2007 BMW 328XI Latches/locks/linkages Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENED WAS THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR. THE OTHER DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000. *TT

Mileage: 48,000

THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED, MAKING ALL OF THE PASSENGER DOORS UNUSABLE, EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE, THEY CANNOT GET OUT EXCEPT THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR, REPRESENTING A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. IN THE CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY, PASSENGERS IN MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED, UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE IS NO MECHANICAL LOCK RELEASE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. BMW HAS RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE FUSE 57 WITH A 20 AMP FUSE INSTEAD OF A 15 AMP FUSE, BUT THIS DOES NOT FIX THE BASIC PROBLEM OF HAVING NO ESCAPE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE FUSE WITH A 20A, IT BLEW AGAIN AND WOULD HAVE TRAPPED PASSENGERS AGAIN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT THIS SAFETY HAZARD HAS PERSISTED SO LONG WITHOUT A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

MY 2007 328XI BMW DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THESE... *TR

Mileage: 80,000

DOOR LOCKS DO NOT OPEN, DOORS NOT ABLE TO OPEN. FUEL DOOR TRAPPED CLOSED. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE REMOTE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK ALL OF THE DOORS AND THE KEY HAD TO BE USED TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 48,000

I OWN A 07 BMW 328XI, ON 10/03/12 I GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND TRIED LOCKING IT AND ONLY TWO DOORS LOCKED. THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE FOB OR THE DOOR SWITCH LOCATED IN THE CAR. IN ORDER TO GET INTO CAR I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT THE SAME HAD TO HAPPEN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A ACTUATOR PROBLEM, SO ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO TO GET THE DOORS UNLOCKED TILL MY APPT. I MADE. HE PROCEEDED TO TELL ME NO AND UPON READING SOME FORUMS HE COULD HAVE SAID USE THE KEY HIDDEN IN THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR OR CHECK THE #57 FUSE WHICH CONTROLS THE LOCKS. UNFORTUNATELY, I PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY DEALER BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE POTENTLY PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, HE COULD HAVE TOLD ME THESE THINGS BUT HE CHOICE TO SAY NOTHING TO GET ME IN THERE. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH BMW'S AND COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM IF THE CAR WAS TO RUN OFF THE ROAD IN A BODY OF WATER AND THE PERSON HAS TO OVER SEATS TO GET BECAUSE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

91 YEAR OLD PERSON COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR, FUSE 57 FAILED AND ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED AND ALSO DOOR HANDLES AND KEY FOB WERE INOPERATIVE. BMW SHOULD HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL FOR THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, PEOPLE COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR. WHAT A DISGRACE BMW! *TR

Mileage: 38,000

THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT WORK. THE LOCKS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT DOORS WERE LOCKED BUT THE BACK DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. I COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AT ALL. I COULD OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR MANUALLY AND THATS PRETTY MUCH IT. *TR

Mileage: 37,000

CAR LOCKS BUT THEN WILL NOT UNLOCK, I HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR. PASSENGER DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE, THE FUSE KEEPS BLOWING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED THE FUSE TWICE IN 3 MONTHS. I HAVE LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 BMW 328XI. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THE THOUGHT OF SOMETHING HAPPENING WHERE WE ARE UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR FRIGHTENS ME. *TR

DOORS REMAINED IN LOCKED POSITION AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO REMOTE ON FOB OR CENTRAL DOOR CONTROL INTERNALLY. DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN MANUALLY ONCE DOOR LATCH DEPRESSED. DRIVER DOOR ONLY OPENED THROUGH WINDOW TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN FRONT AND REAR SEATS TO EXIT. OBVIOUSLY, VERY DIFFICULT TO EXIT. AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT, NO PASSENGERS COULD RIDE IN CAR UNTIL ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. *KB

Mileage: 30,122

2007 328XI CURRENTLY AT 65700MI. UNABLE TO UNLOCK CAR USING KEY FOB OR INSIDE BUTTON ON DASH. WINDOWS WORK, HANDLES LIGHT UP. CAN HEAR AN AUDIBLE SOUND WHEN CAR IS TRYING TO UNLOCK. CANNOT OPEN WITHOUT USING VALET KEY. CAN EXIT FROM DRIVER SIDE ONLY USING HANDLE. ALL OTHER DOORS CANNOT UNLOCK AS WELL AS GAS CAP. SAFETY HAZARD IF PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT VEHICLE FOR ANY REASON. *TR

Mileage: 65,700

THE POWER LOCKS IN MY 2007 BMW 328XI SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. THE ALARM ARMS/DISARMS WITH THE USUAL BUTTON PRESSES, BUT THERE IS OTHERWISE NOTHING THAT TAKES PLACE. OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE VALET KEY UNLOCKS FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE DOOR -- DIDN'T TEST PASSENGER'S -- THE FUEL DOOR REMAINS LOCKED. I HAVE A BUSINESS TRIP PLANNED EARLY IN THE MORNING. THE SAVING GRACE IS THAT I DIDN'T ENCOUNTER THIS FUEL DOOR FIASCO ON I-95 IN SOME BACKWOODS TOWN, BUT WOW... HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL?!?!?! I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE! DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE FIRST? WOW! *KB

Mileage: 49,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE POWER LOCKS WERE FUNCTIONING. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR MANUALLY BY USING THE KEY. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT NONE OF THE DOORS, EXCEPT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD OPEN FROM THE INTERIOR. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT COULD BE OPENED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

SIB 51 19 07, CAR DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND WAS FORCED TO EXIT THROUGH WINDOW. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

NONE OF MY DOORS WILL UNLOCK IN MY 2007 328XI WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE MANUAL KEY AND THEN IT ONLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER DOOR...ALL OTHER DOORS AND THE GAS TANK WILL NOT UNLOCK....NOT EVEN PULLING THE HANDLES FROM THE INTERIOR. THIS IS A VERY BAD DESIGN FLAW AND A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE A 5 AND A 2 YEAR OLD. WHAT IF I WERE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE MY BATTERY WERE TO DIE AND THE WINDOWS WERE UP. I AND MY CHILDREN WOULD PERISH IN THE HEAT OF OUR GEORGIA SUMMER. THE ENGINEERS NEED TO FIX THIS SAFETY HAZARD IMMEDIATELY OTHERWISE A LIFE IS GOING TO DIE! *TR

Mileage: 52,000

2007 BMW 328XI. THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN UTILIZING REMOTE NOR OPEN/CLOSE LOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN OPEN EVEN FROM THE INSIDE. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA HAS LEARNED OF THROUGH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE? MY 2007 BMW 328XI DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED AT 52,660 MILES: THE KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS (THE DOOR HANDLES WILL LIGHT UP). I HAVE TO USE THE VALET KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT ONLY THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS WILL UNLOCK. EACH OF THESE DOORS (DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER) CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE INSIDE BY PULLING ON THE HANDLE. THE OTHER TWO DOORS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED AT ALL. THIS ISSUE IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY CONCERN: SUPPOSE I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CAR WAS ONE OF THE TWO DOORS WHICH ARE NOT UNLOCKABLE? *TR

Mileage: 52,660

MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED IN OCTOBER 2010. A FUSE WAS REPLACED. THEN THEY FAILED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2010. BOTH TIMES I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I USED THE MANUAL KEY IN THE KEY FOB TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. IF I HAD BEEN INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED, THE ONLY WAY OUT WOULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE WINDOWS. WHEN THE LOCKS FAILED, ALL DOORS WERE FROZEN CLOSED AND THE INTERIOR OVERRIDE DID NOT WORK. THIS COULD BE SERIOUS IF THERE WAS A NEED TO QUICKLY EXIT THE CAR. ESPECIALLY IF IT INVOLVED PETS, CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY. *TR

Mileage: 31,416

2007 BMW 328XI. LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED. UNABLE TO UNLOCK PASSENGER DOORS EITHER WITH THE KEY OR BY PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. ONLY THE DRIVER DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO HAVE MY WIFE AND KIDS CRAWL OUT THE WINDOWS ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT SO THAT WE COULD ATTEND CHURCH. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED PROPERLY. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

I HAVE A 1999 BMW 328I THAT I PURCHASED IN 2005 FOR $25,000 I JUST PURCHASED A 2007 BMW 328XI ON MAY WITH 54K MILES ON 11/1/10 IT TURNED OUT THAT I BOUGHT A $35,000 DEATH TRAP WITH THE DOORS NOT OPENING OR THE GAS TANK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SO NOW IT JUST SITS THERE IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY 1999 WITH STILL DOES THAT SAME PROBLEM BUT OFF AND ON NOT LIKE THIS 2007 DEATH TRAP. I'M NEVER EVER BUYING A BMW AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

2007 BMW 328XI SEDAN; LOCKED VEHICLE WITH KEY FOB. RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN LOCKS. USED KEY FOB TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. INTERNAL BUTTON WOULD NOT UNLOCK DOORS. PULLING TWICE ON DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN DOORS. ACTUAL KEY WOULD UNLOCK DRIVER'S DOOR ONLY. DROVE CAR. TRIED INTERNAL BUTTON AGAIN, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. PULLING TWICE ON DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE WOULD UNLOCK THE DOOR. NO WAY TO OPEN ANY OF THE PASSENGER DOORS. ONLY WAY FOR PASSENGER TO EXIT IS TO GO OUT WINDOW OR THROUGH DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. KEY FOB WOULD LOCK DOOR BUT NOT UNLOCK DOOR. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 2,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO DEALER/MECHANIC OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR MYSELF. *TR

Mileage: 53,115

HAVE YOU INVESTIGATED WHY BMW HAS NOT OFFERED A FIX FOR TRAPPING THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THE CAR WHEN A DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS AND BLOWS A FUSE? THIS IS A COMMON EVENT ON THE 2007 328 MODEL. WHAT HAPPENS IS A POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILS DURING THE UNLOCK PROCESS AND THE INCREASE IN AMPERAGE CAUSES 2 FUSES TO BLOW. THIS PREVENTS ANY OF THE CAR'S DOOR LOCKS FROM OPENING, THEREBY TRAPPING OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. OCCUPANTS MUST EITHER CLIMB OUT OF A WINDOW OR HAVE SOMEONE UNLOCK THE CAR USING A MECHANICAL KEY FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

Mileage: 34,245

THE DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. THEY LOCK AND STAY LOCKED. YOU CANNOT OPEN THEM FROM THE INSIDE, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S DOOR. ALL THREE REMAINING DOORS DO NOT OPEN! THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN BMW 3-SERIES E90S. *TR

Mileage: 40,250

2007 BMW 328XI. ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. NO DOOR COULD BE UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. NO DOOR COULD BE OPENED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE. PULLING THE INTERNAL DOOR LATCH REPEATEDLY FAILED TO UNLOCK OR OPEN DOOR. PUSHING ELECTRONIC LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON ON DASHBOARD FAILED TO UNLOCK DOORS. LOWERING WINDOW AND USING MANUAL KEY IN EXTERIOR LOCK UNLOCKED DOOR BUT AS SOON AS KEY WAS ROTATED TO REMOVE FROM LOCK DOOR IMMEDIATELY ELECTRONICALLY RELOCKED. KEY HAD TO BE HELD IN UNLOCK POSITION WHILE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH WAS USED TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO OPEN DOOR TO EXIT CAR. SUBSEQUENTLY EXCEPT FOR DRIVER'S DOOR ALL DOORS REMAINED INOPERABLE LOCKED BUT DRIVERS DOOR COULD BE OPENED ONLY MANUALLY WITH MANUAL KEY FROM EXTERIOR OR LATCH FROM INTERIOR WITHOUT AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCKING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPAIRED. DEALER REPORTED THAT A "SHORT" HAD CAUSED FAILURE OF ABILITY TO UNLOCK. EVENT HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN IN ONE MONTH. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

EARLIER THIS YEAR I WENT ON A WEEKEND TRIP WITH MY FAMILY: MY WIFE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, ON THE REAR SEAT MY SISTER AND MY TWO AND A HALF YEAR OLD NIECE ON HER CAR SEAT. WHEN WE ARRIVED TO OUR DESTINATION NONE OF THE PASSENGER DOORS WOULD OPEN; THEY WERE COMPLETELY SHUT AND THEY WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE INTERNAL CONTROLS, THE REMOTE OR IN ANY OTHER WAY. ONLY THE DRIVERS' DOOR, WHICH IS ALSO THE ONLY DOOR THAT HAS A KEY HOLE, WOULD OPEN. ALL OTHER DOORS ARE KEY-LESS AND REMAINED LOCKED. MY FAMILY HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE WINDOWS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT WITH MY LITTLE NIECE IN THE BACK SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM'S CAUSE WAS A BLOWN FUSE. FORTUNATELY WE DID NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRE A QUICK EXIT OF OR ENTRY INTO THE CAR. BUT MY FAMILY AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY HAZARD THIS DESIGN REPRESENT. IN THE EVENT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN A RUSH WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT. MY WIFE IS NOW PREGNANT I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SAFE THIS VEHICLE REALLY IS. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER ARGUE THAT THIS IS A SIMPLE MALFUNCTION AND THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY DISMISSING THE CASE; I BELIEVE THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR MANUAL LOCK/UNLOCK OF THE DOORS EVEN IF THE FUSE BLOWS - AT LEAST FROM THE INSIDE. GOOD SAFETY ENGINEERING POLICIES SHOULD STATE THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FUSE BLOW NO SYSTEM SHOULD GET PASSENGERS LOCKED INSIDE THEIR CARS; THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. FAILURE TO FIX THIS REPRESENTS A PASSENGER'S CASUALTY WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HOPE YOU SEE IT THIS WAY TOO. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

UNABLE TO OPEN FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO FAILURE OF FUSE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW AS SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. AS A TECHNICAL EXPERT IN THIS FIELD I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE FAILURE MODE IS UNSAFE AND CAN OCCUR DURING DRIVING, IF FAILURE OCCURS DURING DRIVING PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE LOCKING SYSTEM DOES NOT COMPLY TO FMVSS206 S4.1.3 AS THERE IS NO ABILITY TO UNLOCK THE MECHANISM ONCE THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND THE FUSE FAILS. *TR

Mileage: 67,000