Bmw 3 SERIES electrical problems
63 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.
Key facts
820 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 624 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Electrical and battery issues evidence
63 of 820 complaints match this topic (7.7%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10196059 · 2007-07-11 (July 11, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 3 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A FAULTY SEAT BELT CLIP CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT CLIP ONCE MORE. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE CONNECTOR AND STRAP, A SHRINK TUBE, AND THE LOWER BELT. FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG WARNING ILLUM…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,916 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162038 · 2006-07-10 (July 10, 2006)
I EXPERIENCED A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 BMW 323CI , AS THE SUBFRAME BEGAN TO TEAR AFTER ONLY 57000 MILES OF USE. AFTER SOME COMPLAINING, I WAS ABLE TO GET BMW TO "GOODWILL" THE REPAIRS. BUT AS SOON AS I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PARKING LIGHT BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. IT WOULD COME ON WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED ETC. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH OF IT, BUT NOW ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363010 · 2010-10-30 (October 30, 2010)
I HAVE A 2000 BMW 323 CI CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE TRUNK RELEASE. NEITHER THE KEY FOB NOR THE RELEASE BUTTON FUNCTION; THE ONLY WAY TO GET INTO THE TRUNK IS WITH THE KEY IN THE LOCK. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH LEARNED TWO THINGS. 1. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. (TYPE 'BMW TRUNK RELEASE PROBLEM' INTO A SEARCH ENGINE TO SEE THE EXTENT.) WHILE THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ARE MERELY ANNOYING, IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THEM BEING FAR WORSE. 2. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE HARNESS WHERE THE WIRING GOES FROM THE BODY TO THE TRUNK…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511963 · 2013-05-14 (May 14, 2013)
ELECTRICAL GROUND CONTACT RESISTANCE IN REAR TAIL LAMP HAS RENDERED TAIL LAMP NON FUNCTIONAL AND CAUSED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IDENTICAL TO CAMPAIGN 11V438000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10511963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230495 · 2008-06-10 (June 10, 2008)
FOR SEVERAL YEARS PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF WITH THE BMW E46 ('99-'05 3 SERIES) HAVE COMPLAINED OF INTERMITTENTLY DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES DOCUMENT A MERE FRACTION OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS LIKELY TO AFFECT WARM STATES MORE THAN COOLER AREAS. IN MY CASE, IN HOT WEATHER THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT CLUSTER WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE--NO TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT OR TAIL LIGHTS ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THE REASON: BMW USED A GROUNDING WIRE WHICH WAS FAR TOO SMALL TO CARRY…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230495 at NHTSA ↗