This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
I am having a major electrical short in my trunk area affecting my critical tail lights functionalities and common trunk function. I cannot use my turning signals or brake lights or lights in general when driving my vehicle from the rear my lights are not operable. This is a huge safety concern and risk that-€™s need to be recalled affecting millions I'm for certain. Along with that I am having steering issue with my steering rack called -€œsteering Wander-€. Not being able to control you vehicle with supreme confidence is a issue which can easily lead to collisions.
Faulty dmtl now needs a third component at 49,000. Miles. Just replaced defective wiring harness in trunk that caused some lights to fail and burnt up a relay faulty design. Transmission cable gets stuck when shifting out of drive & N. needs cable re aligned or replaced for the second time in 49,000. Miles very dangerous. Door lock actuator has failed.again. Some happen while driving others affect passengers saftey.
Faulty tail lights- the right tail bulb assembly on the car got so hot it melted along with the plug. I called the BMW hot line 800-525-7417, they informed me that the car had 2 recalls for airbags, also told me that the car had a faulty tail lite repair in 2002. I trailered the car on 4/11/18 to sewell grapevine BMW, where scott lord in the service dept took it in. I ask for them to find out also about the tail light assembly melting & I left the part with the car. On 4/11/18 I rented the same trailer & went to pickup the car, (I live 40 mls from there). Upon talking with Mr. Lord, the 2 recalls where performed & he said the technician left brochures in the car on how the melted tail light is repaired & that the car is too old for them to do it. First off, thanks to NHTSA web site, I learned that there where 210,000 of these cars recalled for the same problem, beginning with the year of this car. 2nd, I 've never known a recall to expire until fixed. I called BMW recall back 5/2/18 & she said no recalls are showing now & that I'd have to contact NHTSA, so here I am, do they fix it, or should I contact a lawyer? thank you NHTSA! I'm glad there was not a can of gas in the trunk
Our 2001 E46 has electronic door locks which are failing. My wife has found herself locked inside the car, unable to open the door. The locks freeze, and cannot be manually unlocked, trapping the occupant in the car. There is no mechanical override to the system. The incident occurred when she turned the car off and tried to open the drivers door to exit the vehicle.
I think I know why the car catches on fire since mine almost did and I troubleshoot the problem. The alternator is not disconnected from the battery when the ignition key is turned off and the car is parked in the driveway. If the alternator ever overheats for any reason (such as the cooling vent comes loose), the pass transistor in the built in regulator of the alternator begins to short. Since it is never disconnected from the battery (even with the ignition key removed) the fist symptom appears to be a bad battery as the alternator kills the battery. Especially if you replace the battery with a new, fresh one and continue to drive the car the pass transistor continues to short more and more (it charges the battery more and more leading to overcharging and possible fire) and eventually shorts so bad that even when turned off it draws so much current from the battery that it starts to catch fire. If at this point you don't happen to be there to disconnect the battery it becomes a cascaded failure and will become an engine fire. I know because this is exactly what happened to me. I was lucky enough to catch it and figured it out by measuring the resistance of the alternator and was shocked at how low it was. I replaced the alternator and everything has been fine since. I still have the old alternator if anyone wants to examine it. In my opinion the alternator should never be left connected to the battery with the ignition key off. I just don't see any reason for it. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Fenton, MI, USA
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I was locked inside my car tonight. I entered my car through the unlocked driver's door. Other doors were locked. Started engine and left my driveway. Driver's door locked automatically. When I attempted to exit my car, the doors would not unlock. Door handle pulled as if disengaged to any mechanical connection other than return spring. I attempted to unlock doors with the center console switch to no avail. Turned off engine, removed key and attempted to unlock with fob to no avail. Attempted door pull on other three doors with results the same as previously described. I returned home to my driveway, parked the car and attempted to open the doors from the inside of the car with no success. I attempted with the key in the ignition and engine running, engine off, key removed from ignition, etc. Every option was attempted. The only operational unlock mechanism was for the rear hatch glass, which became my exit by my crawling through the passenger compartment. I was trapped. The electrical system failed and interlocked the mechanical pull.
Specific monitor lights remain on even after being checked and cleared. An asterisk type icon shows up next to the prnd panel and slows down vehicle where as you need to put much pressure on gas pedal to get it to move slightly, pulling over and shutting off engine for 2 mins removes the icon and issue, but mostly these are unpredictable occurrences.the body of car icon lights stay on indicating the cars back lights are not working, even after fixing lights. The car's recall #14V428 ; passenger side front airbag has not been fixed as of yet. Currently all windows are jammed the motor hums but windows do not open unless pushed on, 3 of 4 don't even do that..
A recall has been issued for this problem for cars produced from 9/1/01 to 02/01/05. [recall campaign 11V-438: Repair ground cable for rear light lamps (side panel)]....updated 09/22/15 I have the exact same problem although my car was produced approximately 14 months prior to the vehicles affected by the recall. Situation one or more of the following lights does not function in the rear lamp assembly, mounted on the rear quarter panel (rear parking light, rear turn signal, and rear brake light). Cause a poor ground connection at the rear lamp assembly (connectors X338 left side " pin # 2 and X339 right side " pin # 3) causes a malfunction of the rear tail lamps.
Recalled passenger air bag was replaced by dealer last week, but the dashboard light indicates the passenger air bag is turned off. The dealer says this was an existing problem and refuses to fix without charging several hundred dollars to "diagnose." I maintain this is directly elated to the recalled air bag and should be fixed without charge.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 325I. When the brake pedal was depressed, the passenger side tail light became inoperable. In addition, the headlights flashed independently without warning. The contact also stated that the headlights became inoperable intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.
The contact owns a 2001 BMW 325I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V438000 (electrical system); however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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.
My doors won't unlock. I have actually been locked in the car, and had to climb out my window/sunroof. This seems to be a common problem mentioned on many BMW enthusiast forums. I wish more of those who experience this problem with submit a complaint. I am worried about being in an accident and not being able to get out of my car. Sometimes my doors unlock, sometimes they don't. this is associated with the GM5 module, and a person online even specializes in fixing it since it is such a common problem (www.bmwgm5.com).
Pin number 3 on the taillight bulb housing begins to melt at the connection point causing any number of things to happen with the electrical system. You may experience flickering headlights, loss of taillight function, loss of turn signal function, or electrical fire.
My passenger brake light out of the blue started not working as I took it in the dealership they said a socket connector that involves the wires have been corrupted and burnt out. This is a serious hazard while out on the roads, I have seen many other post about that are having the same issues and im unaware of any recalls about this is issues. This is a issues that needs to have some attention.
Right side rear lights burned out replaced bulbs nothing happened unplugged the harness to find #4 prong completely burned away on car checked the left side and the same thing is happening it is getting hot and looks like it is ready to burn out also.
Electrical ground contact resistance in rear tail lamp has rendered tail lamp non functional and caused warning lamp illumination. Problem appears to be identical to campaign 11V438000.
Headlights flicker on and off while driving. Tail lights and brake lights non-functional. I believe this is an issue related to previous recall of BMW's recalled in NHTSA campaign number 11V438000. I called BMW which told me my car was not covered under that recall. I believe that it should be.
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- Phoenix, AZ, USA