Possible Class Action Law Suit knowingly neglect, mislead, purposely avoiding known recall & obvious risks of possible LIFE / PROPERTY LOST 08/2012, NYS Bear Mt Parks Camp ground Unknown reason Low battery resulted locked steering, stranded tow $450 /park+$450 tow truck to Shop E141st Bronx Friend a Westchester BMW dealer mechanic 1988~2019 (Will testify): official instruction to replace Steering column $2000-3000 job, replaced on the street, can't start w dealer computer+ $300 towed to Bronx BMW specialist & reset/ started for $450 2012 not much info online As my VIN isn’t on the recall list, I was not aware of the other identical recalled issue til it happened again in 2015(?2016, can confirm w the NY Westchester BMW dealer parts receipt) Paid another $2000+ much nightmare only to realized the issue can easily be reset by any mechanic computer then restarted. BMW dealer still maintain its instruction to their dealer mechanic to replace knowingly HIDING the fact that it should have been recalled & avoided 2016 (have receipt) At 70k Miles Transmission rebuilt, specialist said broken fragments of gears resulting in irreparable damages 2017 Corroded Fuse box nr passenger side replaced $680 2019 After stopping, car barely cranks over & white smoke observed under hood in front of passenger waited 30 minute to start Days later car won’t start, the wire leading to fuse burnt off, lost all power $300 tow home +$350 replace wire $4580 since 2020 low battery all year, car sluggish due to sudden lost of power. 2021 Engine shaking violently, drives shaky & unstable jerks, pulled over Towed $280 steering lock symbol shown Car on driveway realized my VIN was not included in this 2013 recall of 570,000 cars for the same defect numerous reported URGENT life/ Property threats to highway safety for years: sudden lost of power (No hazard light) on LEFT Lane of Highways Entire car engulfed in flames in minutes w toddlers inside car barely escaping Air bags popping while in motion..
BMW 328XI steering lock-up problems
19 of the 460 owner complaints about the BMW 328XI describe steering wheel locks up, most of them for the 2007 model year.
- owner complaints
- 19
- worst model year
- 2007
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,300
- typical mileage
- 55,000
By model year
- 20111
- 20091
- 20081
- 200716
Often reported together
What owners say
Dashboard indicates, "electric steering lock engaged". Car is currently drivable, however the dealer has informed me that this has happened often in this year and model of bmw, and will continue to worsen until the car will no longer turn on. The malfunctioning feature (steering wheel lock) has been removed from subsequent models, indicating that the manufacturer recognizes the malfunction. Repair includes replacement of the entire steering column, cost to repair is approximately $1300.
Bmw would not start causing me to jump start my car. Upon starting my car, message on screen says that steering wheel lock malfunction. This happened today, may 18,2018 at 3:30. The car was stationary.
Driving 65mph in highway when engine turned off. Safely pulled over. Restarted. Drove another 5 miles, engine turns off again. Restarted. Instrument panel had reset except clock and odometer. Following day car started and ran. While making a left turn in local road, the engine turned off, steering locked, almost hitting another vehicle which was turning right.
I have a 2007 bmw 328i. In 2010, I got in the vehicle and there was a steering wheel lock warning on the dash. Car will not even turn over...everything is locked up.. Told that the whole steering column will need to be replaced ($1500). According to many references, this is a common problem and bmw is aware of it. Also, according to several references, there is no warning or prediction when the steering wheel lock will fail in the locked position. If you are first getting into the vehicle and the steering wheel lock has failed in the locked position, it will not allow you to start the engine. The question that I have is whether the steering wheel lock can fail in the locked position while the vehicle is being driven. Apparently, this question has been raised by numerous people. I have asked this question to the dealership as well as several bmw websites. The results are, they don't know or the answers have been inconsistent and often contradictory. Aside from this particular problem being far too frequent to ignore by bmw, this appears to be a very real safety concern. Bmw continues to ignore this problem.
I had the red steering wheel lock on my car about 2 week ago. I been driving with it on for about 2 weeks, because I was not able to get into the dealer. It always started for me, but I feel my steering getting hard. And I see on bmw form that car need to get replace the steering column. And my car isn't covered under warranty, and would have cost about 1k otherwise. And I see a lot of cars with this problem.
While driving back from gulf shores alabama my headlights started flickering on and off while driving on the highway the power went off on the radio lights on the dashboard went off the steering wheel locked up and an sos button came on. The windshield wipers stopped and it was torrential rains and total darkness on interstate 75. When I could see well enough to get over to the brim I googled the codes that were flashing and was given further instruction on how to get my car started again. The headlights flickering on and off and visibility ( with the rain ) was impossible. Several various codes continued to pop up and this happened until we arrivd at our destination. It was if the whole computer board had gone haywire .every code imaginable came on and we had to stop to figure out what to do to get the car going. Since then my bmw will not start unless the battery is charged. It says battery discharging or battery was disconnected so I have to keep battery cables with me at all times. So last night I'm having the airbag code come on which I do have a recall on that, as well. I have taken several pictures of the various codes involved which I will attach.
Electronic steering wheel lock malfunciton. Vehicle cannot start. Steering wheel column needs to be replaced and software upgraded.
Drove to mall. Parked car. Came back out to a red steering wheel with a padlock on the dash. I put the key in the car. Pressed the button, car would not start. Tried to unlock the steering wheel but it would not budge. I searched the symbol to find out this is a common problem "intermittent ir immediate steering wheel lockout". I had the car towed to the dealer because this is what bmw said was the only option. Diagnosis need a new steering column. No warning. No steering issues. No visible damage. Just automatically locked out and left stranded.
Riding down the highway and a warning light comes on stating steering wheel locked, so I pulled off the road and turned the power off to read up on the warning lights, I got a locked steering wheel and car would not start.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the BMW 328XI steering lock-up
Which BMW 328XI years have steering wheel locks up problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2007 (16 complaints), 2008 (1 complaints) and 2009 (1 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix steering wheel locks up on the BMW 328XI?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,300 (median of 7 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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