2006 BMW 3 Series Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
VEHICLE HAS 148,000 MILES. THE AIR BAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT HAVE BEEN COMING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED BY BMW FOR US IN 2010. OUR MECHANIC TOLD US ABOUT THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. OUR CAR DOES HAVE THE SPORT SEATS AND DOES FALL WITHIN THE DATES OF MANUFACTURE (JAN, 2006) . HOWEVER, AFTER SPEAKING WITH [XXX] AT BMW TODAY SHE INFORMED ME THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY IT IS THE PART THAT IS BAD NOT THE AGE OF THE PART. I FEEL THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM NOT SO SURE THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD EVEN WORK IF WE WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
EVERY TIME I CRANK MY CAR I GET PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE WARNING. *TR
THE PASSENGER SEAT PAD IS DEFECTIVE IN MY 2006 BMW 325I. IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AS DEFECTIVE. IN DECEMBER OF 2013 BMW RECALLED 76K OF THESE PADS FOR MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR, BUT EXCLUDED MY VIN AS A RESULT OF A NHTSA INVESTIGATION. I AM REQUESTING AN EXPLANATION OF HOW BMW WAS ALLOWED TO EXCLUDE MY VIN WHEN THE RECALL IS OBVIOUSLY MORE WIDESPREAD. PLEASE CHECK YOUR RECORDS FOR A COPY OF THE DECEMBER 2013 RECALL OR REFERENCE THE BELOW LINK: RECALL SUBJECT : FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT REPORT RECEIPT DATE: NOV 12, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 76,565 MANUFACTURER: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC SUMMARY: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC (BMW) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 325I, 325XI, 330I, 330XI SEDANS AND 325XI SPORTS WAGONS, MODEL YEAR 2007 328I, 328XI, 335I, 335XI SEDANS AND 328I AND 328XI SPORTS WAGONS, MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 525I, 525XI, 530I, 530XI, 550I SEDANS AND 530XI SPORTS WAGONS, MODEL YEAR 2006 760I SEDANS, MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 750I, 750LI, AND 760LI SEDANS, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 X5 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLES, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN SEAT TYPES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT THAT DETERMINES IF AND HOW THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG SHOULD DEPLOY IN A CRASH MAY FATIGUE AND DEVELOP CRACKS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SYSTEM FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE: SHOULD THE SYSTEM FAIL, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WOULD BE DEACTIVATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. REMEDY: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER IN JANUARY 2014 SINCE PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, ANTICIPATED TO BE IN MARCH 2014, BMW WILL SEND A SECOND LETTER AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MAY CRACK, FREE OF CHARGE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE SENSOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ERROR AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS), NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V348000 (AIR BAGS), AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 BMW 330I WITH MY WIFE IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AND THE SPEED WAS AT 45 MPH. CALLED BMW BUT THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE MY BMW TO THE DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE. SAFETY RECALLS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. THIS WORRIES ME BECAUSE MY WIFE DRIVES A 2006 BMW Z4. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO MORE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
REGARDING TO A BMW RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ISSUE, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM FOR MY BMW 325I FROM 2006, BUT THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILED OUT OF THE SUDDEN. SHOULD BMW COVER THIS OR DO I HAVE TO PAY THE REPLACEMENT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET? *TR
ABOUT A WEEK AGO, THE VEHICLE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING INDICATORS BEGAN TO DISPLAY ERRATICALLY. THEY WOULD GO ON AND OFF AT DIFFERING INTERVALS. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THE INDICATORS BOTH CAME ON AND HAVE REMAINED ON. DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE, I LOCATED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2008 FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE WHICH INCLUDED MY 2006 325I AND ANOTHER RECALL IN 2013 AND THAT BMW HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEARS. THE SEAT MAT WIRING WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE SENSOR TO ENGAGE THE WARNING/INDICATOR AS IT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF A PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT OR NOT AND THEREFORE THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I CONFIRMED MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME RECALL ISSUE FROM 2008 AND 2013 RECALL WITH A LOCAL BMW SHOP AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT BMW OF NORTHAMERCIA BECOUSE BASED MY VIN# IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST,PARTS AND REPAIR S OUT OF POCKET. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTHAMERCIA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE MAKE,MODEL AND YEARWAS PART OF THE NOV 2013 RECALL BUT COULD NOT SPECIFY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER IF MY VEHICLE QUALIFIED. ??? THIS IS THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. WHY WOULD MY QUALIFYING VEHICLE NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND RECALL ISSUE AS THE OTHER VEHICLES BEING RECALLED? WHY WOULD MY VIN BE EXCLUDED FROM HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
MY AIRBAG INDICATOR CAME ON IN EARLY MARCH SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED AS A PASSENGER AIRBAG ISSUE REQUIRING A NEW SENSOR PAD UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT (AT SIGNIFICANT COST) I SEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL AROUND THIS EXACT ISSUE THAT MY CAR APPARENTLY DID NOT QUALIFY FOR DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE DATE BEING 2/05-11/05 AND MY CAR BEING BUILT IN 1/06. AFTER SPEAKING TO BMW NORTH AMERICA I WAS INFORMED THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT SHOULD COVER MY MODEL WITH MANUFACTURER DATES OF 12/05 - 9/06. I HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF WHETHER MY VEHICLE QUALIFIES, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE I HAD TO UNDERTAKE THE COSTLY REPAIR WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DESPITE BMW'S DEFINITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, PERIODICALLY RECEIVE MESSAGE FROM BMW325I ALERT SYSTEM STATING THAT THE AIRBAG/SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY IN ITS OPERATION AND NEEDS TO BE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT AIRBAG SENSOR MAT IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FEEL THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE ADDED TO BMW'S RECENT RECALL LIST AND REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO REPAIR AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE MAT SENSOR WAS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
2006 BMW 325I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BMW INFORMED HIM, THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL.
2006 BMW 325I WITH 125,000 MILES AND STANDARD SEATS. FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR LAST YEAR. FINALLY TOOK IN TODAY AFTER LEARNING ABOUT RECALL. EVEN THOUGH SAME PROBLEM, MINE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE MINE WAS PRODUCED IN JUNE 2006, NOT DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF THE RECALL. DEALER GAVE ME REPORT SAYING, "REPLACE SEAT MAT (FOUND SEAT MAT FAULTY)" FOR COST OF $1056.25. MY ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED I CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ASK FOR A "GOODWILL" REPAIR WITH EITHER 75% OR 100% COVERED SINCE MY VEHICLE SITS JUST OUTSIDE THE RECALL DATES. DENIED!! REASON DENIED BY[XXX] #8408 OF BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS: 1)I AM NOT ORIGINAL OWNER 2) VEH OUT OF WARRANTY TOO LONG (HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY UNTIL 100,00 SO IT IS 25000 OUT ) AND 3) VEH HAS OVER 100,000 MILES! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT / OCCUPANT DETECT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. I PAID OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL OF THE AIR BAG FRONTAL SENSOR CONTROL MODULE FOR MY VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND BMW CLAIMS THE RECALL IS VIN SPECIFIC. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE AND UNFAIR AS THIS IS THE VERY PROBLEM THAT I REPAIRED. I HAVE TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THEY WERE NOT PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAGS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 08-28-14 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325 I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM , AND THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUED WAS RESOLVED. UPDATED 04/09/14
I CONTACTED BMW BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2006 BMW 325XI FOR A FAULTY MET SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIRBAGS. MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY OF 2013 AND HAVE NO RECORDS OF RECALLS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL...UPDATED 04/07/14 *BF *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,603... UPDATED 08-20-14 *BF UPDATED 09/3/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE DETECTION MAT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP MORE THAN ONCE BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
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Quick Summary
The 2006 BMW 3 Series has 495 Air Bags complaints on file. 9 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.