BMW 328XI door locks problems

Filed Feb 4, 2019 · Body · 25,000 miles · MD

Both the driver and passenger door locks occasionally fail to unlock preventing exit from the vehicle. This has occurred about 12-15 times to either my wife or myself. There is a master lock/unlock button that will unlock the doors. Never the less, this defect could be a serious problem in an emergency.

Filed Dec 18, 2018 · Body · 78,799 miles · MN

The vehicle was stationary in a garage. With vehicle either running or not running, we were unable to exit the vehicle as we were unable to unlock and open both front and the left rear doors, from the inside (using the door levers, central locking system button, and remote) or from the outside (using the door handle, key, and remote). The only ways to exit the vehicle were to climb through a window or over the front seats (difficult) to access the right rear door. To get the doors to unlock, I needed to replace a fuse in the fuse panel and disconnect the battery for at least 30 seconds. This could be a death trap if in an accident, high water, extreme cold, etc.

Filed Dec 12, 2018 · Body · VA

The door lock actuators are known to be defective in that if one pulls on the handle, the door will not mechanically unlock by double-pulling the handle, meaning the only way to unlock the door is by using electronic unlock button. If the car is in a water accident, fire, or any other situation where the battery is no longer operable, the occupants will be trapped inside, unable to escape as the doors will not mechanically unlock by double-pulling the handle. Bmw is aware of the issue and has a replacement part, however if the vehicle is out of warranty they will not fix it voluntarily.

Filed Oct 23, 2018 · 50,000 miles · VA

Several times, when the vehicle was in park and stationary, the door latch failed to unlock the door. The latch was pulled repeatedly but the lock didn't unlock and the door couldn't be opened. The door lock was unlocked using the button on the instrument panel. This happened several times, most recently monday, and it was taken for service at bmw roanoke but they were unable to diagnose the problem or recreate it when they tested the vehicle. I have an iphone video of what is going on if you want to view it.

Filed Jul 24, 2018 · Body · 60,000 miles · NC

Doors will not unlock manually from time to time. The only way to unlock is to use the central unlocking feature. Could be deadly in a crash! Bmw will not even look at the car unless I pay them a $150 diagnostic fee! Car is stopped, engine off, and the front doors (both) will not manually unlock from time to time. Only way to get out is to use central unlocking button, which requires power.

Filed Nov 13, 2017 · Electrical · 64,000 miles · NJ

I locked the car doors while driving using the dashboard switch. Upon arriving at my destination and placing the vehicle in park, I was unable to open the driver's door with the dash switch, key fob or interior/exterior door handle. I had to exit the vehicle by crawling over the console between the driver and front passenger seat. Had an accident occurred preventing egress via the passenger door, I would have been trapped in the vehicle. The repair involved replacing a 15 amp fuse with a 20 amp fuse and has occurred with some bmw cars. Bmw needs to address this issue via recall.

Filed Jul 5, 2017 · 26,000 miles · WI

Right front passenger inside door handle broke. Door cannot be opened from inside.

Filed Dec 9, 2016 · 30,000 miles · IL

My car doors intermittently won't open, potentially trapping me in my under-warranty car. This happens about once a week across any of the four doors and has been happening for about 12 months. I have taken the car to bmw multiple times under warranty without repair. Others have reported the same problem in their bmws. Bottom line: bmw refuses to repair under warranty any intermittent car issue, even if it's a safety issue. This is even in light of video evidence demonstrating the problem, unless they can make it happen in their shop. Here's a link to my video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq9iuvqlo2s about once every week or two, one of our four doors completely fails to open using the door latch, even when pulling the handle repeatedly. During these failures, the only way out of the car is if I press the power lock button. If the car's battery fails or there is an electrical failure during an accident, there would be no escape from the car. There are other reports of this phenomenon online: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=674994 there were other intermittent issues they also refused to attempt to repair.

Filed Aug 10, 2015 · Electrical · 8,508 miles · CA

Just as I was driving off the exit ramp from the interstate highway, I lost all power, including steering wheel, brakes and throttle. Fortunately the car slowed to a stop before it entered the road, although the sheriff's deputy who soon showed up was concerned that the car was in a dangerous location. After the car stopped, I discovered that there was no power to any part of the car, including hazard lights, windows or door locks, or even the latch to open the hood. After the car was towed to the bmw dealership, I was told that the part that failed was called the fem, front electronic module. I am reporting this problem because it is potentially very dangerous. If it had happened while still on the highway, or even worse, at night, it could have been disasterous. I am concerned that there is no failsafe for the failure of a part like this, and that bad quality control on an electronic part can so easily cause a serious accident.

Filed May 10, 2015 · Electrical · 46,519 miles · KY

While driving and exiting a parking lot, vehicle auto-locks engaged. Driver door auto-locked and unlocked repeatedly about 6 times; stopping in the locked position. Once arriving home, driver door would not open with the door handle or the interior unlock button. I turned the engine off and removed the key fob and had to utilize the key fob to lock and unlock the door. The drive door was at this point on the opposite position of all the other doors. When the driver door is lock, the passenger doors are unlocked and vice versa. The next day the driver door would open with the key, but not with the key fob. This is of great concern because the door will not open from the interior of the vehicle. Looking at the database and online forums, this is a known issue that has yet to be addressed.