NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
14 reports120,000 miles · Dec 19, 2012
Power TrainService BrakesCrash
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT HILL AND THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED UP TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. MY BROTHER SAT IN THE CAR AND SMOKED A CIGARETTE BEFORE GOING TO HIS APPOINTMENT. AFTER HE RETURNED FROM HIS APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE FOUND. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, HE REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN THE HILL, AC…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT HILL AND THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED UP TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. MY BROTHER SAT IN THE CAR AND SMOKED A CIGARETTE BEFORE GOING TO HIS APPOINTMENT. AFTER HE RETURNED FROM HIS APPOINTMENT, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE FOUND. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, HE REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN THE HILL, ACROSS A BUSY TWO-WAY MAIN ROAD IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF THE CITY AND HIT THE WALL OF THE AT&T BUILDING. THANK GOD NO PEDESTRIAN WAS WALKING DURING THIS TIME AND NO CAR WAS PASSING BY. MY INSURANCE PAID $12,000 IN DAMAGES TO THE BUILDING OWNER AND THE DAMAGES TO THE CAR WAS MASSIVE. MY PREMIUM INCREASED DUE TO THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE AT THE TIME, BMW STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE HAND BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN TIP TOP SHAPE AND THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE EVER HAD WITH IT WAS HAVING TO GET THE HAND BRAKE ADJUSTED PERIODICALLY BECAUSE IT KEPT SLIPPING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL EVEN WHILE EXTENDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10489268
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED RANDOMLY. THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED TWICE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE REPAIRS WERE COSTLY. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER FOR ONE REPAIR, BUT WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENTIRE HEAD OF…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED RANDOMLY. THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED TWICE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE REPAIRS WERE COSTLY. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER FOR ONE REPAIR, BUT WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENTIRE HEAD OF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT STATE THE REASON FOR THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10132605
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL LEAKAGES FROM THE UPPER RETURN LINES. DEALER MAKING REPAIRS. *AK DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS NEXT TO THE STARTER. ALSO CLAIMS IT WAS FIXED, HOWEVER IT IS NOT. *JG
NHTSA ODI #8009807
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
INITIAL THROTTLE RECALL (NHTSE #97V131000) PERFORMED 5-13-98. PROBLEMS RELATING TO CRUISE CONTROL/BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE. (PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE IRREGULARITIES IN SEVERAL FIELDS OF THE QUESTIONAIRE THAT SHOW UP INCORRECTLY ON THE FINAL CHART.)
NHTSA ODI #758915
Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2001
Structure
INTERIOR DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLIES ON 3 (THREE) SECTIONS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE DETACHED - IN THE EVENT OF ACCIDENT, PASSENGERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE! ALSO, FLAWED DOOR PANEL ASSEMBLIES MAKE ENTERY/EGRESS FROM VEHICLE DIFFICULT/DANGEROUS.
NHTSA ODI #751540
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
TEMPERATURE GUAGE RISES AND A LARGE AMOUNT OF COOLANT SPILL ENGINE OVERHEATS ENGINE STALLS I REALLY DON'T EXPECT THIS ON A BMW WHY DON'T HELP US WITH THE PROBLEM I'M REALLY DISAPOINTED THEY JUST IGNORE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #749542
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2001
Power Train
WOULD BE DRIVING AND VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM FIRST INTO 2ND GEAR. WOULD GET HUNG UP IN FIRST. THEN, IT WOULD SUDDENLY JERK AND SHIFT INTO 2ND. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC INDICATED PROBLEM OF SHIFTING WAS REPAIRABLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #890050
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY, VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND RED LIGHT CAME ON, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT HEAD GASKET CONTAINED A CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE HEAD, CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED BY REPUTABLE BMW DEALERS THAT VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A FAULTY PART …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY, VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND RED LIGHT CAME ON, CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED AND WAS ADVISED THAT HEAD GASKET CONTAINED A CRACK WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE HEAD, CONSUMER WAS ALSO ADVISED BY REPUTABLE BMW DEALERS THAT VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A FAULTY PART CALLED THE PROFILE GASKET AND IT IS WELL KNOWN, BUT MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A PROBLEM, CONSUMER HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS TWICE, THE FIRST REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE RADIATOR AND ALSO THERE WAS A RECALL ON RADIATOR CAP. *JB
NHTSA ODI #560955
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING THE OVER-HEATING LIGHT CAME ON, DEALER FOUND HEAD GASKET TO BE CRACKED, CONSUMER SAYS THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW TO THE PROFILE GASKET WHICH CAN LEAK AND OVER A PERIOD OF TIME CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #556440
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO A CAR WASH WHEN CONTROL BOX GOT WET, THEN THE FUEL INJECTOR FROZE OPEN, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. CAR SPILLED GASOLINE ALL OVER THE GROUND. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO START VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WHEN A CAR WASH ATTENDANT CAME OUT AND TOLD HER NOT TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BLOW UP. P…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO A CAR WASH WHEN CONTROL BOX GOT WET, THEN THE FUEL INJECTOR FROZE OPEN, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. CAR SPILLED GASOLINE ALL OVER THE GROUND. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO START VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WHEN A CAR WASH ATTENDANT CAME OUT AND TOLD HER NOT TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BLOW UP. PRIOR CARS OF 1994 BMW HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #863739
Official recalls
2Aug 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
Aug 19, 1997
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Illustration