54 complaints reported

2006 BMW 3 Series AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
54
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
2

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jun 2014

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2006 BMW 330XI AND THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LAMPS HAVE BEEN ON/OFF ON MY CAR SINCE LAST NOVEMBER. SINCE THIS CAR MODEL HAS A RECALL RELATING TO AIRBAG AND SEATBELT, I AM WONDERING WHY I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY "RECALL LETTER" SO I CAN PRESENT IT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THANK YOU. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
May 2014

MY AIRBAG LIGHT AND SEATBELT LIGHT WERE ON RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON THAT PROBLEM BUT MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN IT. IF THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHY DON'T THEY FIX IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
May 2014

I AM AN OWNER OF 2006 BMW 330I SEDAN WITH SPORTS SEAT (MANUFACTURE DATE: 5/2005). RECENTLY, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR BECAME MALFUNCTION, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS INDICATED AS 'PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF' AS THE RESULT. AFTER RESEARCHING ON NHTSA WEBSITE, I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND BMW IS ISSUING A RECALL ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. HOWEVER, IN FURTHER REVIEWING THE RELATED DOCUMENTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, ALTHOUGH BMW HAS RECALLED 2006 330I SEDAN WITH SPORT SEATS, THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ARE FROM DEC 2005 TO SEPT 2006, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, IT EXCLUDES MY VEHICLE. WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SAME ISSUE HAS IMPACTED A LOT OF OWNERS OF 2006 330I SEDAN WITH SPORT SEAT PRIOR TO THE MANUFACTURE DATE THAT BMW HAS SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL. DUE TO THIS REASON, THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE EARLIER MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE MODEL CONSIDERED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2014
Mar 2014

AIRBAG AND SEATBELT SENSOR COMES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. APPEARS TO BE A SENSOR OR CONNECTION ERROR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Dec 2013

THE RED PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY BMW DEALER HAS TOLD ME THIS MEANS THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED AND THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE CAUSED BY A FAULTY SENSOR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2013
Nov 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SENSOR WAS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000(AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Oct 2013

THE AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHT AND SEATBELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNEXPECTEDLY AFTER DRIVING FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE EVER BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE, AS I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE FACTORY REGARDING THE "PASSENGER SEATS AIR BAG COMPONENT FAILURE" BUT NO FURTHER CLAIMS OF RESPONSIBILITY. I RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY FOR FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SYSTEM, BUT NONE COVERING THE ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE THE CASE FOR MY VEHICLE. I PROJECT THAT I WILL BE CHARGED FOR A SAFETY SYSTEM FAILURE THAT IS NOT AN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2013
Jun 2013

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT/AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR MONTHS, FINALLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO GET THE ERROR CODE. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS AND BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT IT SINCE 2008. PER THEIR WEBSITE THEY WERE GOING TO SEND OUT RECALL NOTICES TO OWNERS, WE NEVER RECIEVED ANYTHING. BMW NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO OWNERS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Jun 2013

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE (FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER) APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE CAR. EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED THE WARNING APPEARS. THE WARNING REMAINS AS LONG AS THE CAR IS RUNNING. THIS CAR HAS SPORT SEATS. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2013
May 2013

THE RED PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, WHETHER OR NOT ANYONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. BMW HAS TOLD ME IT WILL COST $1,300 TO REPLACE, YET IT SEEMS FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE AND FROM OTHER ONLINE FORUMS THAT THE MAT SENSOR CAUSING THIS PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVELY MANUFACTURED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2013

FOR NO REASON THE PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND STAYED ON FOREVER. MY 2006 BMW 325I HAS STANDARD SEAT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Mar 2013

THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO DISABLE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS WAS A RECALL ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR, BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA IS STATING THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2013
Mar 2013

I STARTED MY CAR THAT MORNING AND THE AIRBAG/SEATBELT SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON EVEN THOUGH MY SEATBELT WAS FASTENED. I FASTENED THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT TO SEE IF THAT WAS IT BUT IT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN AUGUSTA, GA AND THEY CHARGED ME $120 TO CHECK IT. THEY STATED IT WOULD COST $530 TO REPAIR IT. I DECIDED TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES. OTHER VEHICLES WITHIN THE YEAR MODEL HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A RECALL BUT 325XI HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED. SINCE THE SAME MALFUNCTION OF THE SAME ITEM IS HAPPENING, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED ON 325XI AS WELL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2013
Mar 2013

I WAS BACKING UP AT 4 MPH AND PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP. THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. IT CONTINUED TO STAY ON AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF SINCE. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR OTHER THAN MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE MECHANIC TWICE NOW TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE LIGHTS AND WARNINGS STILL COME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET MY CAR VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012
Feb 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE AIR BAGS AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT TO BECOME INOPERABLE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,212.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Feb 2013

I'M GETTING THIS MESSAGE "RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT, HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY THE NEAREST BMW CENTER." USUALLY I HAVE THIS MSG WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER, BUT NOW EVEN WITH EMPTY SEAT IT POPS UP AND TOGETHER WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BMWUSA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE( NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000) BUT THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY ACCORDING TO THE VIN #. HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND A LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES ONLINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Nov 2012

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE LIT IN RED. AFTER DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE SENSOR EMBEDDED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE IS MALFUNCTIONING AND MUST BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2008 FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR WITH A SIMILAR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG SENSOR (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000) ALSO, IN THAT RECALL IT STATES: " BMW IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES: MY 2006 6-SERIES, 3-SERIES (STANDARD SEAT), MY 2004-2005 Z4, MY 2004-2006 7-SERIES, MY 2006 X5, AND MY 2004-2006 5-SERIES (COMFORT SEAT). UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT IN A VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCES THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER" HOWEVER, THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT HONOR THAT WARRANTY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2012
Oct 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT REGARDING THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHT. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2012
Jul 2012

PASSENGER AIRBAGS SENSORS COME ON AND OFF, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON WITH PASSENGER IN CAR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2012
Mar 2012

AFTER A RECALL ON MY (SPORT) SEATS WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER, THE SEATBELT WARNING CHIME SOUNDS WHEN THERE IS NO ONE OR NOTHING IN THE SEAT. IT NEVER DID THIS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CHIME TO STOP IS TO BUCKLE THE PASSENGER BELT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 330I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2010
Feb 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT BOTH THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DETECTED THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2011
Feb 2012

AIR BAG SIGN KEEPS GOING ON/OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL 08V-384 BUT BMW IS SAYING MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE BUILD WINDOW. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2012
Dec 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND LOCATED A FAILURE AT THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Oct 2011

A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME AND ALL SORTS OF CAUTIONS POPPED UP ON MY I DRIVE ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS. LATER ON THAT DAY WHEN I DID NOT HAVE A PASSENGER WITH ME EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOW ALMOST EVERY TIME I HAVE A PASSENGER WITH ME THE LIGHT COMES ON. FROM ALL THE RESEARCH I HAVE BEEN DOING ON THIS WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM BUT ONLY ON THE EARLY MODEL 2006 325I. SO I CALLED BMW USA EARLIER TODAY GAVE THEM MY VIN AND MY 2006 325I WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL! WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE COVERED ALL THE 2006 BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT MORE CASES OF THIS HAPPENING TO EVEN THE LATE MODEL 325I. SO IS THERE ANY WAY MY VIN CAN BE ADDED TO THE RECALL SO I CAN GET THIS SAFETY ISSUE RESOLVED? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Aug 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT ON WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE EVEN WITH THE SEAT OCCUPIED AND THE SEAT BELT IN USE. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 325I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2011

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 BMW 3 Series has 54 AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.