2009 BMW M3 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2009 BMW M3. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the driver’s and passenger’s side turn signal failed to illuminate. Additionally, the headlights and dashboard lights would flicker on and off. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the electrical wiring insulation was frayed and damaged. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

NHTSA ID

11427001

Incident

Jul 1, 2021

Mileage

84,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED BMW TO REPLACE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE AT THAT TIME. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THEM SINCE TO ARRANGE REPLACEMENT AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CALLS.

NHTSA ID

11318530

Incident

Mar 13, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE BEEN WAITING 2 YEARS TO HAVE THIS RECALL DONE. I WAS ONCE SCHEDULED TO GET THE SERVICE AND THEN AFTER I DROPPED OFF THE CAR THEY CALLED ME BACK AND STATED THAT THEY DIDNT HAVE THE PART IN.

NHTSA ID

11060803

Incident

Feb 5, 2016

TAKATA RECALL DRIVING MY CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES ON THE LOCAL STREET AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, LIGHT TURNS GREEN, I TRY TO ACCELERATE AND ENGINE FELT SLUGGISH AND SHUTS OFF. TOWED THE CAR TO MRF ENGINEERING AND CAR NEEDED AN "ENGINE REPLACEMENT" AS MY ROD BEARINGS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. COSTED ROUGHLY AROUND $19,000 IN PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA ID

11002983

Incident

Feb 5, 2017

Mileage

67,000 mi

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WERE DEAD DESPITE A GOOD BATTERY. WAS SOLVED BY REMOVING GLOVE BOX AND FUS BOX AND PUSHING ON THE BATTERY CABLE THAT GOES INTO THE FUSE BOX TO GET A CONNECTION. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR BMW AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON OTHER 3-SERIES VEHICLES (2007 - 2011) WITH THE SAME PART NUMBERS, BUT WILL NOT COVER M3. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS LOSS OF POWER TO FUSE BOX WHILE DRIVING CAN SHUT DOWN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10991274

Incident

May 22, 2017

Mileage

58,500 mi

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER ONE YEAR FOR MY RECALL TO BE PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER. I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING IT WAS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN MAY OF 2016 (LETTER WAS DATED MARCH OF 2016). I DRIVE MY CAR ON A DAILY BASIS AND RUN THE RISK OF INJURY DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. I WILL NOT ALLOW FAMILY MEMBERS TO DRIVE MY DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND NOW WORRIED I HAVE TO SELL MY CAR. IF I SELL MY CAR I SHALL DIVULGE THAT THERE IS A RECALL BY BMW AND THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANYLONGER.

NHTSA ID

10970756

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - I RECEIVED NOTICE OF MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR BUT THE BMW STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PART. THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND I DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY TO HAVE A SECOND CAR. I AM DRIVING A CAR THAT IS PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK. BMW STATES THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH, YET THEY HAVE PLENTY TO SELL MILLIONS OF NEW CARS. I FIND THIS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! MY WIFE'S TOYOTA WAS ALSO RECALLED AND IT TOOK A FEW MONTHS TO GET REPLACED, BUT NOT BMW. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A CHANGE TO RECALLS WHERE MANUFACTURES WOULD HAVE TO STOP OR REDUCE THE PRODUCTION NUMBERS OF NEW CARS FOR UNTIL ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN SATISFIED FOR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS RECALLS. MAYBE THEN WE CAN HAVE MANUFACTURES TAKE THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY.

NHTSA ID

10935144

Incident

Feb 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL HASN'T HAPPENED. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I GUESS IF YOU WAIT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO COMPLAIN AFTER IT KILLS US IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10934034

Incident

Dec 9, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE CAR SUDDENLY VIBRATED AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND SKIDDED SLIGHTLY SIDEWAYS BEFORE GOING INTO A REDUCED POWER MODE. IF IT HAD BEEN RAINING OR SNOWING, OR AT A HIGHER SPEED ON HIGHWAY THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD A THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 44K MILES BUT HAS SURPASSED THE 4 YEARS OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THOUSANDS OF CARS AFFECTED. BMW REFUSES TO RECALL AND REPAIR THE ITEM IF THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST FOR REPAIR IS $3000.00 THE PART ALONE IS $1200.00 WHICH I WAS QUOTED. MY VEHICLE IS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10917999

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

Mileage

44,300 mi

TAKATA RECALL, REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. BMW HAS NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL BE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10863153

Incident

Apr 6, 2016

TAKATA RECALL HELLO MADAM/ SIR, I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE - 16V-071 REGARDING FAULTY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS IN MY 2009 BMW M3. THE NOTICE (ATTACHED) CLEARLY STATES THAT IN AN EVENT OF AIRBAG GETTING DEPLOYED, THE AIRBAG MIGHT EXPLODE CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.BMW SAYS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION OF WHEN NEW PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL ISSUE OF SOMETHING HAPPENING, I HAVE BEEN RENTING A CAR FOR A WHILE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED BMW AND HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL SO FAR TO RECEIVE ANY HELP. BMW TOLD ME THAT BMW DEALERSHIP OF ANN ARBOR WILL CONTACT ME FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND THEN BMW OF ANN ARBOR TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTING THIS RECALL. I HAVE JUST BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH BMW AND THE DEALERSHIP WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WHEN THE RECALL CLEARLY STATES THAT EXPLOSION OF AIRBAG MIGHT EVEN CAUSE DEATH? I CAN'T JUST AFFORD TO CONTINUE RENTING A CAR. ANY HELP FROM NHTSA WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I AM HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. KIND REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10863062

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

47,500 mi

ERROR MESSAGE: FAULT IN - PASSENGER RESTRAIN SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. THIS IS CAUSED BY FAULT SEAT MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG NOT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

10838738

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

S65 V8 ENGINE IN A BMW M3 E90/92/93 AND M5'S WITH A V10 HAS TWO THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATORS THAT FAIL PREMATURELY AT 40-80K MILES. BOTH THE INTERNAL NYLON GEARS AND ELECTRONICS WILL FAIL, AFFECTING ACCELERATOR PEDAL RESPONSE AND CAUSING HESITATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. THESE PARTS ARE NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM. WHEN FAILED, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION, EXCESS EMISSIONS, SKID CONTROL, AND ABS BRAKING WARNING LIGHTS ARE TRIGGERED. ENGINE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY, SNOWY, AND ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATOR DESIGN DEFECT SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A BMW RECALL. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE $1000-1300 EACH PLUS $1000 LABOR AND HAVE NEVER BEEN REDESIGNED BY BMW/BOSCH. SO THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE AND WILL FAIL PREMATURELY. REPAIRS OCCURRED ON DEC. 2012 AT 80K MILES FOR $2000 AND ON JAN. 2016 AT 140K MILES FOR $3000. A BMW M3 AND M5 RECALL AND REDESIGNED PARTS ARE WARRANTED. BMW TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW. 8YR/80KM FEDERAL EMISSIONS WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THESE REPAIRS AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10825875

Incident

Jan 8, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE TAKING A TURN. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AND DRIVE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I DROVE AROUND SLOWLY TO TEST AND NOTICED KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I ALSO NOTICED ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE NORMAL, NOT QUITE TO THE NEXT MARKER, BUT CLOSE. AT THAT POINT, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A BMW SERVICE SHOP. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS ROD BEARING FAILURE WHICH LED TO CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE, WITH ONLY 57K MI, THAT IS NO LONGER REUSABLE. I AM NOW FACING ENGINE REPLACEMENT COSTS OF $15-25K.

NHTSA ID

10765229

Incident

Aug 22, 2015

Mileage

56,729 mi

WHILE TRYING TO EXIT MY E92 2009 M3 FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE BY DOUBLE PULLING THE HANDLE IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE CAR. THE LOCKING BOLT STICKS UP PARTIALLY WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE BUT DOESN'T UNLOCK. I HAD TO HIT THE LOCK BUTTON FROM THE DASHBOARD TO UNLOCK THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IF YOU ARE PANICKED AND CAN'T GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY STRESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701509

Incident

Mar 23, 2015

Mileage

36,800 mi

400 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAULT WARNING BEGAN TO COME ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ALL GAUGES BOTTOM OUT QUICKLY THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. SOMETIMES, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM, EDC OR OTHER WARNINGS WILL START. I DON'T EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED AND ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD. WHEN CONNECTED TO THE BMW COMPUTER FOR ERROR CODES IT DOESN'T SHOW ANY CODES OR THAT THE WARNINGS HAVE GONE OFF. I HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR 18000 MILES TRYING TO FIND JUST ONE COMMON THING THAT WILL MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I HAVE FOUND NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS WARNING. IT MAY GO OFF CONSTANTLY ONE DAY AND NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR 2 WEEKS. SOMETIMES, AFTER GOING OFF FOR SEVERAL TIMES, THE GAUGES FOR RPM, TEMP WILL DROP TO THEIR LOWEST INDICATIONS AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL STICK AT WHATEVER THE SPEED IS AT THE TIME. I HAVE EMAILED BMW OF NA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECENT RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT INCLUDE THE M SERIES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD COST UP TOWARDS $5000 TO FIND A LOOSE WIRE. DIDN'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT MUCH SINCE IT WAS JUST 400 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS A LOOSE WIRE BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT AS A COMMON FACTOR, LIKE HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AFTER READING MANY BMW FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE M3 AS WELL AS THE OTHER SERIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560764

Incident

Apr 5, 2012

Mileage

50,400 mi

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY BMW 2009 M3, I NOTICED A RARE BUT VERY DISTURBING PATTERN ON TAKE OFF. I HAD CAR CHECKED IN DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS LIKELY SECONDARY TO MY DRIVING STYLE! THIS UNCONTROLLED TAKE OFF IS LIKE HI REV AND RAPID ACCELERATION PERIODICALLY ALTERNATING WITH DECELERATION FOR FEW SECONDS. I HAD THIS HAPPEN PROB A DOZEN TIME SO FAR(36K ON CAR). ON DAY OF MY ACCIDENT, IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH SPEED LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR, CAR LITERALLY WENT OFF ON ME. IT ACCELERATED TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT AND THEN MANAGED TO PUSH THE CAR INTO ANOTHER 3 CARS IN FRONT, BEFORE IT CAME TO A STALL. I AM NOT SURE IF IT WAS EXACTLY LIKE MY PREVIOUS EPISODES BECAUSE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND NEXT CAR WAS SHORT. WHAT I AM SURE IS THAT I HAD NO CONTROL ON CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428888

Incident

Sep 29, 2011

Mileage

36,300 mi

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORGANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURRING AFTER A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL UNDER HARD BRAKING OR NOT SHIFT UNDER HARD BRAKING. THE RECALL FIXED THAT PROBLEM, BUT INTRODUCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED DURING A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10350848

Incident

Aug 18, 2010

Mileage

2,500 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) DEAR [XXX], I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUR ORANIZATION TAKING AN INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT BMWNA IS WELL AWARE OF, BUT INSISTS THAT IT IS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR" FOR MY CAR/TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE IT, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY BMW THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL BEHAVIOR." THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN- LIKE FOR A TURN, BUT DO NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DCT TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE FIGURING OUT WHAT GEAR TO SELECT BECAUSE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN THE ONSET OF POWER- UP TO 2-3 SECONDS. BY THIS TIME, THE DRIVER IS USUALLY REALLY DIGGING INTO THE THROTTLE. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY PICKS A GEAR, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHING FORWARD, SOMETIMES INVOKING THE ANTI-SKIP CONTROL. THE DANGER IN THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS WHEN MAKING A TURN INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 10-15 MPH. AFTER THE TURN, THE CAR IS POSITIONED IN THE TRAFFIC LANE, BUT YOU HAVE NO POWER TO ACCELERATE INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE ONCOMING CARS ARE NOW CLOSING IN ON YOUR CAR AT A FAST RATE, AND YOU'RE BASICALLY STUCK. THIS SITUATION IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE "AUTO" MODE OF THE DCT TRANSMISSION, BUT ALSO OCCURS TO A LESSER DEGREE WHILE IN THE MANUAL MODE WHEN YOU SELECT SECOND GEAR IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN. IT IS ALSO VERY REPEATABLE IN BOTH MODES. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURING AFTER A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD STALL UNDER HARD BRAKING OR NOT SHIFT UNDER HARD BRAKING. THE RECALL FIXED THAT PROBLEM, BUT INTRODUCED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURED DURING A SPECIFIC SITUATION. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332510

Incident

May 26, 2010

Mileage

5,600 mi

WITH THE DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN D MODE, WHEN SLOWING FROM 50 OR 60 MPH TO 15-20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT AND STAYS IN 6TH OR 7TH GEAR. EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR THE CAR WILL NOT SELECT AN APPROPRIATE GEAR WHICH MAKES THE CAR BARELY ACCELERATE AT ALL CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS CAR HAS LITTLE TO NO TORQUE (BY DESIGN) AT VERY LOW RPMS, AND IT BASICALLY JUST SITS THERE AND DOESN'T MOVE. A DRIVER OFTEN SLOWS LIKE THIS WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN AND HAVING THE CAR JUST SIT THERE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS PRESENTS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN TERMS OF BEING EITHER REAR-ENDED OR BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ENTIRE NATURE OF THE AUTOMATIC PROGRAM ON THIS CAR IS UNPREDICTABLE; IN SOME CASES IT WILL DOWNSHIFT, IN OTHERS (AS DESCRIBED ABOVE) IT WILL NOT, WHICH ADDS TO THE UNSAFE NATURE OF THIS DEFECT. IT DOES NOT BEHAVE LIKE ANY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION I'VE EVER OWNED. THE SOFTWARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION WAS UPDATED IN DECEMBER 2009. PRIOR TO THAT, IN EITHER MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC MODE THE CAR WOULD DOWNSHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR, BUT THERE WAS A 1-2 SECOND PAUSE BEFORE ANY POWER WAS DELIVERED (THE ENGINE WOULD NOT "GO" EVEN ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR). THIS ISSUE HASN'T RECURRED, BUT THE SITUATION IS STILL NOT RECTIFIED (AS NOTED IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE) AS THE "NEW" ISSUE WITH FAILING TO DOWNSHIFT IN D MODES HAS SURFACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312918

Incident

Feb 20, 2010

Mileage

2,258 mi

1. WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THAT TURNS GREEN, THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE BEFORE ACTUALLY STOPPING, THE CAR HESITATES OR LAGS. COULD GET REAR-ENDED OR T-BONED IF TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED DUE TO THIS ONGOING, IGNORED, SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW. 2. CAN ROUTINELY REPRODUCE THIS HESITATION/LAG. 3. BMW REFUSES TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND HAS TOLD IT'S DEALERS IT IS A NORMAL RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312915

Incident

Feb 21, 2010

Mileage

12,011 mi

2009 BMW M3 WITH DCT - ISSUE PRESENT FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENTLY WHEN IN AUTOMATIC MODE AND SLOWING SUCH AS AT AN INTERSECTION PRIOR TO A TURN AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO THE LOWER GEAR (USUALLY 2ND). WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED, THERE IS OFTEN NO RESPONSE FOR UP TO 2 SECONDS. WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES RESPOND, THE APPLICATION OF POWER MAY BE GRADUAL AND NOT DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THIS HAS RESULTED IN A NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATION. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OR MERGING RIGHT WITH TRAFFIC THAT IS MAKING A LEFT TURN, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE EMERGENCY ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND AS EXPECTED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE IN THE NET DISCUSSION BOARDS, YET BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT CLAIMING THAT IT IS NORMAL TRANSMISSION BEHAVIOR. THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR VEHICLE FAILS TO RESPOND IN A RELIABLE/TIMELY MANNER IN REAL TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310310

Incident

May 30, 2009

Mileage

15 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE ROAD AT THE ALLOTTED SPEED LIMIT., I WAS ON A SINGLE LANE ROAD. I THEN WENT OVER A POTHOLE- NOT A HUGE CRATER. AFTER WHICH MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME CROOKED AND THE DSC FAILURE WARNING ON MY BMW CAME UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID THAT I HAVE DAMAGE TO MY REAR SUB FRAME(BENT), I APPARENTLY HAPPENS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES-THE COST FOR REPAIRING IS 4000$. IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. IT LOOKS LIKE TO AVOID THESE INCIDENTS I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING ON ROADS - AS I WAS NOT SPEEDING NOR WAS I INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR. I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE POTHOLE - AT THE EXPENSE OF GOING INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE AND HITTING THE OTHER CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED EVERYONE AT BMW., NONE HELPS. I HOPE THIS IS MY LAST RESORT FOR LITTLE PEOPLE LIKE ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285960

Incident

Sep 24, 2009

Mileage

4,000 mi

THE DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT) IN MY CAR, A 2009 BMW M3 ROUTINELY HESITATES WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR IN 2ND GEAR. THE HESITATION IS LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE PUT ME AND MY PASSENGERS IN GRAVE DANGER. IN FACT, IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS WHEN MERGING WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279187

Incident

Aug 3, 2009

Mileage

7,000 mi

HELLO, I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2009 BMW M3 WITH THE DCT TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE A SEQUENTIAL MANUAL SHIFTER, ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN AT THEIR WILL. THESE SHIFTS HAPPEN INSTANTANEOUSLY, WITHIN FRACTIONS OF A SECOND. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST GEAR ON ITS OWN, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON DRIVER INPUT, AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE. ALL OF THIS IS NORMAL, ADVERTISED, AND EXPECTED BEHAVIOR. THERE ARE TIMES, HOWEVER, WHEN THE CAR IS DECELERATING BUT NOT COMING TO A FULL STOP (WHEN TAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, FOR EXAMPLE), THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL BEGIN ITS AUTOMATED DOWNSHIFTS BUT THEN BECOME INCREDIBLY UNRESPONSIVE. IN THESE CASES, IF I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP, I'LL NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT LAG BEFORE THE ENGINE ACTUALLY REVS UP. BASICALLY, PRESSING ON THE GAS WON'T DO ANYTHING -- THE TRANSMISSION IS OSTENSIBLY "DECIDING" WHICH GEAR IS THE OPTIMAL ONE AND WILL IGNORE ALL MANUAL GEAR CHANGES AND GAS PEDAL INPUT UNTIL IT MAKES UP ITS MIND. AT TIMES, THIS LAG HAS LASTED AS LONG AS 2-3 SECONDS. THIS LAG IS BOTHERSOME, AT TIMES DANGEROUS, AND ALARMINGLY, WAS NOT AS NOTICEABLY BAD WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO. THIS BEHAVIOR OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND CAN BE REPRODUCED AT WILL. INCIDENTALLY, THIS LAG DOESN'T HAPPEN IF I MANUALLY DOWNSHIFT THROUGH THE GEARS TO 3RD, 2ND, OR 1ST RATHER THAN LETTING THE CAR PERFORM THE DOWNSHIFTS FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279088

Incident

Jul 17, 2009

Mileage

3,000 mi