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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,500.
FAILURE OF SRS SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM WHICH DEACTIVATES PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE PASSENGER IS NO LONGER PROTECTED. FAILURE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANT. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED 2011 AND DEALER AND BMW MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR AS VEHICLE FALLS OUTSIDE THEIR RECALL VINS. THIS PROBLEM IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY PROBLEM AND ONE IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS IS A PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN THE LEFT HAND LANE ON HIGHWAY 101 IN VENTURA CALIFORNIA. DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 75MPH. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF CAR AND WAS ABLE TO REACH THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND VERIFIED THAT NO DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED TO THE CAR. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN SUPERFICIAL BURNS TO THE DRIVERS LEFT ARM AND RESIDUAL PAIN IN THE NECK REGION. DEPLOYMENT CAUSED VIOLENT MOTION TO THE CAR AND IF IT HAD OCCURRED IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION A COLLISION WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAVOIDABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DETECTION MAT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DETECTION MAT DID NOT IDENTIFY A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON, INDICATING MALFUNCTION ON PASSENGER'S FRONT SEAT. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WELL KNOWN WITH BMW CAR AND A RECALL WAS ALREADY MADE. I DON'T KNOW WHY 3 SERIES MODELS WITH SPORT SEAT ARE NOT IN THIS RECALL. ONLINE YOU CAN EASILY FIND OUT OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING, BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT HAPPENS. THANKS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ERROR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NO LONGER RECOGNIZED WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED WHEN PASSENGERS WERE NOT SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
I BROUGHT MY 2006 BMW 325I TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE AIR BAG PASSENGER WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT UNDERNEATH THE SEAT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $900 TO FIX IT. I ASKED TO CHECK IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY RECALLS ON AIR BAGS FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD YES THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL BUT MY VIN# WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I ASKED WHY AND HE SAID BECAUSE BMW ONLY RECALLED SO MANY OF THE 2006 325I VEHICLES TO FIX. I SAID THIS IS A VEHICLE DEFECT AND BMW ONLY RECALLED CERTAIN ONES? THE ANSWER WAS YES. I DECIDED TO FOLLOW UP WITH BMW USA WHO CONFIRMED A RECALL FOR THE 2006 325I BMW SENSOR MAT AND ONCE AGAIN SAID THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN#. I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE ONLINE AND FOUND OTHER CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT WARNING LIGHT AND VEHICLE VIN#S WHO ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU TAKE THIS MATTER INTO CONSIDERATION VERY SERIOUSLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY AND CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V257000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,500.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON SHOWING PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ALWAYS OFF. NOTICED MULTIPLE ISSUES FROM OTHER OWNERS AND RECALL # 08V384000. BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 4/3/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, DUE TO THE OCCUPANCY DETECTOR MAT HAVING A BROKEN CIRCUIT. UPDATED 04/16/12
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER ARE CONSTANTLY ON, INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS IF A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SPORT SEATS. THERE IS A RECALL IN ORDER FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT MY 2006 330XI WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME REASON. HERE IS THE #: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES FOR 2006 BMW 330 (XI AND I MODELS) THAT ARE NOW HAVING THIS ISSUE. HERE IS A LINK TO A FORUM THREAD ABOUT THIS: HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=358892 *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) RECALL WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
AIRBAG LIGHTS AND RESTRAINT LIGHTS BECAME LIT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR MAT. ALREADY HAS HAD A RECALL ON SOME OF THE MODELS. NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO OTHER VEHICLES. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND COULD RESULT TO THE AIR BAG FAILING TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS A RECALL PERTAINING TO ONLY THE 3 SERIES SPORT MODEL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE OWNER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,400. UPDATED 02/14/12*LJ UPDATED 02/22/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FOOT MAT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,689. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE FRONT SEAT MAT SENSOR. UPDATED 01/26/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FLOOR MAT SENSOR FAILED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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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.