I am unable to open/unlock the driver's side door. Other doors are fine but I would be trapped in case of fire or accident. Door does unlock through manual key (not fob).

- Greer, SC, USA

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.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

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 actuators of one of the doors. The effect is that the passengers cannot come out of the car as there is not any manual mechanism to unlock. There is other complaints in NHTSA about the same issue (for example NHTSA id number: 10459121). I recommend that NHTSA conducts a safety investigation about this potential safety risk on this or any other affected model.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328I. The contact stated that the power door locks failed on all of the doors. The contact stated the failure prevented the doors from being open manually. The contact stated that if you was inside the vehicle you had to roll down the window and use the key on the outside to get out of the vehicle. The contact stated that the only door that could be unlocked in this situation was the driver side door, any one else in the vehicle has to climb over to the driver seat to exit. The contact felt this was a safety hazard for the elderly and people with disabilities. The dealer stated that the door actuators failed and verified that the drivers door was the only one that would open from the outside. The failure and current mileage was 31,000. Updated 12/06/12 the consumer stated only the driver's side door with the use of the key worked. Updated 12/06/12

- Clarksburg, MD, USA

Driver exited car to pump gas. Passengers remained in vehicle. Gas door could not be opened as main door lock was engaged (though drivers door was unlocked). Key fob unlock function would not work to unlock car / gas cap. Driver pushed key fob buttons to attempt unlock, drivers door became locked during this activity. Now no doors could be unlocked. Due to failure all doors experienced "2 pull" door unlock system failure, this "2 pull" system, that is supposed to ensure doors can be opened from inside if lock is engaged apparently require same power as general locking system. Driver could only enter car by using emergency key and unlocking driver's door. Passenger and rear doors remained lock (and are still locked / inoperable due to system failure). Power failure in door lock system (or other associated fault) made door operation impossible. All doors were completely inoperable from the inside. Passengers could not exit vehicle as doors were locked and handles did not work. Driver could not enter vehicle by key fob unlock function. Drivers door experienced intermittent operation until some kind of manual override, or some other system change, made drivers door functional by "2 pull" door unlock / open method. If driver had not been present (ie: In store paying for gas or for some other reason) passengers would have been trapped in car. If any passenger had been physically disabled and unable to crawl out of car via drivers door there would have been no way for passenger to exit car !!!!!. door lock system remains inoperable, passenger and rear doors still locked closed with no way to open them.

- San Jose, CA, USA

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.

- Vernon Hills, IL, USA

Doors will not unlock. Manual key will work in the drive side door outside only. Other 3 doors will not open at all. The only way to get out of the car is to climb thru the window or climb out of the driver door. Driver has to climb out of window and use manual key to open door. Many post online of this problem. I will have it fixed, however, the costs are very high; this is a safety hazard! if car is wrecked or on fire, rescue would not likely be able to help driver or passenger timely. Recall is needed!

- Winterville, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 320I. The contact stated that the electronic keys failed and passenger side doors would not lock; the driver side door was the only one to unlock. The passengers had to exit from the driver side. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the vehicle was repaired (repairs were unknown) under warranty. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

- Los Altos, CA, USA

2008 BMW, electronic door locks stuck in locked position, must open driver side door with valet key. Remaining doors stuck in locked position, making it impossible for passengers to leave vehicle in an emergency situation. Related problem is that gas cap (which locks when doors are locked) will also not open.

- Houston, TX, USA