BMW 328XI key fob problems

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 Nov 4, 2015 · Electrical · 89,500 miles · VA

Car experienced complete electrical system failure. All systems shut down (lights, ignition, locks, dashboard, gauges, radio). Car could not be operated. Locks would not operate using dash mounted button, door pulls or key fob. Drivers door could only be opened from outside using valet key. Emergency lights inoperable. Problem occurred 10/29, started 2 hours later. Failed again 10/30 at 5pm. Restarted on 10/31. Dealer unable to duplicate. Car started 11/3 and failed 11/3. Battery checked--fine. Ibs checked--fine. (this car is not currently listed as part of the ongoing bmw battery cable recalls, but seems to exhibit exact same symptoms).

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.

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 May 21, 2012 · Electrical, Locks · 52,000 miles · IL

I was trapped in the car. The cars locks would not unlock using the unlock button or using the key fob, nor would pulling the handle unlock or open the door. I called bmw assist and they indicated that they had heard of several similar issues and that the only option may be climbing out the window. Vehicle was purchased as a cpo from a bmw dealership approximately 2 months prior.

Filed May 20, 2012 · Electrical · 18,000 miles · NY

Door locks became unresponsive, either when activated via the key fob or the internal door unlock button. Doors are unable to be opened from the outside and the inside. Presents a significant safety threat. Only the driver's door is opens.

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.