2006 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

While driving the vehicle, the blower (A/C) began to cycle on and off. Then I began to smell electrical smoke. Then I began to see smoke coming from vents and where the windshield meets the dashboard, closer to the passenger side. I pulled over and shut off the car as the smoke was getting worse inside the car. I popped the hood and saw smoke coming from the passenger side. I then called 911. Smoke was beginning to billow from engine compartment. As I was talking to the 911 dispatcher, I saw flames beginning in the engine bay close to the firewall on passenger side. The car was a total loss and is in a tow yard. It can be inspected upon request. The 911 operated told me to be aware of smoke and explosions so I backed away about 30ft. Many cars were passing by, close to the car. There are 2 safety recalls on this vehicle that are related to possible fire. I have an open case with BMW USA. They have not inspected the car. I have liability only for insurance so they will not cover. There were no warning lamps or indicators before fire.

My vehicle was parked in the driveway in front of my house and had not been driven for several days. I walked outside and noticed the engine fan was running so I opened the driver‘s door and noticed white smoke coming from the glove box compartment. I opened the glove box and noted a small fire which within a matter of approximately five minutes had turned into a full-blown fire throughout the vehicle I was able to call 911 and have a fire department here before my house caught on fire although it did damage the siding on the front of the house and the tail light and rear passenger fender area of the Polaris razor

“The PCV valve heater (positive crankcase ventilation heater) on my 2006 BMW 330xi failed and caused an engine bay electrical fire. This component is under an active BMW safety recall for fire risk. The failure happened suddenly while driving, with no prior warning lights or symptoms. Smoke began coming from the engine area, followed by visible flames. My safety was put at risk, and I immediately exited the vehicle. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed by the City of Chicago. The car has since been declared a total loss due to the fire. The vehicle is currently in the city impound and available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been inspected by a dealer yet because the vehicle was destroyed before I received the recall repair.”

The Valvetronic Actuator malfunctions. The malfunction may have been caused by a Battery Positive Cable that has corroded over time. The result is that the vehicle stops unexpectedly during acceleration. Driver safety and that of others is put at risk due to the vehicle suddenly losing power and stoping while being driven. The vehicle was evaluated by the dealer. Warning lamps were intermittent and inconsistent. To my knowledge there is no Valvetronic Actuator or Battery Cable specific warning lamps or messages. There was a 2017 recall for the Battery Positive Cable, but my specific VIN was not covered (by a few months). My VIN (1986 325I) should have been included in the 2017 recall.

The passenger seat occupancy sensor (OC3 mat) on my 2006 BMW 3 Series (VIN: [XXX] ) has failed. As a result, the front passenger airbag is disabled, which poses a serious safety risk. BMW issued a 15-year warranty extension for this issue, acknowledging it as a common failure, but my vehicle is now slightly outside the coverage period. This part is vital for detecting front-seat occupants and enabling the airbag during a crash. I believe BMW should still be required to fix this safety-critical defect, especially in vehicles where the issue was never repaired while under the extended coverage window. This should be reclassified as a full safety recall, not just an expired service campaign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Internal Adaptive bi-xenon headlight wiring insulation flaking off exposing bare wire, thus causing headlight to fail

[XXX] . I have a 2006 BMW e91, but mine is not listed for recall above in the link. Currently have a fault for occupant detection malfunction. I also have sports seats listed in the above document. The sensor will say active when no one is sitting in the seat which is a safety concern. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V513000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer offered an inspection but declined to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 33I. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the contact noticed smoke coming into the interior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact noticed fire coming from underneath the hood. The contact exited the vehicle. The contact stated he had to leave the vehicle abandoned for about a month. The contact stated the vehicle had been towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was then towed to the contact’s residence. The contact stated that a certified independent mechanic diagnosed the failure as thermal damage due to the NHTSA recalls. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an oil leak that caused the fire. The contact was informed of a recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V683000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to have the vehicle towed to the dealer for further investigation. The contact stated that the manufacturer initiated an investigation, and after the investigation was performed, the case was closed. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.

I was getting ready to leave my home and both front airbags deployed on me, which also resulted in my windshield breaking. I did not hit anything with the vehicle. I then looked up the VIN and noticed the 2 open recalls one is for the airbags, I contacted BMW left the service manager numerous voicemails he never returned any of my calls. Then I contacted BMW North America, I got the vehicle towed to BMW of Carslbad just before Thanksgiving 2024 I just picked up my vehicle on January 6 2025 and they did not fix the recalls on the vehicle. I have been without a vehicle since before Thanksgiving!! I have health issues and I am missing appointments. I am on a fixed income my husband just passed away. I need someone to help me I keep getting the run around. If there are open recalls they need to be fixed I don't understand.

Rolled down back window it broke and didn’t go back up

This compliant is regarding the cooling system of BMW 32d5i 2006. Experience overheating of the car. The BMW dealership service department has confirmed that the water pump is at fault. And the quote for water pump replacement is their system. Yes, this is the second recurrency of overheating. Yes, the dashboard indicated overheating. The second warning was October 23,2024. The first warning was several years prior.

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the A/C became inoperable and made an abnormally loud sound. The contact then noticed an abnormal burning wiring odor, and there was smoke coming out of the A/C vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she attempted to pull to the side of the road, but could not safely do so. The contact continued driving and came to a complete stop at the traffic light, where the cabin became engulfed in smoke. The contact then pulled into a business parking lot and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated upon opening the hood, the contact noticed a reflection of the flame inside the hood. The contact ran into the business and asked for assistance. The contact stated that upon returning to the vehicle, the contact noticed that the fire had started from the middle of the hood to the cabin of the vehicle. The contact and the business employee attempted to extinguish the fire with two fire extinguishers but were unable to do so. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the vehicle burned to the ground from the middle of the hood to the trunk, where the gas tank was located, and the hood was fractured in half. The contact stated that there were burned particles around the parking lot, but there was no property damage. The fire department report was filed. A police report was filed, but the contact did not have the information available. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

There is a recall 17v-428 for the seat mat, and i went to my local BMW dealer and said this car was not on the list, but they acknowledge it’s the same issue but because this VIN was not included they can’t fix it at no charge . They want $2100 to repair. Can you help me ? Thanks

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V513000 (Air Bags) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

Since the airbag was not fixed, it has caused PVC meltings as well as leakage

The contact's husband owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated moments after her son had started, parked and exited the vehicle, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The under hood caught on fire and the hood failed to open. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the under hood, the front of the vehicle and the front tires burned significantly. A fire department report was filed. A police report was not filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was awaiting to be destroyed. The dealer was contacted. The contact contacted the manufacturer and sent pictures of the incident to the manufacturer; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the fire was not related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000(Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was unknown.

The headlights in my car both went out because of this wiring issue. The wiring insulation inside the headlight is very prone to cracking and subsequently breaking which causes the headlight to not function. I have repaired this issue myself on both headlights for almost every wire going into the igniter. No headlights is a major safety issue at night, and due to the cracking along all of the wiring, it could go out at any time again. I had this issue looked at by the dealership and they tried to sell me new bulbs instead. In the picture you can see the 3 repaired wires already and the 4th needed repair, the black wire, got severed.

My airbag light is on. I checked the website, and realize that there is a recall for Takata airbags, however, when I input my VIN#, my vehicle does not show the active recall. There is an alert on the website that says "DO NOT DRIVE"....I cannot get any assistance from Takata when I call; they keep telling me that my car is not included. I don't believe it is safe to drive my car, and can't get any help.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance. The mechanic informed the contact that vehicles older than 2013 were not serviced by the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a fuel leak. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while adding fuel, he noticed that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 229,896.

Put a box of moderate weight into the passenger seat (hard drives) - probably 40 lbs. After driving for a few minutes and over a few bumps, the seat belt warning light came on because the seat sensor was tripped by the weight. Put the seat belt on to silence the warning. Shortly thereafter, both the seatbelt and passenger airbag warning lights showed on the dash, regardless of occupancy. Hooked up to scanning tool and cleared the codes but they always return. This is not a rare event from reading the online forums - it is likely due to the sensor mat in the seat for occupancy being defective, or a combination of that and the seat belt pre-tensioner being defective, for the passenger side only. The vehicle operates normally other than the warning lights. Obviously have not tested the airbag, but that is highly unlikely to be the actual problem from my investigation of the symptoms.

UNKNOWN. I went to do the smog check on my car and I found that I have a recall and the description on the paper is positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) valve heater

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning odor was detected. The contact parked the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to restart. Prior to the failure, the dealer was made aware of the issue but confirmed that parts were not yet available and scheduled an appointment for April. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Takata Airbag Safety Recall Vin:[XXX] I live in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which according to BMW and NHTSA is Zone B. My vehicle has a built date of 10/19/2005 330xi e90 model. The time in which the degradation to the propellant poses an unreasonable risk to safety is stated as a 10-15 year time frame. My car is almost 18 years old but BMW has NOT prioritized my vehicle's airbag. My vin number might not have made the list for zone A but its in zone B. I should have to wait until someone gets killed or injured. My name is [XXX] and can be reached at [XXX] My BMW dealer is Otto's BMW West Chester, PA 610399-8067 Please demand that BMW comply with the recall information listed on clearly on your NHTSA site and BMW of America's site. (Site Last updated 01/14/2019) Thank you. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Existing vehicle recall excludes this particular VIN among the same MY and model even though this VIN is affected. 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, [shortened]. 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.

After recall done pvc valve and blower heat a/c now not working the car engine light come up abs /brake and more

All door lock actuators (including the fuel cap door cover) stopped working after driving the vehicle. The passenger and both rear doors were able to open via the inside door handle, but the driver side door could not be unlocked via the key fob, console lock button, or manually pulling the inside door handle. The fuel cap door cover could only be opened via the emergency release pull in the trunk. After inspecting the fuse box, I found that fuse 57a was blown. I replaced the fuse and the locking mechanisms started functioning again. weeks later the same issue occurred, only replacing the fuses remedied the problem for only a day or two. The fact that the driver's side door could not be opened by ANY means from inside or outside the vehicle poses a severe safety risk in situations where the driver of the car needs to exit the vehicle themself or be evacuated carefully in the event of injury. There are NO warnings, messages or warning signs before this occurs. This appears to be a common issue on my model and others, originating from issues with the door lock actuators. BMW even has a service information bulletin about it: "SI B51 19 07". The fact that the driver-side door can spontaneously become unopenable from inside or outside while the driver is in the car is a HUGE safety risk.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was a significant amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe and coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact drove to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the PCV valve heater fuses had failed. The dealer charged a fee for the repair because the recall remedy was not available. The dealer installed an inline fuse and wiring that connected the PCV valve to the PCV valve heater. The contact stated that he received a second notice advising that the recall remedy was available, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later contacted the manufacturer for reimbursement, but the manufacturer referred the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The contact stated that he followed up with the dealer, who advised him that the failure was not related to the recall. The contact was not reimbursed. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

I was driving on the freeway when all of a sudden a lot of white smoke started to come from the engine. The car instantly overheated and it shut off. My car had no problems until now. I called a tow truck to bring it home. I had many mechanics check it out and they couldn’t figure out why this happened out of nowhere. They all said the same thing that this car was in fixable and it’s not ever drivable no more. Then I received this letter from BMW saying that my car was on a safety recall list and they have no remedy.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the passenger's side front seat air bag sensor and steering wheel air bag sensor; however, the failure recurred while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, with the air bag warning light being illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal smoke odor coming from the instrument panel. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not notified. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, he smelled a burning odor. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he was unable to duplicate the failure using an OBD reader. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

BMW has issued a recall with no resolution. My engine is making noises from the crankcase and no alternative has been offered at this moment. The dealer does not want to address the issue.

Component failed: passenger seat occupancy sensor (BMW error code: 0x93C3) Implication: passenger airbag will not deploy in case of accident if the occupancy sensor is defective. Similar problems: similar recalls were issued by BMW for the same model and year but with only sports seat; regular seats were not recalled. Previous inspections: this issue has not been previously inspected, but personal inspection leads to faulty seat occupancy sensor. Prior warnings: dashboard shows seatbelt and airbag lights; roof indicator lamp shows passenger airbag off.

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 330i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the air conditioning unit suddenly shut off and smoke began to come out of the air conditioning vents. After the contact exited the vehicle flames were present coming from under the passenger side dashboard. The fire and police departments were called to the scene and the flames were extinguished. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. A fire and a police report were taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The local dealer was notified of the incident. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 190,000.

I purchased a used car that now has a passenger restraint sensor warning. Please fulfill a recall as this is a recurring issue with bmw

Vehicle Steering Lock Malfunction - Car does not start and stuck in Park. Cannot move steering wheel which is locked. This is a design defect that needs to be addressed. Vehicle is rendered inoperative! Cannot move or start it! approx. mileage 105k. This is a new problem besides the current recall which has not been available yet. I've also been locked out of this vehicle and had to climb out of the window, thank God it was not a fire or flood! I was able to fix that problem myself. note: Steering Lock Malfunction is a widespread problem! Dealers want to replace the entire steering column in these cases at a very high cost. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the front air bag and seat belt passenger sensor functionality were defective. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and no cause for the failure was determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 (Air Bags). The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V676000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Fuel pump leaking gas due to cracks on top of fuel pump

The contact's husband owned a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated that while her niece was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact's niece pulled over, and she and her boyfriend safely exited the vehicle before it caught fire. No injuries were sustained and no medical attention was received. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard; however, it was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact was made aware that there were 3 unrepaired recalls associated with the VIN with NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 17V676000 (Electrical System), 19V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). However, the contact had not received the recall notifications. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, he smelled a burning plastic odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was safe to drive. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The vehicle accelerates to 5,000 RPM randomly, and unintentionally. This happens when shifting gears(manual transmission), or when in any gear. Braking barely slows the vehicle down. I've nearly crashed due to this issue, multiple times. The floormats are not in the way. This is a case of sudden unintended acceleration.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330i. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently and the engine exploded. The automatic transmission gearbox warning light illuminated. The contact immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a significant amount of dark smoke and there was fire underneath the hood of the vehicle. The fire was extinguished independently. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the engine, the valves and the engine compartment were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling), which she associated with the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Over heating and smell of burning plastic

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated that the air bags warning and seat belts warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,100.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325XIT. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.