Vehicle started smelling like smoke and making loud screeching noise in February. Took car to BMW certified shop to be fixed, put out thousands of dollars to have valve replaced, check engine light will still not turn off. In April I received a letter from BMW about the a recall on the PVC Valve. It is now July and they just diagnosed a remedy. Called around to every local dealership, they cannot fix it due to lack of parts. It has been over 5 months without having a car. BMW North America is giving me the run around and dealerships keep referring me to call BMW North America. Also have told me that they might not refund me for this since the problem wasn’t fixed even though BMW is at fault.
2011 BMW 328i complaints
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 2011 record →
Received letter in March 2022 about an "Important Safety Recall" for Recall Campaign No. 22V-119: PCV Valve Heater. Letter stated that "Remedy is Unavailable" and "is currently being developed". Manufacturer has not followed up to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner, and per the instructions in the letter, I am filing a complaint with NHTSA.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
There was a recall on my vehicle, and I have been without a vehicle since. My vehicle smokes when i try to drive it so, i have been without a vehicle and BMW sent out a notice of this back on March 2, 2022 and they still do not have a resolution. something needs to be done as i am without a vehicle.
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
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
When a passenger sits in the front passenger seat, the passenger side airbag seat sensor triggers and illuminates the airbag light, deactivating the passenger airbag. After it is triggered, the light stays illuminated, along with the seat belt light, for several drive cycles, without a passenger present, before resetting. This is a sporadic issue, but rather frequent. It began, very occasionally, approximately a year ago, but has progressively become worse. My research has shown this is a very common issue with BMW vehicles; however, my vehicle is not covered under any previous recall, although the seats are the same part number as those addressed in prior recall notices.
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.
Vanos solenoid bolt came apart and manufacturer refuses to service vehicle advising my car is not part of recall notice # 14V-176. Also denying me SULEV warranty services basically do not want to honor any recalls or EPA compliance warranties.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and upon returning to the vehicle, he noticed that all four windows had rolled down independently. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle overheated. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure to be the heater coil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000.
My car was brought in to the BMW dealership for knocking noises, a fire smell, and shaking. I was told my car could not be repaired due to engine failure.l was informed that replacing the engine would cost me more than the vehicle is worth. He recommended l sell it for parts. Currently there are no lights/ indicators present on my dash board indicating that something is even wrong . l did not receive any warnings before the shaking and /or during the knocking . On the other hand; I have made multiple complaints to my mechanic about smelling fire or burnt rubber for the past six months and he thought it was coming from the radiator and he replaced it.. The smell did not improve .. he was still in the process of guessing what it could be . I guess we know now. The safety of my family has been at risk for months, knowing that burnt rubber smell could have evolved into something major at anytime . My life was in danger when the car began shaking while driving on the highway on my way to work . The car has been parked for a week now due to me not knowing what to do with a dead 10 years young vehicle. I have not called the police and my insurance company states they don’t cover mechanical issues. My car has only been viewed by a dealership and my mechanic shop. To make my situation worse , I am currently working overseas in Germany on orders and l don’t know what to do with this car. I don’t live a lifestyle where I can afford to purchase a vehicle with the intentions of it lasting
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the vehicle and a burning rubber odor was detected. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with engine failure. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 70 MPH the vehicle began to emit smoke from under the hood. The contact's son was able to safely pull off of the highway, there was no fire and the smoke abated after the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that her son did not notice any warning lights being illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine, Engine Cooling). The mechanic determined that the entire engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started smoking from the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the smoke extinguished by itself. The contact drove the vehicle home and called the dealer. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer but the vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacture was not informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, she smelled a strong burning odor inside the vehicle. The warning message "Service Engine Soon" was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the service brakes, spark plugs, and radiator needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer had been notified of the issue and the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Engine Service Soon" warning message was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice to be diagnosed. The diagnostic test was performed; however, the contact was unsure of the results. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH that all the lights became illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle began to emit smoke from under the hood, the vehicle lost power, and additionally, the contact had a failure of power steering and brakes. The contact was able to safely coast off the roadway and stopped. The vehicle continued to emit smoke but eventually, no more smoke was observed. The fire department was not summoned. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine had locked. The mechanic attempted to unlock the engine and failed and advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
BMW HAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE 328XI ABOUT THE PCV VALVE HEATER AND HAD SENT NOTICE OF THE NEED TO REPLACE AND IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 YEARS AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND A REMEDY FOR THE FIX. THE BMW WARRANTY GROUP CONFIRMED A DATE ON MARCH 7, 2022 FOR THE REPAIR. UPON GOING TO THE HERB CAMBERS IN BROOKLINE, MA. THEY TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE A REMEDY TO FIX THE ISSUE AND WILL CONTACT WHEN THEY HAVE A FIX. ON APRIL 2022 THEY SENT A LETTER STATING THE PCV VALVE HEATER NEEDS TO BE FIXED UNDER (17V-673 / 19V-273) AND THE REMEDY IS UNAVAILABLE AND A NEW REMEDY NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED. ISSUE IS THAT IF THEY DO NOT FIX THE VALVE HEATER THE ENGINE COULD HEAT UP AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THEY SAY A REMEDY IS BEING WORKED ON, BUT BMW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE IF A FIRE DOES OCCUR.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Footwell module. Computer system that controls turn signals, headlights, highbeams, windows, door locks etc. Yes it is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I can't use my turn signals, highbeams, headlights, Windows. I can't signal my cars lane changes or see clearly at night. I can't roll the windows down or up which creates a unsafe hazard. My child is able to climb out of the window in the back seat while I'm driving. I have zero control over the windows. I can't determine if my child's door is open or closed when the car is in motion. My car doors no longer lock at all. My child can open up the door at any moment that the car is in motion. I'm unable to see at night without my highbeams. I'm now forced to drive with reduced visibility. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Both by a dealership and independent shop. There have been reconcurring warrantee coverages offered but no recalls despite the clear determinant to safety. Common usage of the vehicle at this point in time is a safety concern of all surrounding users and transportation vehicles. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The manufacturer has inspected this module concern. I'm very sure that there have been accidents associated with this module ma
I have a 2011 BMW 328i Sedan, the car has only 50,000 miles on it. No accidents. The VIN number is [XXX] I've been hearing the increased engine noise on my vehicle, then the car engine has stalled while it's stopping in the intersection a couple of days ago. The engine has failed to start after that. I've called my mechanic he removed the engine's valve cover, he found 4 bolts attached to the VANOS adjusting unit have broken off. I checked online it looks like there's a safety recall on these bolts (see the attachment). I visited the BMW service center in San Francisco, they claimed they couldn't find any related safety recall on these bolts and refused to fix the issue. I'm glad that there's no crash or injury during the engine stalled event. These VANOS bolts are clearly not safe. I saw the manufacturer recall these bolts awhile ago. Recall Campaign 14V-176: VANOS Assembly Bolts - Engine Failure 2011 328i Wonder if the recall applies to my vehicle? INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The FRM module has failed for a 3rd time in my 328xi. This module distributes power to many components and since it has failed I have no headlights, no turn signals, no interior lights, no dashboard lights, and cannot roll my windows up or down. This is a known flaw with these cars and if you look on eBay there are bootleg repair services than can temporarily reset it however they often fail again. There are dozens of these sellers on Ebay and all list +1000 sales for their repair services so clearly this is widespread and affects many BMW owners. BMW denies there is an issue but has placed a 10 year warranty on the part, however all 3 series affected by this part are over 10 years old and not eligible for this warranty. Digging around on BMW forums this seems extremely common and almost anything can cause the FRM to fail. Headlights burning out, weak batteries, replacing interior dome lights, and even BMW connecting to the OBDII port to read the ecu are common causes of the FRM failing. I don't understand how they can get away with putting a limited warranty on this and not a full recall when it's clearly a safety concern as I can't safely or legally drive my car with no working lights, and in the event of an emergency cannot roll down my windows to get out of the car.
I owned a 2011 BMW 328i vin number [XXX]. My car first began having problems with the coils, which I had repaired. Then, my engine light came on at least 7 different times and had to return to the the dealership for repair. Sometimes I was not even out of the driveway of the dealership before I had to return the car. They eventually repaired the systemic problem as well as recall notices. On May 3rd, 2020, my car was parked in my driveway and caught on fire and burned to the ground. These BMW fires that we keep hearing about are real issues and need to be investigated. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
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.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal whistling sound and a rattling sound coming from the engine while the vehicle was idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact performed a diagnostic test on the vehicle and received a code for the camshaft housing bolts of the engine. The contact researched the failure and became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and related the failure to the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. Manufacturer offered an extended warranty for the E91 wagon owners but failed to include the E91 model in the 14V-176 recall campaign and notify owners of the issue. The E91 shares the same model engine found in the E90 and E92 models that were part of the recall.
The airbag light and seatbelt light came on randomly. The airbag sensor is off, and the “passenger airbag off” light is illuminated even when there’s somebody sitting in the car. This is a major safety issue, as the vehicle doesn’t recognize when somebody is sitting in the passenger seat and wont deploy airbags when there’s a wreck.
Car spontaneously caught fire
The vehicle keeps stalling on the highways and on the streets. We have taken the car in and have towed the car in to the bmw dealership costing us hundreds of dollars on what they think the problem is and it does not fix the issue. They perform a diagnosis and can’t find an issue but the car keeps stalling. The car first starting stalling last year around February.
While I was driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle shut off. Then a check engine light came on. When a code reader was placed on the vehicle a code p0335 for the crankshaft position sensor. Thankfully I was able to coast the car safely to the shoulder of the roadway. Had I been on an interstate highway who knows what the outcome would have been.
The positive battery terminal connection on the thickest cable in the trunk of the car (this wire leads from the battery in the trunk to the fuse box behind the glove box of the car) was loose due to either natural loosening over time (i.e. loss of torque on the fastener) or improperly applied torque by various BMW service shops (battery was changed by independent BMW service shop in 2018 and checked by BMW dealership in 2019 to be in good health). The loose connection at the battery terminal on this wire caused the car to suddenly turn off while driving on the road. Once turned off, there was zero electrical response from the car (e.g. engine turned off, no headlights, no hazard lights, no power steering, no capability to restart the car, airbags likely would not deploy if car crashed, etc.). The car could only be controlled by coasting on its remaining inertia, slowed down using residual braking power (which disappears after applying the breaks 2-5 times due to loss of hydraulic pressure), and forcefully steering the car (since there’s no power steering). This is an INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS situation that could cause loss of life due to complete loss of control of car. Both the battery and alternator were in good health. Only the battery terminal connection was loose, leading to a single point failure of the ENTIRE electrical system of the car and the car itself. There is NO redundancy in the electrical system; even if the alternator is running fine, the loose battery connectio
Engine Compartment Suddenly Caught Fire and Came into the Vehicle Cabin of my 2011 328i E90 BMW on 12/04/2021 at 10:04 AM PST in the city of Garden Grove, CA. Emergency first responder Captian Rick King of the Garden Grove Fire Department conducted an initial investigation of the cause of the fire due to a defective fuel pump. BMW North America LLC should be held accountable for this accident as it could have cause serious injury or death.
Vehicle stalled with no power while driving highway speed. Engine is locked up and needs to be replaced
The 4 vanos bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit broke and fell into my oil pan. This has caused oil to leak onto and break the eccentric shaft sensor. This has caused my vehicles engine to loose power. Had this occurred at a faster speed, it could have harmed myself and others on the road. My engines light came on just a few miles before my cars engine had weakened power. I pulled off the road to safety. I had my bmw towed and it is currently at the dealership with an estimated quote of $4963.91 to fix. I’ve had my bmw for less than two years. It’s had one previous owner and no accidents. It only has 64,984 miles. According to the U.S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, the average highway miles driven per year in 2019 were 14,263. If this is accurate, my vehicle would have roughly 142,000 miles for a 10 year old bmw. My car has less than half of this.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated that after driving, the vehicle failed to restart without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed that the camshaft housing bolts had sheared off. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the repairs were not covered under the warranty. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA campaign number: 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Vanos System Camshaft gear Bolts sheared causing loss of power in the freeway.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, he heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the engine before the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The service engine warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the roadway and restarted the vehicle and continued driving his residence. The contact stated upon checking the engine, he noticed that the vanos bolts had fractured and were missing from the engine. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the Vin was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the Vin was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
My driver and passenger airbags deployed because my car all of the sudden lurched forward on it's own and I bumped the car in front of me and when it happened my car started accelerating and revving all on it's own into the car ahead and I was trying to make it stop by pushing the brakes but the brake pedal wouldnt move it was hard and wouldnt move so my car kept accelerating bumping the car in front of me over and over and I was stomping down on the brake pedal to make it stop but it wouldnt. After about 30 seconds of this it just stopped. The airbags were blowing out very hot air that burned and bruised my left arm very badley and myself and my minor passenger were choking from it. My driver side window and windshield were both broken from the explosion of the airbags but the body of my car wasn't damaged. I had noticed that sometimes the display in my car wouldnt show all the car controls but never imagined the car would malfunction like this. Now the repair shop wants the same amount of money that I initially paid for the car to repair it and my insurance is not covering it. Please help because this was not my fault the car malfunctioned.
It seems that the Bolts holding the Vanos unit intact have come loose or sheared and cause a loud high pitch squealing along with a higher volume in oil loss and this has also cause a seal of some sort or go bad and excess oil burning. Also, the car has a loud tick in the engine now. My vin number is not accepted u der the recall list but my cars make model and year for the credentials along with the problems that the engine continues to have. I would Appreciate it if the company adds this car and it’s vin to the list of recall so i can Have it properly fixed
My son was injured by the impact of an accident on May 30th, 2021. He was driving when a car sped past him, lost control, slammed into the center median guardrail, then into the drivers side door of my sons car. The impact was strong enough to dent and puncture a large hole in the door, yet the side impact air bags did not deploy. Nor did any other air bag. we still currently have the vehicle.
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, ENGINE KNOCKING, VANOS BOLT FAILURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER - BMW OF PALM SPRINGS (3737 EAST PALM CANYON DR, PALM SPRINGS, CA 92264, (760) 699-2500) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,782.
MY ISSUE IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 14V-176, ALSO LISTED AS SI B11 07 14. IT IS A FAULTY VANOS UNIT WITH FAILING BOLTS. MY CAR'S MODEL AND YEAR ARE LISTED IN BOTH OF THESE DOCUMENTS, HOWEVER MY SPECIFIC VIN IS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THE RECALL. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DAMAGED DUE TO THE VANOS BOLTS SHEARING OFF COMPLETELY AND FALLING INTO THE OIL PAN, AS DESCRIBED EXACTLY IN THE ABOVE RECALL NOTICES. THIS IS THE DIAGNOSIS FROM BMW OF SEATTLE. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT MY CAR SUFFERS THE SAME FAULTY PART AS LISTED AND SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE IT IS IN ERROR THAT IT IS NOT. AS IT STANDS, BMW CANNOT HELP ME AND ARE FORCING ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TELLS ME THAT MY VIN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND DOES NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT ISN'T, BUT BECAUSE IT ISN'T THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE UNDER THE RECALL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. PLEASE CORRECT THE DOCUMENTATION TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE, WHICH MATCHES THE LISTED VEHICLES IN THE VANOS RECALL PAPERWORK. THANK YOU.
[XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I HAVE HAD SEVEN (7) ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSORS REQUIRING REPLACEMENT (EVERY WHEEL AT LEAST ONCE, THE RIGHT FRONT TWICE, AND THE LEFT FRONT THREE TIMES) SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2011. IT CURRENTLY HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE (<41,000 MILES); THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2014 AT ABOUT 12, 700 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE AN ABS WHEEL SENSOR ON ANY OF THE NUMEROUS OTHER CARS WITH ABS THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE 1989. THE LOSS OF ABS FUNCTION CREATES AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN THE SENSOR FAILS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ALL COME ON - INTERMITTENTLY INITIALLY, BUT SOON LIT AT ALL TIMES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED IN 2014, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2017, AND 2020.
CYLINDER HEAD BOLT DETACHMENT FROM FACTORY PRODUCTION CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAK ON ENGINE BLOCK. MY VEHICLE RAPIDLY LOST 1 QUART OF OIL IN 2.1 MILES OF DRIVING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTER, THEY FOUND THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT WAS COMPLETE SEVERED FROM THE BOLT STEM CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS DETACHMENT CAUSED OIL TO SPRAY OUT OF THE ENGINE, RAPIDLY DEPLETING OIL FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS OIL SPRAYED RAPIDLY ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, BELT AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. THE CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS ISSUE IS SEEN FREQUENTLY WITH BMW FROM THE FACTORY PRODUCTION METHODS AND TORQUE SPECS IN FACTORY PRODUCTION PROCESS. THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT BECOMES SEVERED FROM THE BOLT STEM/THREADED PORTION OF THE BOLT (SEE PICTURES INCLUDED). ACCORDING TO CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC, THIS BOLT WOULD ONLY BE MANIPULATED DURING FACTORY PRODUCTION. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE OIL DRAINED COMPLETED OUT OF MY VEHICLE OR BEFORE THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE BAY BECAUSE OF OIL SPRAYING. I AM CONCERNED THAT A MAJOR ENGINE COMPONENT ON MY VEHICLE FAILED. THIS FAILURE POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND QUALITY ISSUE. THIS IS A PART INTEGRITY/QUALITY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY BMW IMMEDIATELY.
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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.
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