Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Interior & seats 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.
14
Latest Dec 30, 2023
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 573 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 BMW 328I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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 interior
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Dec 30, 2023
The the OC3 MAT on the passanger car just showed up faulty which causes the air bag light to also come on. I have seen a lot of others posting they are having the same issue. Can you help me find out if this has already been recalled but not replaced on my car or if it hasn't even been recalled yet this is a safety issue. Because the airbags will not function if the oc3 mat is not functioning properly. There wasn't anyone in the seat and the car had not been in an accident when the lights for the seat and airbags came on I took it in for a diagnostic and they said it was the passenger OC3 mat . I have read some of the same modle had already had recalls just trying to find out if this was one that should have been because the rep at the dealer ship said this was the first one he's ever seen go bad on any car since he's been there. The big problem I'm having is the warranty I bought with the car won't cover this repair either and I'm a disabled veteran so I can't afford it at this moment.
NHTSA ID
11562709
Incident
Dec 26, 2023
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Oct 22, 2023
Passenger restraint system malfunction alert when car is turned on. Air bag and passenger seatbelt warning lights are on. Passenger seat belt light will never turn off even with no passengers in the car. Air bags for passenger are off when there is a passenger in the car causing a safety concern. BMW wants $1000 to diagnose what the issue is for the airbag light only but not to fix it or check the seat belt light. Already paid them $100 just to tell me exactly what the message said on the car screen. Seeing the same issue all over the internet with flaws in the passenger restraint system for this model and similar models but no fix. Found an extended warranty but does not list the E92 model, all other models are listed.
NHTSA ID
11551212
Incident
Oct 18, 2023
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Nov 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact then stated that he noticed that the front passenger’s side interior door handle disintegrated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the door handle melted and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the local dealer was notified of the recall notice and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall repair however, the contact was advised to call the manufacturer. The contact was concerned that touching the door handle could cause harm to a passenger touching the door handle and could catch fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that the repair was being developed and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. Parts distributions disconnect.
NHTSA ID
11492555
Incident
Mar 7, 2022
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 14, 2022
I had my passenger in the car driving 30mm and then I got a “restraint system warning ⚠️ “ illuminating the seatbelt light and seatbelt with airbag light. This is a safety concern as it is still on without a passenger. This affects the passenger airbag so in the case of fatality this would fall on BMW NA for neglecting to fix this issue. The car was fine before and this came out of no where
NHTSA ID
11469243
Incident
Jun 11, 2022
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 19, 2022
In approximately 2014 the passenger seatbelt sensor randomly started dinging while driving and the seat was NOT occupied. I solved the issue by clipping the seat belt. This issue continued randomly for years and was always solved by clipping the seatbelt. Just this week May 2022, I had a passenger who while getting into the car once the seat belt was disengaged, the sensor immediatly started ding and would not stop and the "Service Engine Soon" dashboard light came on simultaneously. The Service light stayed on throughout the journey and has not turned off. The recall for a faulty seat mat does not extend beyond 2008 when CLEARLY, the seat mat continues to have issues beyond that year. I RARELY have a passenger and my 2011 has ~43K miles. This should be a manufacturer-funded repair as it is clearly a DEFECT in the product.
NHTSA ID
11465296
Incident
May 18, 2022
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 14, 2022
Driver side seat gets so hot that the seat warmer cannot be kept on, even at the lowest setting, for longer than a few minutes.
NHTSA ID
11451815
Incident
Dec 1, 2013
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 2, 2020
THE BACK SEAT MELTED FOR NO KNOWN REASON. IT STARTED IN THE BACKSEAT ARM REST, AND I HAD TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LEATHER IS A DIFFERENT COLOR, THEN IT MOVED ONTO THE SEAT. NO ONE EVER SITS BACK THERE, I WENT TO BRAMAN BMW AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ELEMENTS, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD TO KEEP IT IN A GARAGE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD OF BEEN TOLD AHEAD OF TIME. I DON'T HAVE A GARAGE SO IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. OTHER MANUFACTURERS LIKE LEXUS HAS HAD RECALLS ON SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ID
11326944
Incident
Dec 19, 2019
Mileage
48,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Mar 3, 2020
OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 2 MONTHS I GET AN OC3 PASSENGER SEAT MAT ERROR. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS BUT MY CAR ISN'T COVERED.
NHTSA ID
11315937
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 15, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported
STOPPED AFTER EXCITING FREEWAY WITH TRAFFIC FLOW. SUV CAME UP BEHIND ME AND DIDN'T STOP AND HIT ME FROM BEHIND GOING 40-60 MPH. IMPACT THREW ME BACK THEN HEADREST DEPLOYED AND PUNCHED ME IN THE BACK OF HEAD WHICH I THEN HIT SEARING WHEEL. INSTANTLY FELT PAIN IN NECK AND HEAD. TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. 2 C.T. SCANS DONE,CHEST XRAYS, AND 2 MRIS OF NECK AND BRAIN SHOWING SPINAL STENOSIS OF CERVICAL REGION, BULGE OF CERVICAL DISC WITHOUT MYELOPATHY. I ALSO SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH WHICH IS STILL PRESENT AS OF TODAY. CAR TOTALLED. ONE OF DOCTORS STATED IMPACT FROM HEADREST DEPLOYING WAS SAME AS BEING PUNCHED IN BACK OF HEAD FROM A 200 LB. MAN.
NHTSA ID
11151837
Incident
Oct 5, 2018
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Oct 30, 2018
I AM RECEIVING A 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION' MESSAGE ON MY DASH AND THE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ARE STUCK ON. ONLINE BMW STATES "THE OC3 MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CHECK WITH YOUR DEALER, WE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SOME MODELS." I CHECKED WITH MY DEALER AND THIS DOES NOT QUALIFY. THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS SAFETY REPAIR. I CANNOT SAFELY HAVE ANYONE RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND THE SEAT CEASES TO MOVE AS WELL. MY DEALER STATES IT COSTS $1350 TO FIX AND THEY WOULD NEED TO ORDER IN THE PART AND HAVE MY VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD NOT HAVE AN 'EXPIRATION DATE' AS TO WHEN THE DEALER WILL OR WILL NOT COVER IT. THE CARE IS 7 YEARS OLD AND HAS 63,000 MILES. THIS DEFECT WAS COVERED FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 MODELS AND BECAME A RECALL. I SEE ONLINE IN FORUMS OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS IN THE 2011 MODEL. I AM FORCED TO PAY A MECHANIC TO FIX THIS NOW.
NHTSA ID
11144154
Incident
Oct 30, 2018
Mileage
63,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 1, 2018
PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY FAILURE MALFUNCTION DUE TO THE WIRING . COST OVER $1000.
NHTSA ID
11099140
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Mileage
111,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 4, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V044000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES WITH THE POWER LOCKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL LOCK SYSTEM IN BOTH THE FRONT DOORS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE LOCK SYSTEM WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
NHTSA ID
10515083
Incident
May 30, 2013
Mileage
67,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 19, 2013
1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN SEVERE BACK AND SHOULDER PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT A SPECIALIST WOULD DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALLBACK FROM THE SPECIALIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
NHTSA ID
10499259
Incident
Jul 12, 2011
Mileage
22,000 mi
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Mar 9, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE ALONG WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK OPENED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND THE LOCK ACTUATOR WAS NOT LOCKING COMPLETELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE GPS SYSTEM DIDN'T ALLOW HER TO PUT IN 95% OF THE ADDRESSES. SOMETIMES, THE GPS GAVE THE CONSUMER THE WRONG DIRECTIONS. ALSO, THE ENGINE VIBRATED AFTER SITTING FOR A PERID OF TIME. UPDATED 05/11/12
NHTSA ID
10451018
Incident
Sep 9, 2011
Mileage
300 mi
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