NHTSA Complaint #10575917 — 2007 BMW 328XI

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING FUNCTION IN MY CAR HAS GONE OUT TWICE IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS. THE BUTTONS INSIDE THE CAR AND ON THE KEY FOB DID NOT OPEN OR LOCK THE DOORS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS A PHYSICAL KEY SLOT. THE CAR CAN ONLY BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAIL. A PERSON CANNOT OPEN THE DOORS USING ANY OF THE HANDLES, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE WHEN THE LOCKS FAIL. THERE IS NO WAY TO EXIT THE CAR FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THIS FAILS. I HAD TO PULL A BACK SEAT PASSENGER OUT THE WINDOW TO REMOVE HIM FROM THE CAR WHEN THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS FAILED THE SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING FIRST ONE, THEN TWO FUSES IN THE BOX. BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DO NOT CONSIDER THIS AN EMERGENCY, SO I HAD TO DO THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL BEING UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, AND HAVING TO DRIVE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED. IT IS NOT EASY TO REPLACE A FUSE WHEN THE BOX IS IN THE BACK OF THE GLOVE BOX ON THE FAR SIDE WHEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR. BMW SAID THERE MAY BE SOMETHING IN THE CAR THAT IS CAUSING THIS TO FAIL FOR ME AND HAS QUOTED ALMOST $200 FOR AN ASSESSMENT. THIS ISSUE IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. ONE CAN EASILY BE STUCK IN THE CAR AS MY PASSENGER WAS WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT BESIDES THE WINDOW. THIS CAR IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO EASILY JUMP OVER CONSOLES OR SEATS. I CALLED BMW AND SAID THIS HAS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL SINCE YOU CANNOT EXIT THE CAR WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS. THERE WAS NO PROMISE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE CARS OR TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY. *TR