2007 BMW 328XI: key fob or push-button start problems

Filed Mar 31, 2014 · Electrical · 83,000 miles · NJ

The automatic door locking function in my car has gone out twice in the last 8 months. The buttons inside the car and on the key fob did not open or lock the doors. The safety issue is that when this occurred, there was no way to open any of the doors from the inside of the car. The driver's side door is the only one that has a physical key slot. The car can only be unlocked from the outside when the automatic door locks fail. A person cannot open the doors using any of the handles, including the driver's side door handle when the locks fail. There is no way to exit the car from the inside when this fails. I had to pull a back seat passenger out the window to remove him from the car when the automatic locks failed the second time. Both times I was able to fix the problem by replacing first one, then two fuses in the box. Bmw service departments do not consider this an emergency, so I had to do the repairs myself. I did not feel safe at all being unable to open any of the doors, and having to drive with the driver's side door unlocked. It is not easy to replace a fuse when the box is in the back of the glove box on the far side when it is impossible to open the passenger door. Bmw said there may be something in the car that is causing this to fail for me and has quoted almost $200 for an assessment. This issue is a major safety problem. One can easily be stuck in the car as my passenger was with no way to get out besides the window. This car is not large enough to easily jump over consoles or seats. I called bmw and said this has to be a safety recall since you cannot exit the car when the system fails. There was no promise to make any changes to the cars or to assist me in any way.

Filed Feb 20, 2013 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · WI

For a few months prior to june, vehicle electronics were flickering and key fobs were not working all the time. Thought it might be battery in key fob (replaced) but that didn't work so I replaced car battery. Still having issues took car to the dealership and they couldn't find any issues. A few weeks went by and on my way to work, car just shut off on the highway, I had to get over two lanes of traffic with dead car. I had the car towed to dealership. They found burnt power cable and fuse box. $1800 later car was repaired and there has been no electrical issues since. I heard from another dealership that the repair is something that started happening lately. Yesterday 19 feb 2013 the recall notice came out on news, I hope I am reimbursed for repairs. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 29, 2013 · Locks · 48,000 miles · KY

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.

Filed Sep 12, 2012 · Electrical, Locks · 38,000 miles · NJ

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!

Filed Sep 18, 2011 · Electrical · 51,000 miles · WA

I have a 2007 328xi that currently has 51,000 miles. It is the second time that my locks in the vehicle have failed. The locks previously failed around 30,000 miles and were replaced under warranty, but now out of warranty I will be left to foot the bill myself. In the most recent incident, I was unable to unlock the car using the key fob or the button on the dash. I found myself locked in the vehicle and had to exit through the driver's window. Luckily, I was able to unlock the car from the outside using the valet key. The windows and trunk works, but the locks do not. When I press the lock and unlock button on the key fob and dash, I hear an audible sound as the car is trying to lock/unlock but the actuators in the doors do not function. It is a serious safety hazard if passengers cannot exit the vehicle for any reason. Please initiate an investigation and recall immediately. Bmw engineers must design new locking system components that are not defective and do not fail every 20,000 miles.

Filed Aug 8, 2011 · Locks · 65,700 miles · CT

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.

Filed Jan 13, 2011 · Locks · 52,660 miles · NV

This is a safety issue that the federal safety agency 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?

Filed Dec 27, 2010 · Locks · 31,416 miles · NV

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.

Filed Sep 17, 2010 · Electrical, Locks · 53,115 miles · MD

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.