Bmw 3 SERIES transmission problems
37 complaint narratives mention transmission 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.
Transmission and shifting evidence
37 of 820 complaints match this topic (4.5%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10149406 · 2006-02-03 (February 3, 2006)
HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT THERE ARE OVER FORTY (40) COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BMW 3-SERIES REAR SUBFRAMES? THEY ARE SCATTERED AMONG THE VARIOUS 3-SERIES MODEL NUMBERS (I.E. 3-SERIES, 323, 323CI, 328, 328CI.325, 325CI, ETC.) THIS IS ALL BASICALLY THE SAME CAR. A TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE REAR AXLE CARRIER OF THESE MODELS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INHERENT DEFECT. THAT IS, ONE OF THE MOUNTING POINTS IS TOO WEAK TO ABSORB THE NORMAL, EVERYDAY VIBRATION FROM THE TORQUE OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. AS A RESULT, THEY MANUFACTURED A REPLACEMENT PART TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154453 · 2006-04-03 (April 3, 2006)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE TWICE!! FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ON 4/20/02 WITH 49,123 MILES. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ LOOKS AS THOUGH THE FAILURES ALL OCCUR BETWEEN 40,000 - 50,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO GOOD TO 100,000 NOT 40,000!! PLEASE HELP!*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154453 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192877 · 2007-06-11 (June 11, 2007)
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2000 323I WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS CAREFULLY DRIVEN AND CARED FOR. FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS, VANCOUVER BRIAN JESSEL BMW HAS PERFORMED ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE. IT NOW HAS 75,000 KM. THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO BACK MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I CHECKED ON THE INTERNET, I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE FACTORY DEFECT ON THE TRANSMISSION. BMW SH…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196146 · 2007-07-11 (July 11, 2007)
A WEEK AND A HALF AGO I TOOK THE WELL MAINTAINED 2000 323CI BMW TO DEALER FOR THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE, COSTING OVER $700.00 FOR NORMAL? SERVICING. A DAY AFTER THE SERVICE I HAD TO RETURN THE CAR AS I HAD FOUND WASHER FLUID POOLED UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE. I WAS TOLD THE WASHER PUMP FAILED, I THEN PAID AN ADDITIONAL $100.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. A WEEK LATER I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO GO DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD ?BANG. THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TODAY THEY INFORMED ME THE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196236 · 2007-07-12 (July 12, 2007)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 2000 BMW 323CI WITH 52,000 MILES FAILED IN REVERSE ONLY. PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES PER YEAR. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS COST $327.00, AND TOLD ESTIMATED COST OF REPLACING TRANSMISSION WAS $5500.00. NO REASON FOUND AS TO WHY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOLD THAT IF KEEP DRIVING THE CAR THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL WHICH WAS A SERIOUS DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 52,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196236 at NHTSA ↗