Electronic steering wheel lock. This is in the steering column when it fails the car will not start. It seems to be a pretty common problem. I was hoping there was a recall for this issue, but can not find one.
BMW 3 Series steering lock-up problems
22 of the 842 owner complaints about the BMW 3 Series describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2006 model year.
- owner complaints
- 22
- worst model year
- 2006
- typical mileage
- 93,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
Steering wheel lock up light come on and lock up some time.
Steering wheel lock (red symbol on the notification screen). Vehiclecle will no longer start. Nothing seems to work.
Electronic steering wheel lock malfunctions without notice and renders the car incapable of starting. A yellow steering wheel icon (or red in some instances) appears in the informational panel on the dashboard. The accompanying error code is cc-id 187. This condition when it occurs, will not energize (disables) the ignition system and prevents the car from being started. Drivers will become stranded wherever they happen to be once the car is turned off as the error notification appears only when the car is switched off or back on. There are literally hundreds of similar and identical cases on the internet when performing a google search on this issue.
The steering lock warning light in red display. I took to the dealer and they recommended me to replace the steering lock "elv" and program new control module. It cost $1,975.00 to replace. I did some research and it seems this might be known problem to bmw, but yet, I have never heard about it, until the incident happened to me. When the warning symbol displayed, it display every time even when I open the door.
Red electric steering wheel lock icon on screen and car will not start or turn over. Radio works and everything else but car will not start. When battery died, and I charged it full, then went to start the car and this red electric steering wheel lock came on. Had to get car serviced
No star no light no power only light for steering lock
While attempting to make a right turn the steering wheel locked and at that time the brakes became unresponsive as well. This resulted in a motor vehicle accident as my car only stopped by hitting another car waiting at the opposite light. It can be compared to sliding on a patch of ice, but there is no option to move the wheel to try and regain control of your car. I am very thankful that I was not on the interstate when this occurred. There is a very serious safety hazard as I have done some research and found that this is a common issue with this particular automobile make.
Battery died. Jumpstarted, drove for a bit. Turned off, turned back on drove home. Parked the car. Tried to restart and the red electronic steering wheel lock indicator was on. Plenty of juice in the battery, car will not even attempt to turn over. Can not get into neutral to tow out. Car is dead where it sits because of the electronic steering lock. Thank goodness we weren't in the middle of nowhere.
Steering wheel lock mechanism. Its been reported by thousands of owners but bmw doesn't issue a recall but will replace and repair for 1500.00.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the BMW 3 Series steering lock-up
Which BMW 3 Series years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2006 (12 complaints), 2007 (9 complaints) and 2009 (1 complaints).
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