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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1997 BMW 328I.
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
No recalls found for the 1997 BMW 328I.
AFTER SEEING YET ANOTHER REAR END COLLISION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION I HAVE HAD IN MIND FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE WE CAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, BY FLASHING THE STOP SIGNALS WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE ON AND THE CAR IS STOPPED ( REQUIRES A SPEED SENSOR, OF COURSE). MANUAL FLASHING ELECTRONICS EXISTS IN EVERY MODERN CAR, BUT IS NOT NORMALLY USED WHEN STOPPED ON THE ROADWAY.
IT SHOWS SEATBELT SIGN AND AIRBAG SIGN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, MY ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVE HIGHER. IT DID NOT TAMPER DOWN UNTIL I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REVVE WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN UNTIL I CAME TO MY DESTINATION AND PLACED THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. IT DROVE FINE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT THAT DAY. BEFORE THE INCIDENT I HAD TURNED ON THE A/C. ON TUESDAY (2 DAYS LATER) IT UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AGAIN AT HIGHER REVOLUTIONS AT THE SAME STOP LIGHT. I REPEATED WHAT I DID BUT THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR DID NOT THROTTLE DOWN. IT WAS AS IF IT WAS IN MANUAL MODE WITH THROTTLE FULLY OPENED. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL THEN PARK. MY DESTINATION AT BOTH TIMES WAS 10 MIN AWAY. IT DROVE FINE EVER SINCE. I HAD THE CAR ABOUT A WEEK. I DID TEST DRIVE THE CAR AND IT DID NOT HAVE ANY HISTORY OF THIS.
The 1997 BMW 328I has 0 NHTSA recalls and 35 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
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THE LOCKING DEVICE ON A 1997 BMW 328I INTERMITTENTLY MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR OCCUPANTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IF IT IS LOCKED WHILE OCCUPIED. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK, WHICH CREATES A HIGH DANGER AND SEVERITY OF RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO CONSUMERS AND/OR USERS OF THE VEHICLE IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. DESPITE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SAFETY RISK, BMW FAILED TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT AND ADVISE OR WARN PURCHASERS OR POTENTIAL USERS, INCLUDING THE PURCHASERS, OWNERS AND/OR USERS OF THE SUBJECT 1997 BMW 328I, BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE WARNINGS AND/OR NOTICES OF THE SEVERE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH IF AN OCCUPANT STAYS IN A VEHICLE THAT IS LOCKED. ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11, 2013, A HOT AND SUNNY DAY, A FEMALE YOUTH WHO WAS AN OCCUPANT OF A 1997 BMW 328I, BECAME TRAPPED IN THE SUBJECT 1997 BMW 328I THAT WAS LOCKED. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE YOUTH TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, AND SHE ULTIMATELY SUCCUMBED TO HEAT STROKE AND DIED WHILE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE.
1997 BMW 328IS WITH 179K MILES. AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES (HIGHWAY OR CITY), MY STEERING WHEEL WILL BIND OR GET TIGHT IN A TURN. AFTER MUSCLING THROUGH THE TURN SO I DON'T CRASH, THE STEERING WHEEL "POPS" AND RETURNS TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS HAS BEGAN TO HAPPEN DAILY AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME! *TT
I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY CAR IS NOT SAFE AS THE FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR
1997 BMW 328I LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. DRIVING 40MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. SNOWING BUT STRAIGHT LEVEL CONCRETE ROAD. APPROACHING ASPHALT CURVE ENTERING SMALL MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, I TAPPED BRAKE TO DISENGAGE CRUISE. IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE SO HIT IT HARDER. CRUISE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THREW CAR INTO A SKID. TRIED STEERING COLUMN LEVER, NO EFFECT. CRUISE NOW ACCELERATED STRONGLY, SPUN CAR 180, CAR SLID INTO DITCH AT UNDER 30MPH AND FLIPPED OVER. CAR DRIVEN BACK 600 MILES TO HOME BUT TOTAL LOSS FROM CRUSHED IN ROOF. BMW HAS POSSESSION OF THE CAR PENDING PRODUCT SPECIALIST REVIEW. CRUISE HAD STARTED ACTING ERRATIC ON 4-5 OCCASIONS EARLIER THAT WEEK BEING RELUCTANT TO DISENGAGE WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS. AFTER ACCIDENT 3 WITNESSED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO LIGHT WITHOUT EXCESSIVE PETAL PRESSURE. MANY BMW OWNER REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM ON INTERNET FROM BRITAIN. BMW SERVICE ADVISOR STATED IT WAS PROBABLY THE SWITCH STARTING TO FAIL. BMW DEALER NOW HAS CAR AND BMW CORPORATE APPEARS TO HAVE ISSUED GAG ORDER TO DEALER EMPLOYEES. *TR
1997 BMW 328 CI WITH 114K MILES. DRIVING AND AT STOP LIGHT READY TO GO INTO 1ST GEAR TO DRIVE OFF AND CAR MOVING VERY SLOWLY. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I'VE BEEN TOLD AND WILL COST $5K-$7.5 TO FIX DEPENDING ON IF I GO TO DEALER OR MAACO SHOP. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF PROBLEM; IT JUST HAPPENED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 BMW 328I CONVERTIBLE. DUE TO HIS BODY STATURE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LEAN THE SEAT BACK IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELT EFFECTIVELY. HE CONSULTED THREE DEALERS FOR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, BUT NONE HAD THEM AVAILABLE OR WERE NOT BEING SOLD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR THAT MODEL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,882 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 159,800.
REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE ON E36 BMW.. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS ON EVERY BMW FORUM.. THE REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTS TEAR THE FLOOR SHEET METAL AS THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY REINFORCED. I HAVE OWNED 4 SEPARATE CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I KNOW COUNTLESS OTHERS. HTTP://WWW.UNOFFICIALBMW.COM/PHPBB/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=10859. *NM
PLASTIC RADIATOR BROKE AT UPPER HOSE CONNECTION, CAUSING SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE STOPPING IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. THIS LED TO A VERY DANGEROUS RESCUE BY CALTRANS TRUCK AFTER AN HOUR OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC.
SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF IGINITION SWITCH. AFTER ROUTINE DRIVE FROM WORK TO THE GYM, I TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT STOP. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY BUT THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO TUN OFF THE ENGINE USING THE KEY. DROVE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP.
SUDDEN FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL RESULTING IN A SHAKING/VIBRATING VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELLERTING IN CITY TRAFFIC THE CAR CAN LUNGE AND JERK WHILE ACCELLERATING, RESULTING IN UNPREDICTABLE ACCELLERATION. IN CITY TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE IGNITION COILS FOR BMW 3 SERIES CARS AND IT APPEARS THEY FAIL A LOT, YET THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN! AFTER INVESTIGATING FURTHER IT APPEARS BMW HAS SOME RECALL CAMPAIGNS FOR SOME OF THE NEWER CARS. THEY SUGGEST REPLACING ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW BOSCH MODEL. MY CAR HAS BREMI MODEL COILS (PART NO. F3000-86682) AND THERE IS NO BOSCH SUBSTITUTE ACCORDING TO THE BMW DEALER (PLAZA MOTORS IN ST. LOUIS, MO). I FOUND AN EPA RECALL NUMBER FOR THE BREMI COILS FOR ANOTHER MODEL BMW AT THIS WEB SITE: REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.EPA.GOV/OTAQ/CERT/RECALL/420B04018.PDF EPA# 2061 IT DESCRIBES AN INTERNAL FAILURE AS FOLLOWS: "BECAUSE OF PRODUCTION PROCESS FAILURES, THE IGNITION COIL OF ONE SUPPLIER (BREMI)MAY HAVE AN INTERNAL INSULATION BREAK-DOWN IN THE PRIMARY ELECTRIC 2121 CIRCUIT, THE SECONDARYELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND/OR A DISRUPTIVE DISCHARGE. REMEDY: BMW HAS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS WITH A NEW IMPROVED VERSION." THE SAME EXACT THING IS HAPPENING TO BMW 3 SERIES CARS. A REVIEW OF BMW FORUMS ON THE INTERNET EXPLAINS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY BY THE DAY. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL CAMPAIGN INITIATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT!
IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THROUGH CAR CLUBS, PARTS SUPPLIERS AND THE MECHANICS PROVIDING REPAIRS THAT THE ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT OFTEN FAILS COMPLETELY OR BECOMES INTERMITTENT IN OPERATION. WHEN IT FAILS THERE IS NO CONTROLS OR CHANCE OF CHANGING FUNCTIONS. THIS ALLOWS THE CONDITION TO EXIST THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR CAN NOT SELECT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FUNCTION AND POSSIBLY IMPAIRING THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO VIEW THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE TWO CARS OF THIS BUILD TYPE AND THEY BOTH HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS REPAIR BILLS OFTEN AMOUNTS TO AN EXCESS OF $400 PER REPAIR. HERE IS A QUOTE FROM A REPUTABLE PARTS SOURCE, WWW.BAVAUTO.COM WEBSITE: THIS IS THE DIGITAL CLIMATE CONTROL COMPUTER. THESE ARE A COMMON FAILURE ITEM ON ALL 1996-1999 3 SERIES. WHEN THESE FAIL, THE LCD SCREEN WILL GO DIM/BLANK (USUALLY IINTERMITTENTLY AND EVENTUALLY PERMANENTLY) AND THE VENTILATION & AIR SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION." PART NUMBER: 64 11 8 379 521 DESCRIPTION: CLIMATE CONTROL COMPUTER MODULE - IN-DASH RICE: 74.95. *AK
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