1997 BMW 328I Owner Complaints

AFTER SEEING YET ANOTHER REAR END COLLISION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION I HAVE HAD IN MIND FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE WE CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, BY FLASHING THE STOP SIGNALS WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE ON AND THE CAR IS STOPPED ( REQUIRES A SPEED SENSOR, OF COURSE). MANUAL FLASHING ELECTRONICS EXISTS IN EVERY MODERN CAR, BUT IS NOT NORMALLY USED WHEN STOPPED ON THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ID

10980991

Incident

Apr 21, 2017

THE LOCKING DEVICE ON A 1997 BMW 328I INTERMITTENTLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IF IT IS LOCKED WHILE OCCUPIED. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK, WHICH CREATES A HIGH DANGER AND SEVERITY OF RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO CONSUMERS AND/OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. DESPITE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SAFETY RISK, BMW FAILED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT AND ADVISE OR WARN PURCHASERS OR POTENTIAL USERS, INCLUDING THE PURCHASERS, OWNERS AND/OR USERS OF THE SUBJECT 1997 BMW 328I, BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE WARNINGS AND/OR NOTICES OF THE SEVERE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11, 2013, A HOT AND SUNNY DAY, A FEMALE YOUTH WHO WAS AN OCCUPANT OF A 1997 BMW 328I, BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SUBJECT 1997 BMW 328I THAT WAS LOCKED. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE YOUTH TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, AND SHE ULTIMATELY SUCCUMBED TO HEAT STROKE AND DIED WHILE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10567287

Incident

Sep 11, 2013

1997 BMW 328IS WITH 179K MILES. AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES (HIGHWAY OR CITY), MY STEERING WHEEL WILL BIND OR GET TIGHT IN A TURN. AFTER MUSCLING THROUGH THE TURN SO I DON'T CRASH, THE STEERING WHEEL "POPS" AND RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS BEGAN TO HAPPEN DAILY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME! *TT

NHTSA ID

10411759

Incident

Jun 27, 2011

Mileage

178,835 mi

I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY CAR IS NOT SAFE AS THE FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267149

Incident

Apr 28, 2009

1997 BMW 328I LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. DRIVING 40MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. SNOWING BUT STRAIGHT LEVEL CONCRETE ROAD. APPROACHING ASPHALT CURVE ENTERING SMALL MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, I TAPPED BRAKE TO DISENGAGE CRUISE. IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE SO HIT IT HARDER. CRUISE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THREW CAR INTO A SKID. TRIED STEERING COLUMN LEVER, NO EFFECT. CRUISE NOW ACCELERATED STRONGLY, SPUN CAR 180, CAR SLID INTO DITCH AT UNDER 30MPH AND FLIPPED OVER. CAR DRIVEN BACK 600 MILES TO HOME BUT TOTAL LOSS FROM CRUSHED IN ROOF. BMW HAS POSSESSION OF THE CAR PENDING PRODUCT SPECIALIST REVIEW. CRUISE HAD STARTED ACTING ERRATIC ON 4-5 OCCASIONS EARLIER THAT WEEK BEING RELUCTANT TO DISENGAGE WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS. AFTER ACCIDENT 3 WITNESSED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO LIGHT WITHOUT EXCESSIVE PETAL PRESSURE. MANY BMW OWNER REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM ON INTERNET FROM BRITAIN. BMW SERVICE ADVISOR STATED IT WAS PROBABLY THE SWITCH STARTING TO FAIL. BMW DEALER NOW HAS CAR AND BMW CORPORATE APPEARS TO HAVE ISSUED GAG ORDER TO DEALER EMPLOYEES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252318

Incident

Nov 30, 2008

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. DUE TO HIS BODY STATURE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELT EFFECTIVELY. HE CONSULTED THREE DEALERS FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, BUT NONE HAD THEM AVAILABLE OR WERE NOT BEING SOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR THAT MODEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,882 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,800.

NHTSA ID

10234021

Incident

May 18, 2008

Mileage

159,800 mi

PLASTIC RADIATOR BROKE AT UPPER HOSE CONNECTION, CAUSING SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE STOPPING IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THIS LED TO A VERY DANGEROUS RESCUE BY CALTRANS TRUCK AFTER AN HOUR OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10129327

Incident

Jul 16, 2005

Mileage

69,042 mi

SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL RESULTING IN A SHAKING/VIBRATING VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELLERTING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR CAN LUNGE AND JERK WHILE ACCELLERATING, RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE ACCELLERATION. IN CITY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE IGNITION COILS FOR BMW 3 SERIES CARS AND IT APPEARS THEY FAIL A LOT, YET THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN! AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER IT APPEARS BMW HAS SOME RECALL CAMPAIGNS FOR SOME OF THE NEWER CARS. THEY SUGGEST REPLACING ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW BOSCH MODEL. MY CAR HAS BREMI MODEL COILS (PART NO. F3000-86682) AND THERE IS NO BOSCH SUBSTITUTE ACCORDING TO THE BMW DEALER (PLAZA MOTORS IN ST. LOUIS, MO). I FOUND AN EPA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE BREMI COILS FOR ANOTHER MODEL BMW AT THIS WEB SITE: REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/420B04018.PDF EPA# 2061 IT DESCRIBES AN INTERNAL FAILURE AS FOLLOWS: "BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION PROCESS FAILURES, THE IGNITION COIL OF ONE SUPPLIER (BREMI)MAY HAVE AN INTERNAL INSULATION BREAK-DOWN IN THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC 2121 CIRCUIT, THE SECONDARYELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND/OR A DISRUPTIVE DISCHARGE. REMEDY: BMW HAS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW IMPROVED VERSION." THE SAME EXACT THING IS HAPPENING TO BMW 3 SERIES CARS. A REVIEW OF BMW FORUMS ON THE INTERNET EXPLAINS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY BY THE DAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL CAMPAIGN INITIATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!

NHTSA ID

10121723

Incident

May 20, 2005

Mileage

50 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029905

Incident

Jul 22, 2003

TURNED ENGINE OFF, AND WENT INTO STORE, AND HEARD AN EXPLOSION. CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *AK THE DEALER SAID THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN TURN DEPLOYING THE AIR BAG. *JG

NHTSA ID

8018964

Incident

Aug 28, 2002

WHILE DRIVER WAS SITTING IN VEHICLE, SOMETHING UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATED THE ALARM SYSTEM, DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE, HORN ALSO BECAME INOPERABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

899377

Incident

Sep 23, 2001

THERMOSTAT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, AND RADIATOR TO BLOW. *AK THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND TRIM UNDER THE REAR OF THE DRIVER SEAT WAS LOOSE. *ET

NHTSA ID

897012

Incident

Jun 14, 2001

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HOUSING PORTION DOES NOT HOLD LATCH PLATE IN BUCKLE HOUSING MECHANISM. LATCH PLATE POPS OUT OF BUCKLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED BUCKLE. *AK CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE FAILED HOUSING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

885972

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

ODI #740028. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ACTM2Y7166 TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)

NHTSA ID

740068

Incident

Jan 26, 2001

IT HAPPENED AT 3:50 PM, PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, JANURAY 26, 2001, FREEWAY 91 HEADING EAST, PASSED FREEYWAY 710, AT THE EXIT OF ATLANTIC. I WAS LUCKY TO PULL OVER AND MY COLLEAGUE WAS FOLLOWED ME AT THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. SHE WITNESSED EVERY THING. THE METRO (MTA) TOW TRUCK PASSED BY 15 MINUTES LATER AND CHANGED THE SPARE TIRE FOR ME. A PIECE OF TIRE WAS FLYING AWAY AND CAUSED THE MUFFLER AND THE LEFT SIDE REAR BUMPER SEVERE DAMAGE. I HAVE TAKEN A ROLL OF PICTURES AFTERWARDS. I WILL SEND YOU A DETAILED TIRE'S SPEC. TOMORROW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID

740028

Incident

Jan 26, 2001

WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO PARK VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY TURNING OFF IGNITION. BRAKES WOULD ONLY SLOW IT DOWN, BUT NOT STOP IT. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, WILL NOT REPAIR IT. MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH DEALERSHIP, AND POLICY WAS TO RETURN VEHICLE IF NOT REPAIRABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

878388

Incident

Dec 3, 2000

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

876653

Incident

Dec 13, 2000

TIRE FAILED ON FREEWAY ON HOT DAY. PERMETER AND 2/3 OF SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM BEADS. NO EVIDENCE OF PUNCTURE IN TIRE FRAGMENTS. TIRES HAVE UTQGS OF 400, TRACT. A, TEMP. A, BUT THERE IS NO RECORD OF OF ANY TIRE OF THIS MAKE HAVING EVER BEEN TESTED AT NHTSA FACILITIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

726342

Incident

Jul 29, 2000

ALTERNATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID

608590

Incident

Jul 2, 1997

THERMOSTAT STUCK.

NHTSA ID

606965

PLASTIC FACE PLATE ON THE BOTTOM OF DOOR FRAME GOT CAUGHT ON CONSUMER'S SHOE AND BROKE. MJS

NHTSA ID

605997

Incident

Mar 1, 1997

I PARKED THIS CAR FOR 3 DAYS BEFORE I DROVE IT AT SUNDAY MORNING. AFTER I PARKED FOR AN HOUR LATER IT STARTED ON FIRE BY IT SELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME IT WAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WHICH IS STARTED FROM ENGINE ROOM BETTERY TERMINAL.

NHTSA ID

702319

2 ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE BENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

828095

WATER LEAKS INTO THE VEHICLE FROM ALL DOORS IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

822313

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD IN DRIVE GEAR AS WELL AS REVERSE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.

NHTSA ID

527098