ACCORDING TO FIRE FIGHTERS THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED A FIRE. THE SMOKE AND BURN PATTERNS INDICATED THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE FRONT DASH AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NOTHING WAS ON, NO ELECTRICAL DEVICES PLUGGED IN. IT HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN IN SEVERAL HOURS, NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR (DOORS WERE STILL LOCKED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NO LONGER OPERATED AND THE WINDOWS HAD TO BE BROKEN TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE). THE FIRE MELTED THE FRONT DASH, ESPECIALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, SMOLDERED FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND WAS HOT ENOUGH TO CRACK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THERE IS EXTENSIVE FIRE AND SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE CAR.
2008 BMW 328Xi 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 2008 record →
ON JUNE 24TH 2017 AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT MY HOUSE IN MY 2008 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED BMW 328XI, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD SON AND HE NOTICED SMOKED COMING FROM THE VENTS. I TURNED MY HEAD AROUND TO SEE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND NOTICED SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE VENTS AND GLOVE BOX AREA. I IMMEDIATELY UNBUCKLED HIM FROM HIS CAR SEAT AND TOLD HIM TO GET OUT. I EXITED THE VEHICLE, DIALED 911, AND GOT HIM TO A SAFE DISTANCE. I COULD SEE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE (BASED ON LOCATION AND SMELL) COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH BOARD NEAR THE GLOVE BOX, WITHIN 4 MINUTES THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY INJURED. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAYS THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE GLOVE BOX AREA WHERE A FUSE PANEL AND BATTERY CABLE ARE LOCATED AS IDENTIFIED IN THE FIRE REPORT ATTACHED. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AT THE FUSE PANEL LOCATED UNDER THE GLOVE BOX. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND IN 2013 THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V044000) FOR THE VEHICLES POWER CABLE ATTACHED TO THE FUSE BOX THAT WAS FIXED; HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS EITHER FIXED IMPROPERLY BY BMW OR THE RECALL DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE.
RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE.
I HAVE RECEIVED AN INITIAL RECALL LETTER FROM BMW IN MARCH OF 2016. THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS TO SERVICE THIS AUTOMOBILE TO CORRECT THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, A FIRE STARTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A FIRE INSPECTOR EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE INSPECTION REPORT WAS NOT PROVIDED AT THE TIME. THE FIRE BEGAN NEAR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A DEFECTIVE TAKATA PASSENGER AIRBAG, MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON WHEN REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CONTINUING TO USE THIS VEHICLE WHILE WAITING FOR THIS DEFECT TO BE CORRECTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, IT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ISSUE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
HEARD A NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT THEREFORE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. IMMEDIATELY. AS PER REPORT " FOUND THAT BOLTS TO MOTOR MOUNT SUPPORT ARM SHEERED OFF" - ALL 4 BOLTS WERE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN ON EVEN ROADS AND ONLY HAS 47,496 MILES AND HAD NO INCIDENT THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS ISSUE!!! THIS WAS ON A CITY STREET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S HOUSE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS BEHIND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED DESTROYED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
TAKATA RECALL. RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MARCH 2016 AND BMW DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS TO COMPLETE REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR MONTHS, WITH NO FIRM DATE FOR WHEN THIS WILL BE FIXED.
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE TIED TO GET A ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE RECALLED AIR BAGS BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM OUR DEALER. MY WIFE'S CAR IS A 2008 BMW AND WE LIVE IN VERY HUMID CENTRAL FLORIDA. WE HAVE A 17 MONTH OLD SON WHICH ONLY INCREASES MY CONCERN. WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE TO FIND OUT A PRIORITY ORDER FOR HER?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. FUEL WAS ALSO LEAKING FROM AN UNKNOWN PART OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE FUEL LEVEL WAS BEYOND HALF A TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,200.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL, MY 2008 BMW 328 XI IS LISTED AS A POTENTIAL VEHICLE WITH A TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. PLEASE INFORM ME ASAP OF THE RECALL STATUS AND IF I NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG(S). THANK YOU
TAKATA RECALL. OUR CAR IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL CARS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS REPLACED?
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND HER ENTIRE CAR JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING NEARLY CAUSING HER TO BE KILLED BY A TRACTOR TRAILER WE HAD CAR TOWED TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY VALVETRONIC SENSOR/SEAL ISSUE...BUT THIS WAS SCARY AND NEARLY KILLED MY WIFE SO I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE
SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO DEFECTIVE ECCENTRIC SHAFT SENSOR
DOOR FAILED, UNABLE TO OPEN FROM INSIDE, OUTSIDE OR THROUGH KEY. I AM AN R&D ENGINEER AND UPON EVALUATING THE FAILURE MODE OF THE DOOR I AM CONCERNED AT A OPERATORS ABILITY TO ESCAPE A VEHICLE THAT IS DISABLED AND IN A DANGEROUS STATE. I WOULD BE SURPRISED F THIS DEFECT CANNOT BE LINKED TO FATALITIES.
ON THE MORNING OF JULY 25TH, 2015, MY FRIEND WENT TO PICK ME UP FROM NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN MY 2008 BMW 328 XI COUPE. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AT HER HOME IN FAIRFIELD, NJ FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 DAYS WHILE I WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS. SHE DROVE MY CAR TO THE AIRPORT FROM FAIRFIELD, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES. THEN ON OUR WAY BACK TO MY HOUSE, ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO OUR RIDE, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED DURING THE DRIVE. I HAD THE INSIDE PIECE, CLOSED WHICH SAVED ANY PERSONAL INJURY FROM THE GLASS. I BROUGHT IT TO BMW TO GET THE WINDOW FIXED AND THE TOTAL COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,250. BMW SAYS THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFAULT, BUT ON A CAR THAT HAS ONLY 53K MILES, IT WAS RATHER ODD FOR THAT SUNROOF TO JUST EXPLODE. ALSO TO NOTE, THAT DURING OUR DRIVE BACK BECAUSE IT WAS 7AM ON A SATURDAY MORNING, THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS OR TRUCKS AROUND US THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS DAMAGE WHICH IS WHAT BMW SUGGESTED.
EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 14V176000. VANOS BOLT SHEARED OFF, CONNECTED TO THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT, THEN TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CAME OFF.
WHILE DRIVING AND EXITING A PARKING LOT, VEHICLE AUTO-LOCKS ENGAGED. DRIVER DOOR AUTO-LOCKED AND UNLOCKED REPEATEDLY ABOUT 6 TIMES; STOPPING IN THE LOCKED POSITION. ONCE ARRIVING HOME, DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE DOOR HANDLE OR THE INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY FOB AND HAD TO UTILIZE THE KEY FOB TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE DRIVE DOOR WAS AT THIS POINT ON THE OPPOSITE POSITION OF ALL THE OTHER DOORS. WHEN THE DRIVER DOOR IS LOCK, THE PASSENGER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND VICE VERSA. THE NEXT DAY THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD OPEN WITH THE KEY, BUT NOT WITH THE KEY FOB. THIS IS OF GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. LOOKING AT THE DATABASE AND ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS YET TO BE ADDRESSED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DOORS WERE CLOSED, THE DOOR ACTUATORS FAILED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, ALONG WITH BOTH REAR DOORS, FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS MALFUNCTIONED. THE ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,700.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND IDLED ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN MAKING SHARP LEFT TURNS, A THUMPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL FOUR MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE FRACTURED OUT OF THE BLOCK AND THAT THE ENGINE SHIFTED SIGNIFICANTLY, WHICH WAS POTENTIALLY CAUSED BY A POTHOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE FOB, CENTRAL BUTTON ON THE DASH, AND THE METAL KEY STORED INSIDE THE FOB AND NOTHING WILL UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE CAR IS TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR AND REACH OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND PULL THE HANDLE. WITH A CHILD IN THE CAR IN A SAFETY SEAT, MY CONCERN IS THAT ALL OF THE DOORS WILL SUBSEQUENTLY FAIL AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO GET MYSELF AND MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR MODEL VEHICLE AND TWO YEARS OLDER - EITHER DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY, PASSENGERS DOORS ONLY, OR ALL OF THE DOORS - AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THEN IS THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD REPORTED IN THIS COMPLAINT TAKES PLACE WHEN THE PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE CAR BY OPENING THE DOORS, GETTING TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. IT WILL WORSEN TO A CRITICAL LEVEL WHEN THIS FAILURE HAPPENS WITH PASSENGERS WITH LIMITED MOBILITY INSIDE THE CAR OR IN CASE THERE IS A BABY SITTING IN A CHILD SEAT INSTALLED IN THE REAR SEAT. WHEN THE DESCRIBED FAILURE MODE HAPPENS, ALL PASSENGERS WILL NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUN ROOF (IF AVAILABLE) OR THROUGH THE WINDOWS. IN CASE OF FIRE THIS COULD BE A LETHAL SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL PASSENGERS. AND IN CASE OF VOLUMINOUS PERSONS SITTING IN SEATS OTHERS THAN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. HOW THE FAILURE HAPPENED: AFTER DRIVING FOR APROX. 10 MINUTES AND HAVING PARKED, THE DOORS OF THE CAR DID NOT UNLOCK. THEY DID NOT UNLOCK EITHER USING THE FOB, NEITHER THE DOOR HANDLE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR NOR THE UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE CENTRAL DASHBOARD. THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH THE SUN ROOF OR CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE DRIVER'S DOOR FINALLY UNLOCK AND COULD BE OPENED. ONCE OUTSIDE THE CAR, I COULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR (BUT NOT ANY OTHER DOOR) MANUALLY WITH THE METAL KEY INSIDE THE FOB. THE OTHER PASSENGER HAD TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. I HAVE BEEN TO A BMW DEALERSHIP AND I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO REPAIR IT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A BLOWN FUSE DUE TO OVER CURRENT IN ONE OF THE ACTUATOR
- FEBRUARY 18TH, BMW 328XI, ON/PARKED, BEGAN TO SHAKE/ROCK ROUGHLY/POWERED OFF. THE LIFT/CAR ICON CAME ON. CAR WOULD CRANK, NO START. AFTER 10 MINUTES, NO START. AFTER 40 MINUTES, 328XI STARTS. - ON MARCH 2ND, DROVE ABOUT 30 MIN AND CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT. 328XI BEGAN TO SHAKE/ROCK ROUGHLY/POWERED OFF. THE LIFT/CAR ICON CAME ON. CAR WOULD CRANK, NO START. AFTER A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS, 2 GENTLEMEN STATED THEY WOULD PUSH 328XI TO SIDE IF I CAN GET CAR IN N. AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS, REGAINED SMALL POWER TO SWITCH TO N AND THEY MOVED ME OVER TO THE SIDE. AFTER 10 MINUTES, 328XI TURNED OVER BUT BMW SERVICE CENTER IN NYC WAS CLOSED. - MARCH 3RD, TOOK 328XI TO EUROPEAN CAR SPECIALIST (ECS) AND EXPLAINED THE ABOVE. 328XI WAS PLACED ON THE COMPUTER AND READING STATED: EXCEED FUEL AMOUNT, BUT FURTHER TEST WERE NEEDED. - MARCH 6TH, 328XI DID SAME TO ECS. CONCLUSION, INOPERABLE FUEL PUMP. ORDERED/INSTALLED/RETURNED ON MARCH 11TH. - MARCH 16TH, 328XI SHOOK/ROCKED ROUGHLY/POWERED. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF FAILED ATTEMPTS TO START, CALLED A TOW TRUCK. TOWED TO ECS. - MARCH 17TH, ECS WITNESSED 328XI WOULD NOT START. PUSHED INTO GARAGE TO DIAGNOSE. DENOTED, DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP/NEED REPLACING. CAR RETURNED ON MARCH 24TH. - MARCH 26TH 328XI BEGAN TO SHAKE/ROCK ROUGHLY/POWERED OFF. ECS NOW SUSPECTS FUEL GAUGE OFF AND GIVING FALSE READING THOUGH 1/4 (57MILES) OF GAS WAS IN CAR. WANTS CAR FILLED UP AND DRIVEN. - MARCH 27TH WHILE ON I-80 (FULL TANK) DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, 328XI BEGAN TO SHAKE/ROCK/P
CAR SHUTOFF COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE CAME OFF WHICH IS LOCATED ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. NO WAY ANYBODY CAN GET TO IT WITHOUT TAKING OFF THE FUEL TANK. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FUEL LINE COULD HAVE IGNITED OR WORSE, IF THE CAR SHUTDOWN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY LIFE. *TR
DOOR LOCKS FAILED, WITH DOORS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. NO WAY TO OPEN THE 3 PASSENGER DOORS. DRIVER CAN ESCAPE BY DOUBLE PULLING THE HANDLE, BUT ONLY IF THERE'S A PERSON (WEIGHT SENSOR?) ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT. PASSENGERS CANNOT GET OUT! READING THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH E90 BMWS (AND A SIMILAR ONE WITH THE PREVIOUS GENERATION E46). THERE ARE HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS?) OF POSTS DESCRIBING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PASSENGER SIDE. SUBSEQUENT LEFT TURNS RESULTED IN A THUD WITH EACH REVOLUTION OF THE TIRE FROM THE SAME AREA. SUSPECTED CV JOINT. TOOK IT INTO SHOP, AND MECHANIC FOUND THAT TWO RIGHT SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS HAD CORRODED AND SHEARED. BOLTS ARE ALUMINUM AND ENGINE BLOCK IS MAGNESIUM WHICH RESULTED IN DISSIMILAR METAL CORROSION. ENGINE FELL AND CAME TO REST ON FRAME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AREA. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IGNITED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NOTICED A LOUD RAPID NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA WHEN TAKING A LEFT CAR WAS FINE INFACT DAYS BEFORE WAS IN THE DEALER FOR A RECALL BUT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THAT DAY, WE DID HIT A HARD SPOT FROM GROOVED PAVEMENT TO SMOOTH, OTHER THAN THAT NO INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT TO CAUSE THE SUDDEN NOISE. TOOL CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD FRONT ENGINE MOUNT AND BOLTS WERE SHREDDED. CHARGED ALMOST $700 TO REPLACE AND REALIGN TIRES. WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY COVERS IT AND NO EXPLANATION OF HOW IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. IM SEEING ALOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, HOPING SOMEONE TAKES NOTICE AND OFFERS ASSISTANCE WITH A RECALL . *TR
TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. CAR INITIALLY APPEARED TO RUN CORRECTLY, HOWEVER, A LOUD THUMPING SOUND (SIMILIAR TO A FLAT TIRE) WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING. HARD BRAKING RESULTED IN VIBRATION. *TR UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER, THE RIGHT SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS WERE FOUND TO BE BROKEN. SITUATION APPEARS SIMILIAR TO NHTSA ID# 10435750
MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED, ENGINE TURNED OFF, STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WORK. CAME BACK AFTER DROPPING THE KIDS AND AFTER THE CAR IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEY AND FAN WAS ON. TRIED STARTING THE CAR AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NOW THE BATTERY DRAIN, CAR WONT START, THE DASHBOARD FLICKERS. CALLED BMW AND TOLD THEM AND SAID THE SYMPTOMS POINT TO RECALL ISSUE, NO RESPONSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT INTO VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR MY 2008 BMW 328XI E90 SEDAN LOSING ALL POWER RANDOMLY! THE LATEST INCIDENT, IN THE FIRST WEEKS OF AUGUST, ALMOST GOT ME KILLED! A TRANSPORTATION BUS STOPPED SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY AND I WENT INTO THE MIDDLE LANE TO PASS THE BUS. I HAD SLOWED FROM THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55 DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR, SWITCHED LANES AND THEN PUNCHED THE GAS IN ORDER TO RESUME SPEED OF THE REST OF TRAFFIC. THE CAR STALLED WITH NO POWER WHATSOEVER FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS. AN 18 WHEEL TRUCK CAME WITHIN 50 FEET OF ME OR SO AND ALMOST KILLED ME, THEN THE CAR SUDDENLY REGAINED ALL POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO AVERT THE COLLISION! IT IS SO FRUSTRATING THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE OTHER OWNERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND BMW HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO CODES, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING. I JUST HAD MY CAR IN THE DEALER FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY RAN FUEL PRESSURE TESTS, DROVE THE CAR, ETC. THE CAR STALLED ONCE ON THEM, BUT THEN THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AGAIN. I READ ON WWW.E90POST.COM SOME OTHERS HAD THE LEARNING COMPUTER IN THE TRANSMISSION RESET TO ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. SEEMS THE COMPUTER GETS CONFUSED ON DRIVING HABITS OF OWNER AND FORGETS WHAT GEAR TO BE IN WHEN DRIVING, SO IT STALLS. I HAD DEALER RESET COMPUTER TO ZERO SO IT RELEARNS MY DRIVING HABITS AND I WILL SEE IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM. I WILL SAY, THE HESITATION ISSUE DOES SEEM TO BE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE TO MY
I HAVE BEEN TELLING THE BMW DEALER FOR A YEAR NOW THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS BAD WHEN THE CAR HITS THE LITTLEST BUMP THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT EXPLODED I HAVE A BAD LEFT FRONT STRUT AND I THINK ITS A DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE IT NOTED AND HAVE A RECALL PLACED ON THIS 328XI 2008. *TR
I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. THE CARS LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK USING THE UNLOCK BUTTON OR USING THE KEY FOB, NOR WOULD PULLING THE HANDLE UNLOCK OR OPEN THE DOOR. I CALLED BMW ASSIST AND THEY INDICATED THAT THEY HAD HEARD OF SEVERAL SIMILAR ISSUES AND THAT THE ONLY OPTION MAY BE CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS A CPO FROM A BMW DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS PRIOR. *TT
TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR LOW PRESSURE ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. TIRES HAD BEEN MOUNTED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS PRIOR, WHEN MECHANIC TOOK RIM OFF TO TEST FOR LEAK DISCOVERED THREE CRACKS IN RIM ALONG OUTSIDE OF INNER RIM. HAS ORIGINAL RIMS THAT CAME WITH CAR, BMW 10 SPOKE 17" ALLOY STYLE 159. TIRES MOUNTED ARE RUN FLAT AS THEY ARE REPLACEMENTS FOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *TR
RECALL CAMPAIGN LAMPS IN REAR QUARTER PANEL. LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME. TOOK INTO BMW PASSPORT TO FIX. THEY CHARGED ME 277.75 TO FIX AND NOW WITH A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE THEY ARE NOT REIMBURSING ME. I HAVE RECEIPTS OF REPAIR, ALSO RECALL NOTICE AND DATE I TOOK IN, THEIR OWN RECEIPT SHOWS NO FIXING AS TAKEN CARE OF EARLIER WHEN THEY CHARGED ME $277.75. HELP! *TR
I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OVER BAD CONDITIONS ON THE ROADS AND THE CAR FLIPPED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND YET NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE VEHICLE. *TT
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE CAR MADE NOISE AFTER THAT DRIVING IT. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE MOUNTING BOLTS ( ALUMINUM ) FOR RIGHT ENGINE SUPPORT ARM BROKE. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AS THEY SAID IT WAS A FLAW IN THE ENGINE BOLTS. THE CAR HAD 40,984 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
DROVE MY 2008 BMW 328XI SEDAN TO WORK SITE ABOUT 54 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOME TOWN WITH NO ISSUES. AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK, GOT INTO CAR AND STARTED ENGINE. NOTICED SMOKING COMING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OPEN HOOD AND NOTICED SMALL FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEAR SOME WIRING. SMALL BUT STILL ON FIRE. PUT OUT FIRE BY BLOWING ON. CAR STARTED UP FINE WITH NO ERROR CODES. TRIED STARTING AGAIN, SAME RESULT. A ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH SMOKE AND FLAME. I PUT IT OUT AGAIN WITH WATER. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER TO HAVE A REPAIR. BMW DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THAT THE CAR HAD A ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FIRE AND NO OTHER ISSUES. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $2700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER BMW'S WARRANTY. THIS CAR HAS 29000 MILES ON IT. HOW IN THE WORLD IS THIS NOT COVERED BY THEIR WARRANTY. THIS WAS A VEHICLE FIRE! IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF IS IT NOT? *TR
DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON HTTP://WWW.BMWTIS.COM/TSB/BULLETINS/...P/B511907G.HTM SITUATION ONE OR MORE OF THE DOORS MAY NOT UNLOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE KEY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, OR THE CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON INSIDE THE CAR. IT IS STILL POSSIBLE, HOWEVER, TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BY USING THE KEY IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK CYLINDER OR BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. TYPICALLY FAULT CODES A6D4 AND A6D5 ARE STORED IN THE JUNCTION BOX ELECTRONICS (JBBF). CAUSE THIS IS DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE IN THE JBBF CAUSED BY EITHER: AN EXCESSIVE AMPERAGE DRAW BY ONE OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS, WHICH IS COMMONLY ATTRIBUTED TO SILICONE CONTAMINATION; OR AN INTERMITTENT, BUT ACCEPTABLE, AMPERAGE SPIKE SLIGHTLY ABOVE 15A, DUE TO NORMAL VARIATION IN THE LOCKING SYSTEM. CORRECTION REPLACE THE FUSE WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT RATING. REPLACE THE NECESSARY ACTUATOR AS WELL, BUT ONLY IF IT IS DRAWING EXCESSIVE AMPERAGE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MILES AN HOUR AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO ENGAGE DUE TO THE RESISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID NOT SAY WHAT THE PUMP WAS USED FOR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/09/10
BMW 328XI SPORTWAGON CAR POWER LOST SPORADICALLY WHILE CAR IS IN USE. 1ST TIME, CAR STOPPED AT STOP SIGN, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL OFF, CAR TURNED OFF. ALL POWER LOST ONLY AVAILABLE FUNCTION - BRAKES. 2ND TIME, SAME DAY AS 1ST INCIDENT, CAR MOVING APPROX 50MPH, HIT A BUMP, ALL CAR POWER LOST. ONLY AVAILABLE FEATURE, BRAKES. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR APPROX 2.5 HOURS. OCCURRED IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE, SO CAR AND DRIVER SITTING IN TRAFFIC LANE. UNSURE WHAT WAS FIXED. SUPPOSEDLY SOME PART NEAR GAS PUMP HOLE THAT LEAKED - CORROSION ON COMPUTER - REPLACED. 3RD TIME - CAR CUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH MAKING RIGHT HAND TURN. BRAKES WORKED ONLY. D/T LOSS OF POWER STEERING, CAR STOPPED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. REPLACED "FUEL/AIR INTAKE" MODULATOR? NOT SURE OF THE NAME. OLD PART WAS AT DEALERSHIP. 4TH TIME - CAR CUT OFF WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN IN BUSY INTERSECTION AT APPROX 15 MPH. ENTIRE ONBOARD COMPUTER REPLACED. 5TH TIME - TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. WHILE CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS, CAR CUT OFF - RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. ALL REPAIRS DONE UNDER MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. PARTS MAY STILL BE AVAILABLE AT DEALERSHIP. EACH INCIDENT BETWEEN 2-4 WEEKS APART. DEALERSHIP KEPT CAR DURING LAST REPAIR FOR 6 WEEKS. STILL UNABLE TO REPAIR. REGIONAL REP CALLED AND SERVICED CAR AS WELL. NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACED AT THIS POINT, WITHOUT RESOLUTION. VERY BIG SAFETY ISSUE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. DATE OF 1ST INCIDENT 3/9/2010. DATE OF MOST RECENT INCIDENT 5/26/2010. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EXTERIOR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ROTATED WITHOUT BEING MANIPULATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CONTINUED TO FAIL AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE VISIBILITY IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND INSPECTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT BMW DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
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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.
Full record for the 2008 BMW 328Xi → · Every 328Xi year → · How the figures are calculated →