2007 BMW 3 Series Steering

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON CAME UP ON THE DASH PANEL. IT KEPT GIVING THE WARNING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND I WON'T BE ABLE TO CRANK IT. I DROVE IT HOME AND WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF, I WAS ABLE TO CRANK IT BACK UP AND HAD NO PROBLEM WITH STEERING IN TEST DRIVE, BUT I WILL HAVE TO VISIT MY LOCAL BMW REPAIR SHOP TOMORROW. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER BMW OWNER'S WHO SAYS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM MORE THAN ONCE AND I FOUND A LOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET FORUMS. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BMW 328I MODELS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD ALSO LOCK IF A PERSON WAS DRIVING, ALSO. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT, HOPING THAT ANY SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA WILL REVEAL ANY SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

RED INDICATOR FOR ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. CAR FAILED TO START UNLESS MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO UNLOCK COLUMN BY INSERTING AND REMOVING KEY. DEALER SAYS THE COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND THE CAR REPROGRAMMED TO "ACCEPT" THE NEW COLUMN. THE CAR IS COVERED UNDER A CPO WARRANTY, SO THE PARTS WILL BE COVERED, BUT THE "REPROGRAMMING" IS NOT. AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR "BMW ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION" RETURNS MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THE FAILURE MODE. IN SOME CASES MULTIPLE TIMES PER VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US! BMW IS IGNORING THE ISSUE OR KICKING-THE-CAN DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION WHICH IS INHERENT ON THIS MODEL. BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THE ITEM. THEY HAVE SINCE CORRECTED THE MALFUNCTION ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS. REPAIR COST $1800 MIN. I WILL ADD THIS COMPLAINT TO THE EVER GROWING LIST I AM SURE YOU HAVE ON THIS MODEL. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ATTEND TO THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS YOU CRASH. *KB

DASHBOARD DISPLAYS "ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK" ALERT. NO OTHER OUTWARD SYMPTOMS. CAR IS DRIVABLE. DEALER SAYS WHEEL COULD LOCK UP AT ANY TIME AND SAYS A STEERING COLUMN REPLACEMENT ($1400) IS REQUIRED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY PERVASIVE PROBLEM ON MANY BMW MODELS. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SO BAD THAT BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN WITH ONE WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM WITH THE PART. MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO AN INHERENT AND PERVASIVE PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. BMW SHOULD MAKE THIS REPAIR AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *JS

A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR (STEERING WHEEL WITH PAD LOCK). I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD CALLED EARLIER WHICH I HAD NOT. I WAS SOMEWHAT ALARMED THAT THIS SOUND LIKE A COMMON ISSUE ALTHOUGH IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT AND THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS CONCERN. I WAS INFORMED THAT NORMALLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND A RED LIGHT WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND PAD LOCK CAME ON. I CONTACTED SOMEONE REGARDING THIS LIGHT AND THEY INDICATED THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON AND THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY LOCK UP ON ME. I CONTACTED IRVINE BMW TO INQUIRE ON THE COST AND SOMEONE ANSWERED ASKING ME IF I HAD SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I RESPONDED NO IT WAS MY FIRST TIME CALLING. I BELIEVE THIS IS POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND AM REQUESTING THAT SOMEONE LOOK INTO THE MATTER. I'M HAVING TO REPLACE MY STEERING COLUMN WHICH COST $1460 AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY JUST ENDED AND MY VEHICLE JUST CAME ON ITS 5TH YEAR. *TR

WE DID NOT BUY BMW JUST FOR THE LOOK BUT WE BOUGHT IT CAUSE OF HOW GOOD THEY MAKE THERE CARS AND NOW THIS HAPPEN AND BOY I WAS FOOLED. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START. *TT

STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PER DEALER. *KB

THE STEERING LOCK SENSOR IS ON. MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE STEERING WHEEL. GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AT IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT AS TONS OF PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED. *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK FAILED WHICH REQUIRED BMW TO REPLACE THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN AT $1,252.92!!! *TR

RED STEERING WHEEL WITH PADLOCK IN THE DASH. DOESN'T GO AWAY AT ALL. COST SEVERAL THOUSAND TO FIX. CAR WON'T START SOMETIMES OTHERS IT WILL BUT STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK. SEARCHED ONLINE AND TONS OF OTHER 2006-2007 BMW OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, ONCE THEY FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM THEY STARTED KEEPING ALL THE PARTS ION STOCK. I EVEN SPOKE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT SAYS THEY HAVE 2 CARS A WEEK FOR THIS; ABSOLUTELY INSANE FOR ONE DEALERSHIP. ITS A WELL KNOWN DEFAULT BUT NOT RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TO LOCK WHILE SOMEONE WAS DRIVING IT COULD BE FATAL. *TR

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. *TR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP UNEXPECTED AND CAR WILL NOT START. HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT SINCE 12/28/09. CAR HAS TO BE TOWED FROM LOCATIONS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. IT KEPT GIVING THE WARNING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK AND IF I TURN THE CAR OFF, I WON'T BE ABLE TO CRANK IT. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF, I COULD NOT CRANK IT BACK UP. I HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED AT MY LOCAL BMW REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE KNOWN OTHER BMW OWNER'S WHO SAYS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM MORE THAN ONCE. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BMW 328I MODELS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COULD ALSO LOCK IF A PERSON WAS DRIVING, ALSO. *TR

BMW STEERING WHEEL LOCK CANT START VEHICLE LEAVES YOU STRANDED. HAD DEALER REPLACED ALREADY ONCE IN PAST PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY. I NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR STARTING EVEN WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON. I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. NOT BECAUSE IT WAS BAD, BUT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS REPLACING THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. TOTAL COST WAS OVER $700. MY CAR WAS 3 MONTHS AND 5,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WARNING LIGHT SENSOR IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN AND BMW RECALLS THIS PART THAT IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK, CAUSING HIM TO HIT A WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION WHICH WAS INCONCLUSIVE. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT CRASHING. THE BRAKES WERE SLOW TO RESPOND WHEN DEPRESSED AND THE ABS LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STILL LOCKED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,183.

I LEASED A BMW 328I 4 DOOR, AND THE DEALER DELIVERED THE NEW CAR FROM SPRING VALLEY , NY TO LAWRENCE, NY ON MARCH 1 2007. ON MARCH 13 2007, 12 DAYS LATER & 200 MILES ON THE CAR WHICH THE DEALER DROVE AT LEAST 100 OR MORE OF THE MILES, AND WHILE DRIVING INTO A GAS STATION FOR FIRST GAS FILLUP THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CRACKED OFF THE TIE ROD, JUST CRACKED MY PICTURES , WHICH WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER BY BMW. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER, AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT I HIT SOMETHING A FEW DAYS AGO, AND BMW WAS NOT RESPOSIBLE FOR THIS. I SHOULD CALL MY INSURANCE OMPANY. I WAS APPALED BY THE RESPONSE, SO I STARTED WRITING & CALLING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. I WAS ASSURED BY CUSTOMER RELATIONS THAT THEY WERE SENDING ENGINEERS TO SEE THE CAR IN SPRING VALLEY ,NY, AND RESPONDED TO THIS MATTER IN A TIMELY FASHION.*AK