Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2000 record →
I JUST GOT HOME AND TRIED TO PUT MY 2000 BMW 323I IN REVERSE TO PARK BUT NOTHING HAPPENED! IT WAS AS IF THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL! I AM VERY UPSET AS I HAVE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED! *TR
BOUGHT MY 2000 BMW 323I BRAND NEW, I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. I HAVE HAD IT ONLY DEALER SERVICED WITH ALL RECORDS KEPT. AT 67K MILES THE REVERSE WENT OUT. DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. BEING THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE THOUSANDS TO FIX I CONTINUED DRIVING IT WITH NO REVERSE. MEANING I PUSH IT. I CONTACTED BMW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CAR THAT CAUSED IT. YET THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON ONLINE FORUMS. SHAME ON BMW FOR NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
MRS BELT TENSIONER DRIVER FAULT. ONLINE FORUMS SUGGEST A UNIVERSAL WIRE DEFECT WHERE THE WIRING IS PINCHED AND BREAKS FROM MOVING THE SEAT. *TR
THE CAR HAS 86,000 MILES I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND IT WILL NO LONGER ENGAGE IN REVERSE! ONLY SOLUTION IS A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH COSTS MORE THAN BOOK VALUE OF CAR. *TR
MY BMW IS ONE OF POSSIBLE THOUSANDS THAT RECEIVED A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION MADE BY ZF. THE REVERSE DRIVE D HUB BREAKS LEAVING PIECES RATTLING AROUND INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND NO REVERSE. CHECK WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG TO SEE A FEW THAT HAVE REGISTERED THEIR BMW'S WITH COMMENTS. REPAIR COST RANGE FROM $1800 - $5000 OR MORE DEPENDING ON PARTICULAR DEALERSHIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. I FIND DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT BMW HAS NOT OFFERED ANYTHING IN RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE THAT'S PLAGUING SO MANY OF THEIR CARS WITH VERY HIGH REPAIR BILLS. BMW PROMOTED THESE CARS WITH "LIFETIME-NO SERVICE" TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
THE LOCKS REPEATEDLY QUIT WORKING ON ALL PASSENGER DOORS. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL DEFICIENCY OF THE GM5 MODULE ON BMW. *TR
MY BMW 323I ABRUPTLY LOST THE ABILITY TO REVERSE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2013. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON TO BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED DURING THE LATE 1990'S AND EARLY 2000'S. THERE IS EVEN A WEBSITE DEVOTED TO IT (NOREVERSE.ORG). BMW SHOULD CONSIDER DOING A RECALL IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
THE DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK IF THEY ARE PARKED IN THE SUN IN TEMP. IN EXCESS OF 80-85 DEGREES. THE DOOR CENTRAL LOCKING DOES NOT WORK WITH EITHER THE KEYS (TWICE CLICKS TO UNLOCK ALL THE DOORS). ONCE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS OPENED IT TAKES 1/2 HOUR OF AIR CONDITIONING BLAST TO HAVE THE SYSTEM COOL DOWN AND ALLOW THE UNLOCKING WITH THE BUTTON OR THE REMOTE. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE. THERE ARE SO MANY BMW'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING, AN ABNORMAL SOUND CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OR TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE STOLEN AND ABANDON IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. IT HAS NOT MOVED IN 2 WEEKS. THERE IS NO LICENSE PLATE AND THE VEHICLE IS EMPTY OF PERSONAL PROPERTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.
LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ON THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE, MY 2000 BMW 323I WIT 71K MILES FAILED TO GO INTO REVERSE. I WAS AT CHURCH AND PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS - EVER. THE CAR WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE WEB AND WAS ASTOUNDED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF BMW 2000 323I OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED BMW OF AMERICA VIA EMAIL AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME RESPONSE AS THE OTHER OWNERS OF "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." MANY OWNERS HAD LESS THAN 50,000 AND BMW IS NOT OWNING UP TO THE PROBLEM. BMW HAD NOT AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, BUT INTERESTINGLY THEY ARE NO LONGER USING THESE TRANSMISSIONS. A CLASS ACTION IS BEING DISCUSSED AND RIGHTLY SO. THIS IS A RIP OFF OF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND DEFINITELY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CAN SEE SOMEONE NOT BEING ABLE TO BACK UP OFF OF A TRAIN TRACK, ETC. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, EML, AND DSC WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE DME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 3/8/13 *CN UPDATED 04/12/2013 *JS
WAS TRYING TO REVERSE N IT WOULDN'T IT PERIODICALLY WON'T REVERSE UNTIL CAR WARMS UP. WINDOW WON'T GO UP WITHOUT MANUALLY PULLING IT UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REVERSE DRUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A POT HOLE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HAPHAZARDLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V223000 (AIR BAGS: SIDE WINDOW) BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 198,000. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON HITTING THE POT HOLE CHUNKS WERE TAKEN OUT OF BOTH LEFT SIDE ALLOY WHEELS. ALSO THE TWO LEFT SIDE TIRES WERE BLOWN OUT. UPDATED 1/7/2013 *JS
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS NO REVERSE GEAR. I PUSHED THE CAR, MYSELF. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR. I READ ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGER TO THE OWNERS AND EVERYONE AROUND THE VEHICLE. NOT TO MENTION, THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. THIS IS MY FIRST CAR. PLEASE CONSIDER HELP WITH THIS MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
ALL PASSENGER DOORS FAIL TO OPEN (EVEN MANUALLY) DUE TO A FAULTY GM5 (COMPUTER) OR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR RESULTING IN A HAZARD IF THERE WERE TO BE A FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *TR
PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL AND NO REVERSE. NO INDICATIONS ANYTHING WRONG PUT INTO REVERSE ACTS LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. ABSOLUTELY NO REVERSE. DROVE HOME AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO TRANSMISSION SHOP. WENT ONLINE AND SHOCKED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF NO REVERSE FAILURE ONLINE. THE NO REVERSE ORG IN 2009 IS NO LONGER UP BUT SHOCKED HOW MANY PEOPLE POSTED THE EXACT PROBLEM! BMW NORTH AMERICA OR CORPORATE SAYS THEY CAN'T DO A RECALL AND TO NOTIFY NHTSA. ETHICALLY, WE BOTH KNOW THEY SHOULD FIX THESE FAULTY DRUMS THEY OUTSOURCED TO GM AND DID NOT TELL ANYONE. PLEASE RECALL THE NO REVERSE FAILURE FOR THE 2000 MODEL, THANKS FOR RECALLING THE SUB-FRAME CRACKING. BMW SERVICE CENTERS ARE A RIP OFF AND NEVER TELL THE OWNER WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON. I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVE METICULOUS SERVICE RECORDS AND FEEL THE US NEEDS TO MAKE THEM STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE HELP US. GETTING STUCK IN A DANGEROUS PARKING LOT AT NIGHT WOULD NOT BE SAFE? PLEASE ASK BMW TO FIX THEIR FAULTY DRUM. *TR
I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AROUND 4:30PM ON APRIL 17, 2012 AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT...THE CAR HAD NO POWER. THE TRANSMISSION JUST REVVED UP LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO BACK UP. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD IT IN THE WRONG GEAR BUT NO IT WAS IN REVERSE. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND WENT AROUND THE CORNER TO WAIT FOR HER. WHEN I TRIED TO REVERSE OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT IT STILL DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. THANKFUL THE CAR ROLLED BACK FAR ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT. ONCE I GOT HOME I HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO MY PARKING STALL BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN THE REVERSE WAS NOT WORKING. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, THE MILES ARE LOW 125,000 AND IT GETS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS. *JS
AFTER HAVING THE CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED AND A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT COMPLETED AT A BMW SERVICE DEALERSHIP IN TYLER, TX, APPARENTLY THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN) FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THIS SENSOR FAILED, ALL THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CEASED TO WORK. ACCORDING TO THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO RE-CALIBRATE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AFTER AN ALIGNMENT IS COMPLETED. ADDITIONALLY, PER THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE REPLACING STEERING ANGLE SENSORS IN A VARIETY OF BMW AUTOMOBILES AT "3 TO 4 PER WEEK". ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS BETWEEN $500 - $1000. *TR
THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. WENT TO LEAVE A FRIENDS HOUSE AND IT WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. HAD TO BE PUSHED BACKWARDS, PUT INTO DRIVE AND FORWARD GEARS WORKED FINE. DROVE ABOUT 11 MILES, STOPPED AND PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND IT WORKED. COUPLE DAYS LATER I WENT TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND REVERSE STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE REVERSE WORKS ON AND OFF. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE A TRAFFIC SITUATION COULD ARISE WHERE REVERSE IS NEEDED TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, YET BMW HAS FAILED ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. *TR
THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK THIS MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO BACK THE CAR FROM THE PARKING LOT. THE FORWARD GEAR IS GOOD THOUGH. MY CAR HAS A DUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR
I HAVE A BMW 323I AND THE REVERSE WENT OUT. LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PIECE OF S#!% TRANSMISSION. BMW HAS LOST ME AS A CUSTOMER, SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WHEN SO MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. BACKING OUT ONTO A TWO LANE, 55 MPH HWY MY SON AND I WERE NEARLY KILLED SINCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I THOUGHT IT SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. NO IT FAILED! *TR
2000 BMW 323I. CONSUMER STATES REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE *TGW
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323I THAT ALL OF A. SUDDEN WON'T ENGAGE REVERSE. I WAS READING ON PINE AND SAW. I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. I CALLED NORTH HOUSTON BMW AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS LOOKING AT ABOUT $6000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I'M VERY UPSET AND WANT TO KNOW IF BMW RECALLED THIS ISSUE AND COULD I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THEM FOR THE REPAIRS AT NO COST TO ME. *TR
FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GT TIRE FAILED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM INTERIOR SIDEWALL. TIRE WAS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD LOGGED FEWER THAN 20,000 MILES. TIRE DAMAGE OCCURRED ON SHORT TRIP (<5 MILES) AND DRIVER RECOGNIZED THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED BEFORE DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN. ACCORDINGLY, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. *TR
MY 323I HAS THE REVERSE GEAR IS BROKEN..... FOUND THIS FROM NOREVERSE.ORG. COST ME 3K TO FIX. *KB
THE DOOR LOCKS OF MY CAR ARE ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED VIA REMOTE AND A BUTTON ON MY CENTER CONSOLE. THE GM5 DOOR LOCKING MODULE HAS INTERMITTENT ISSUES, ONE OF WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS WHILE YOU ARE IN THE VEHICLE. IN AN EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT ONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR REMOTE. *TR
REAR SUBFRAME BEGINNING TO TEAR. COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN NOTED HERE BEFORE. *TR
BMW E46 SUBFRAMES ARE MADE WITH A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. OVER TIME THE SUBFRAME CRACKS. MINE HAS CRACKED. *TR
WITH NO WARNING,NO INDICATION ON DASH, NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM, CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP, FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN MY OWN DRIVEWAY AND NOT IN A PRECARIOUS SITUATION. 2000 323I AUTOMATIC TRANS 100000+ MI DEALER SERVICED SINCE NEW, "LIFETIME FLUID" NO WAY TO CHECK FLUID LEVEL, DEALER SAYS"FLUID LOW CLUTCHES BURNED" ??? LIFETIME FLUID . I SUSPECT AND WILL CHECK TO FIND BROKEN CLUTCH DRUM SO COMMON TO THIS TRANS AS INDICATED IN THE MANY WEBSITES DEDICATED TO THIS TRANS LITERALLY, HUNDREDS PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ARE ON LINE HOW MANY NOT REPORTED? THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AS WELL AS AN OBVIOUS ENGINEERING FAILURE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OWNERS FAILURE TO SERVICE THIS VEHICLE OR CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL- IN FACT -THE OWNER HAS NO WAY TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. WHY HAS NHTSA NOT FORCED THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT ? ARE WE WAITING FOR ANOTHER "' PINTO" SERIES OF DISASTERS? *KB
JUST YESTERDAY MY REVERSE WENT OUT ON MY WIFE'S 2000 BMW 323I WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH I AM SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR BMW'S OF THIS ERA. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN CARED FOR EXTREMELY WELL. I WAS ALSO SHOCKED BY THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THAT BMW CHOOSES TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT IN THE FORM OF A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN A PROUD BMW OWNER AND WAS A HUGE FAN OF THE PRODUCT. LEXUS/INFINITI HERE I COME. LET'S HOPE THAT BMW DOES THE RIGHT THING AND HELPS THOSE OF US SUFFERING FROM A SUB-STANDARD PRODUCT. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323CI(NA). THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
HEARD LOUD NOISES COMING FROM REAR END OF VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION BY REPAIR FACILITY IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SUBFRAME MOUNT HAD PULLED AWAY FROM THE BODY, A LARGE TEAR IS PRESENT IN THE BODY PANEL ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME MOUNT. REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED THE RISK IS THAT THE CAR MAY NOT RESPOND AS EXPECTED IN AN EMERGENCY OR EVASIVE ACTION. FORM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO COMPLETE VIN, LAST CHARACTER IS A 2.
BMW 323I 2000 AT 55TOU MILES SUDDENLY IT WILL NOT REVERSE TO MY GARAGE. I RESEARCH THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF NO REVERSE IN THEIR BMW. I CALLED THE BMW EXECUTIVE OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY [XXX]BUT NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I ALSO MENTIONED HUNDREDS OF UNHAPPY PEOPLE ON THE WEBSITE BUT STILL WILL NOT GIVE ASSISTANCE. WITH MANY BMW OWNERS COMPLAINING NO REVERSE ON THEIR CAR THIS SHOULD BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. HERE IS THE WEBSITE OF UNHAPPY BMW OWNER'S....HTTP://WWW.NOREVERSE.ORG/COMPLAINTS_2009Q3.HTML.. I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH AND OTHER OWNERS IF YOU HELP US MAKE BMW RECOGNIZE 'DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION-AUTOMATIC). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
ONE DAY I WAS LEAVING TARGET TO TAKE MY SON TO HIS DR. APPT. AND MY CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE. REVERSE ACTED AS A NEUTRAL. IT WAS ONLY ME AND MY SON I HAD TO ASK SOMEONE TO PUSH ME BACKWARDS. EMBARRASSING!!!!! AFTER THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL A FEW WEEKS LATER AND NOW IT IS NON STOP. ITS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS TO TRY AND ROB ME WHEN I LEAVE WORK AND I NEEDED TO BACK UP QUICKLY. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A CRACK IN THE REAR DRUM AND THAT IT IS 2,500-3,500 TO FIX. I AM A SINGLE MOM I CANNOT AFFORD THAT. THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN THERE IS ONLY 112,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY SUBFRAME IS FAILING ON THE REAR END OF MY BMW. HE PULLED A REPORT SAYING THAT A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST BMW BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED (I.E, A 'SILENT' RECALL). HIS WORDS: "MAN YOU'RE TOTALLY SCREWED." MY READING OF THE LAWSUIT IS THAT THERE WAS A LIMITED TIME TO SEEK REDRESS FROM BMW; HAVING JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME IMAGINING HOW SOMETHING THAT APPARENTLY IS EPIDEMIC IN 3-SERIES BMWS AND CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (IN ONE CASE, APPARENTLY LOCKING UP THE BRAKES AND CAUSING THE CAR TO COME TO A SCREECHING HALT) HAS NOT RESULTED IN A RECALL OF MODEL WITH MANDATORY REPAIRS! AGAIN, I'M NOT A LAWYER BUT MY READING OF THE DOCUMENT MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME SEEMS TO REVEAL AN ENORMOUS DODGE BY BMW IN LIMITING THE TIME FRAME DURING WHICH ONE CAN HAVE THEM REPAIR THE PROBLEM! MY INTERNET SEARCH THIS WEEKEND SHOWS THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, PEOPLE DESCRIBING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THEIR CARS, ETC., AND OF COURSE I'M NOT IN THE DRIVE THIS THING ANYMORE. IT SEEMS THE SERIOUS NATURE OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND OBVIOUS DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING SHOULD WARRANT SOME SORT OF MANDATORY REDRESS BY THE MANUFACTURER. (MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN USED IN RACING OR EXTREME ACTIVITIES, JUST HIGHWAY DRIVING, MOSTLY FOR COMMUTE.) HAD I NOT ASKED HIM TO CHECK THE CAUSE OF THE SQUEAKING IN THE REAR, MY 1ST NOTICE OF THIS COULD WELL HAVE BEEN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323CI AND THE REVERSE GEAR STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. SOMETIMES IT COMES BACK AND STARTS WORKING AGAIN, BUT THEN IT STOPS WORKING AGAIN. I WENT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $3000. BMW SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. PLEASE HELP! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FURTHER BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND ROLLED TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND UPON RESTART THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.
I PURCHASED A 2000 BMW 323I ON TUESDAY MARCH 14 FROM A PRIVATE OWNER WHO HAD METICULOUS RECORDS OF MAINTENANCE AND VEHICLE ONLY HAD 97K MILES. TWO DAYS LATER, THE "REVERSE" WENT OUT BUT THE OTHER GEARS WERE FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND SAID THAT I WOULD BE NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE BMW DEALER IS GOING TO CHARGE ME $7000 TO FIX. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND NOW IS NOT DRIVABLE. I WENT ONLINE TO SEARCH IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WAS ASTONISHED TO SEE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. BMWNA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS CLEARLY A TRANSMISSION DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
BMW 2000 323I. THE REVERSE WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. WHAT THE HECK? HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN IN MASS WITH NO RECALL FROM BMW. HOW HAVE THEY GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS IN THE USA? *TR
2000 BMW 323I TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED GOING INTO REVERSE. FORWARD GEARS WORK FINE. *TR
NO REVERSE, TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE REVERSE GEAR. *TR
MY 2000 323I BMW WON'T GO INTO REVERSE. *TR
I OWN A 2000 323I W/140K MILES. I PULLED INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE (HEAD IN). UPON LEAVING, I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I THOUGHT MAYBE I ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, BUT NO. SO I PUT IT BACK INTO PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY. I TRIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULT. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. DRIVE WORKED JUST FINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO LIGHTS, SOUNDS, OR INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I AM REALLY TICKED OFF. I HAD TO GET PUSHED BACK AND THEN I COULD DRIVE OFF. RECALL PLEASE. *TR
REVERSE STOPS WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
2000 BMW 323 4 DOOR SEDAN INSIDE FABRIC SEPARATING FROM WINDSHIELD COLUMN FRAME, FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELDS. GLUE IS DEFECTIVE AND BMW WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. IF FABRIC CONTINUES TO LIFT OFF WILL OBSTRUCT VIEW WHEN DRIVING CAUSING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR
WE BROUGHT OUR DAUGHTER A 2000 323I BMW, A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THIS WAS A GIFT AND OUR DAUGHTER WAS SO HAPPY, WE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR, IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, ONLY HAS 50K MILES AND WAS GARAGE KEPT AND WAS NEVER DROVE IN THE WINTER, AND NOW IT IS SITTING IN THE GARAGE AND CANT BE DRIVEN. I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF A CLASS ACTION, THIS IS A ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS,A DN BMW NEEDS TO RECALL THE CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. OUR DAUGHTER IS SO DISAPPOINTED SHE CANT DRIVE HER CAR. THE BMW DEALER THAT LOOKED AT THE CAR SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE 4800.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY CAN NOT GUARANTEED THAT THE NEW TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DO THE SAME THING, AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE IT FIXED AND IT DO IT AGAIN AND HAVE TO KEEP REPAIRING THE CAR. I KNOW AFTER ALL OF THIS I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BMW. IF ANYONE KNOWS A CLASSACTION SUIT PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2000 BMW 323i → · Every 323i year → · How the figures are calculated →