE CHECK ENGINE CODES TO COME ON AND SMOKE CLOUDED MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING SO VERY COMMON PROBLEM IS THE HEATER CORE LEAKING TOO
WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKE FOR A COMPLETE STOP, IT WILL STOP BUT MILISECONDS AFTER THAT I WILL GET JUMPY. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR SOMEONE THAT IS NOT USED TO THE VEHICLE, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS ABOUT TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. IT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN I AM GOING TO PARK MY VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BUSHINGS ON THE FRONT AXLE WERE DAMAGED AND THE CONTROL ARMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT COULD ASK FOR A DISCOUNT AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,598. UPDATED 08/22/17*LJ *CN
TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. *TR
CAR ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES. THE ALUMINUM BOLTS FOR THE VALVE COVER AND THE HEAD BOLTS SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND CAR STARTS TO SHAKE, CHECK ENGINE SIGN LIGHTS, OIL SIGN LIGHTS, ONCE I GAVE IT GAS. OIL IS LEAKING FROM CAR. CAR IS TOWED AND MECHANIC SHOWS ME DAMAGE. BROKEN ALUMINUM BOLTS FELL INSIDE OF ENGINE. BOLT IS WEDGED BETWEEN TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR. THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED. KNOWN DEFECT FOR 2006 MODELS, BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT COVER DAMAGE. HAVE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA THREE TIMES NOW. BMW SWITCHED BOLT TYPE IN FOLLOWING YEARS. OTHERS REPORTING SAME PROBLEM. SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STOPPED? CAR WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. BMW NEEDS TO ADMIT TO THEIR MISTAKE AND COVER THE DAMAGES. A RECALL SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE BOLTS. JUST RIDICULOUS THAT A COMPANY KNOWN FOR QUALITY WILL DO THIS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HOPE THE DOT TAKES IT UPON THEMSELVES TO HOLD BMW ACCOUNTABLE. OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [XXX]. LOOKING FOR A POTENTIAL RESOLUTION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL THROUGH THE HEAD GASKET. IN ADDITION, THE SUN ROOF CLOTH DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEPTRONIC TRANSMISSION GEARS WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DS OR MANUAL, ONLY DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
HEADS OF HEAD BOLTS BROKE OFF. NORMAL SLOW, SHORT COMMUTE DRIVING. EXHAUST SMOKING. *TR
HEADS OF HEAD BOLTS BROKE OFF. OIL LEAKING & EXHAUST SMOKING. NORMAL DRIVING WITH NO AUTO MODIFICATIONS AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .