2000 BMW 323i complaints

SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN A CRASH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE, AND THE PASSENGER'S CURTAIN AND SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT." DEALER HAD REPLACED ONE SENSOR UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT/ONE SENSOR ON THE DASHBOARD, AND RE-ATTACHED THE WIRING SYSTEM. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 02V223000 CONCERNINT AIR BAGS. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

IN SPITE OF HARDLY EVER USING THE WINDOWS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 WINDOW REGULATORS AT MY COST. DEALER STATES THAT THE REGULATORS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE CPO AND ALSO STATES THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE 3 SERIES AND ALSO IN THE 5 SERIES. VERY UNSATISFIED WITH QUALITY OF VEHICLE.*AK

BMW NOT HONORING FULL TERM OF NEW CAR WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AT A DEALER IN AUGUST 25 2000 AND THE CAR HAD UNDER THE MILEAGE LIMIT, THE DEALERS COMPUTERS LIST THE CAR AS BEING RETAILED IN APRIL 2000 NOT AUGUST 2000. HOWEVER I HAVE AND WAS GIVEN THE BILL OF SALE LISTING THE CAR AS NEW AND RETAILED ON AUGUST 25 2000. WHEN I WENT IN FOR SERVICE ON AUGUST 7 2003, A DEALER, PRESTIGE BMW IN RAMSEY TOLD ME THE INFORMATION BMW HAS LISTS THE CAR AS RETAILING TO ME IN APRIL. EVEN WHEN TOLD I HAD PAPERWORK PROVING OTHERWISE, THE SERVICE REP WAS UNFAZED. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE I PURCHASED THE CAR, AS NEW FROM THE DEALER, THE DEALER BEING DIFEO BMW. THE CAR DID NOT EVEN WHOLESALE UNTIL APRIL 2000 PER THE DELIVER INVOICE TO THE DEALER. *PH

THE SIDE AIRBAG RECALL 02V223000 WAS REMEDIED ON 11/4/02. ON 11/11/02, WHILE DRIVING, THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER REPAIRED AND REPLACED. IN 06/03 THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SYSTEM. *AK ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE SRS LIGHT HAD COME. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE PASSENGER SIDE SRS AND HEAD PROTECTION AIRBAG DEPLOYED DUE TO THE CRASH SENSOR BEING TRIGGERED AND CAUSED DEBRIS TO FILL THE CABIN, THE FIRST TIME THE SRS LIGHT HAD COME ON THE DEALER SUGGESTED THE SEAT BELT HAD A FAULTY LATCH, AND THE SECOND TIME THEY CLAIMED THERE WAS A SHORT. REFER TO: ODI-10024877 SCC *JB

CONSUMER STATES MOLDING INSIDE THE WINDOWS WAS FALLING DOWN. DEALER FIXED IT TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

THE SUBFRAME CRACKED WHICH EXPOSED THE GAS TANK. THE CONSUMER FEELS AN IMPACT MY CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. *NLM

WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TO THREE TIMES ON ALL FOUR WINDOWS. ALL REPAIRS COMPLETE BY SOUTH MOTORS BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXCEPT THIRD REPAIR ON FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW COMPLETED BY BRAMAN BMW. SERVICE ADVISOR ADMITS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL DUE TO A BAD SUPPLIER. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES THE ENGINE WILL SUFFER A SUDDENLY ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, COULDN'T PROPERLY CORRECT PROBLEMS, CAR IS DEFECTIVE, ATTORNEY GENERAL NOTIFIED AS WELL AS BBB, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PRIVATE ATTORNEY. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BMW JACK STAND SLIPPED . TS

CONSUMER STATE AFTER MAKING A STOP WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTRACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THE REAR SUSPENSION CRADLE IS BREAKING AWAY FROM THE FRAME. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ADVISED AND SENT OUT 2 DIFFERENT INVESTIGATORS TO CHECK VEHICLE.*JB

OWNER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE PROBLEMS, EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD. REPAIR STILL ALLOWS VEHICLE TO ROLL, EVEN WHEN EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE, CAUSING WINDOWS TO BE INOPERATIVE. REGULATOR HAS BROKEN 6 TIMES. CONSUMER SAID IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE FUEL TANK DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE BECAUSE ONE OF THE STRAPS SEPARATED DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BOTH FRONT AND REAR RIMS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WERE BENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE CAUSING SLIGHT DAMAGE TO THE RIM AND CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY (CLAIM # 22-V458-012). *YD

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED (CLAIM # 23-1374-012). *YD

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE HIT POTHOLE AND THE SIDE AND ROOF AIR BAG DEPLOYED (CLAIM# 30-V379-645). *YD

THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL AND TIRE. (CLAIM # 14-1370-483)*YD

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CAUSED INJURY TO THE PASSENGER (CLAIM# 13-7197-642). *YD

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE, SIDE AND ROOF AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *YD

THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING IN SOM IRREGULARITIES OF THE ROAD HITING ME IN MY LEFT SIDE AND FORCE ME TO DRIVE IN THE SIDE WALK, THANK GOD NOBODY WAS HURT. *AK

A SHARP METAL BRACKET UNDERNEATH FRONT OF PASSENGER'S SEAT CAUSES SEVERE CUT ON CONSUMER ARM BY REACHING FROM FRONT OF SEAT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. DEALER REMOVED SEAT AND RAPPED THE SHARP EDGE WITH BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE, AND REPLACED SEAT. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

MANUAL TRANSMISION WON'T GO INTO 2ND INTERMITTENTLY, POPS OUT OF 2ND INTERMITTENTLY AND GRINDS GOING INTO 2ND. HAVE HAD IT INDEPENDENTLY CHECK AND VERIFIED TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT SKREECH WHEN IN "D" MODE ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FROM A STOP, WHEN ACCELERATING MODERATELY, THERE IS A LOUD SKREECH WHEN CAR SHIFTS FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED 3 TIMES & PROBLEM HAS BEEN DUPLICATED AT 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS. BMW REP. ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM & HAS SEEN IT BEFORE. CLAIMS IT IS THE "INTAKE SYSTEM" BUT NO FIXES ARE AVAILABLE! ALSO SAID IF A FIX COMES OUT, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT UNLESS I AM STILL UNDER WARRANTY! PLEASE HELP, I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED BMWNA & THEY HAVE TAKEN NO ACTION. ALSO CONTACTED 3 DEALERS, 2 OF WHICH HAVE SEEN THE CAR & DUPLICATED THE HORRIBLE NOISE. YET NO ACTION TO FIX IT. YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE WHILE MOVING AT 10 MPH OR LESS, CAUSING BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE OVERHEAD AND SIDE DOOR AIR BAGS TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, UNABLE TO PUT MANUAL STICK IN 1ST, 3RD AND 4TH GEAR; 2ND MANUAL SHIFT POPS OUT OF GEAR. BRAKING SYSTEM, BRAKES SQUEEKING DURING BREAKING. DSC/EML - ACCORDING TO MANUAL, ITS AN SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL; LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING. FUEL INJECTION - LIGHTS STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING. EXTERIOR MIRROR - WOULD NOT TILT WHEN IN REVERSE. BRAKES LIGHT - INSTRUMENT LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING. (OTHER)SERVICE ENGINE - INSTRUMENT LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DRIVING AND BEEPS. OTHER PROBLEMS: TRUNK LOCK - INTRUMENT LIGHT STAYS ON, NAVIGATION SYSTEM - DATA DISAPPERS WHEN STARTING CAR AND WHEN DRIVING. CD/RADIO MANUAL DIFFERENT FROM THE SOUND SYSTEM IN THE CAR, SEAT MEMORY - SETTINGS WON'T KEEP WHEN ENTERING THE CAR, KEY MEMORY - SETTING WON'T KEEP, EXTERIOR BODY - LEANING TO THE RIGHT WAS REPORTED TO ME BY ANOTHER DRIVER, ENGINE - HESITATES, OR TROTTLES.

BOTH FRONT DOORS LEAK WATER INTO THE CABIN WHEN IT RAINS OR GETS WASHED. BOTH FRONT FLOOR MATS GET DAMP ALONG WITH THE FLOOR BOARD. WATER DAMAGE TO INSIDE CARPET, FLOOR MATS, AND ANY OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE AREA. (ELECTRICAL)

BOTH LEFT TIRES, FRONT AND BACK FAILED AFTER HITTING A MINOR POTHOLE AT 35-40 MILES PER HOUR. BOTH TIRES EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL FAILURE WITH APPROXIMATELY A 1/2INCH BREAK IN THE SIDE WALL. THE SPLIT WAS PARALLEL TO THE CIRCUMFRENCE OF THE TIRE. (TIRESIZE: 225/45ZR17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/45ZR17 )

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN DUAL AIRBAGS WENT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

THE SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND GETS SQUEEZED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND DOOR UPON CLOSING THE DOOR. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS AFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEATBELT SAFETY CLASP. BMW SAW THE CAR ON JAN 11, 2000 AND SAID THEY WOULD DISCUSS IT WITH THEIR TECHNICAL ENGINEERS AND REPLY TO US. THEY ALSO NOTED THAT THE PROBLEM IS EVIDENT ON ALL THE "NEW" CONVERTIBLES. BMW NEVER RESPONDED AFTER FAXES AND VOICEMAILS. ON JAN 24, 2001 WE WERE PROMISED BY BMW EXECUTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP MR. RAY CASTRO THAT HE WOULD ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FIELD ENGINEER TO VIEW THE PROBLEM. BMW HAS NEVER SET THE APPOINTMENT AND APPEARS TO BE PLAYING A GAME WHERE WE CALL AND COMPLAIN AND THEY TELL US THEY WILL GET BACK TO US --- AND THEN NEVER DO. THIS GIVES US THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR THEM AND THEY ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE ADDRESSING THIS SEATBELT ISSUE WITH THE NEW CONVERTIBLE CONTAINING THE "SEAT INTEGRATED BELT SYSTEMS".*AK

THROTTLE WILL STICK IRREGULARLY WITHOUT WARNING . DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX DEFECT 3 TIMES, BUT COULDN'T DETERMINE CAUSE. ALSO FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CAME OUT TO LOOK AT VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE DOOR AIRBAG WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, INJURY DURING ACCIDENT. *MJS

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, INJURY DURING ACCIDENT. *SLC

DEALER HAS REPAIRED THIS DEFECT THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY TO THIS INCIDENT. REPLACED SEAT BELT MECHANISM, WIRING HARNESS AND MODULE. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED - DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT TENSIONER TO FIX?!

SEAT BELT LIGHT PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED - SEAT BELT TENSIONER RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT FRONT BOTH REPAIRED/REPLACED TWICE

PROBLEMS; NO TORQUE AT LOW REVS; ERRATIC ACCELERATION; SMELL OF HOT OIL; WHINE FROM FRONT OF CAR; CAR ROLLS DOWNHILL AS NO TORQUE UNLESS REVVED TO 3000+. CAR UNDRIVEABLE - DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, O-RINGS AND ETL

DEALER CLAIMS BMW WORKING ON A FIX FOR 4 MONTHS TO MAGNESIUM ALLOY CONTROL ARMS AND STEERING DAMPERS. CANNOT VERIFY BMW IS ON TOP OF PROBLEM. *AK

I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE NEW BMW 323CI CONVERTIBLE HAS A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY PUT CONSUMERS IN JEOPARDY. SPECIFICALLY, THE REINFORCED WINDOW FRAME IS SLANTED DRAMATICALLY DOWNWARD AND THE BLUNT TOP CORNERS OF THE WINDOW FRAME ARE POINTED INWARD, DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE HEADS OF THE PASSENGERS. DESPITE OTHER EXCELLENT SAFETY FEATURES OF THE BMW, IT WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT TO HIT THE CORNER OF THE BLUNT WINDOW FRAME WITH YOUR HEAD (ONLY A FEW INCHES)! THE DOWNWARD SLANT OF THE WINDOW ALSO HINDERS AN OPTIMAL DRIVING VIEW. THIS IS A NEW DESIGN FOR 2000, AND THE PREVIOUS BMW CONVERTIBLES DID NOT HAVE THIS SLANT ISSUE OR THE PLACEMENT OF BLUNT CORNERS NEAR THE HEADS OF THE PASSENGERS. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE ON THIS DEFECT. BMW WILL BEGIN RELEASING THESE MODELS TO THE PUBLIC IN THE MAY TIMEFRAME. DEMOS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE DEALERSHIPS. I LOVE BMW AUTOMOBILES, AND I ORDERED THIS PARTICULAR CONVERTIBLE. I'M WRITING WITH THE HOPES THAT YOUR OFFICE WILL LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE ASAP AND HELP/ADVISE BMW TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION IF A TRUE PROBLEM EXISTS BEFORE THEY RELEASE THESE VEHICLES IN THE UNITED STATES IN MASS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *AK

I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE A PROBLEM FIXED WITH THE SUN ROOF AND MENTIONED THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH STEERING THE VEHICLE DURING BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WHEN I GOT THE REPAIR LIST BACK FROM THE DEALER I NOTICED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A MAJOR PORTION OF THE BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEM. THE SERVICE SEEMED RATHER FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND DIDN'T HESITATE TO REPLACE ALL OF THE COMPONETS WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A SIGNIFIGANT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND HAVE NOT REPORTED IT. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING THE BMW WEBSITES ON THE 3 SERIES AND HAVE FOUND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE CARS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT IN THEIR VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURER IS PAYING FOR THE FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEMS, BUT, ONLY IF YOU ASK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY NOTIFYING INDIVIDUAL OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM TO HAVE THIS CONDITION CORRECTED PRIOR TO THE COMPLAINT.

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICTATING A DEFECT. DEALER CLAIMS COMPUTER NEEDS TO UPDATED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 55 MPH DRIVER TOOK FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THEN STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 55 TO 80 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK