NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 BMW 3 Series. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I PURCHASED A 2006 BMW 330I. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MAT. MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE RECALL, INCLUDING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY SENSOR MAT. BMW WILL NOT REPAIR THE ISSUE CLAIMING THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN DOES NOT HAVE AN OPEN RECALL. *TR
MY 2006 BMW 525I PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND IS A BAD SENSOR IN THE SEAT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS FOR OTHER 2006 BMW'S BUT MINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS. IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS ALL OF THE OTHER RECALLED ONES. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# IS 08V384000. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE ONES RECALLED. *TR
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.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE AIR BAG ON-OFF LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC FAILURE BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER - 08V384 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), THEREFORE THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE LABOR BUT WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE MESSAGE BOARD STATING THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT 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 MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,383.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD SHUT OFF WHETHER THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AND THE PASSENGER ON-OFF LAMP WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT 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 VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,400. THE MANUFACTURER PAID FOR THE PARTS AND THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE LABOR. STATUS UPDATE 07/26/11
THE KEY FOB FAILS TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE CENTRAL LOCK/UNLOCK SWITCH FAILS TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS TO ALLOW THE DRIVER TO COME OUT OF THE CAR. *TR THE DOOR LATCH INSIDE THE CAR DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR EITHER. THEY ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR IS TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE.
I DRIVE A 2006 BMW 325I. PARKED MY CAR AND GOT OUT JUST FINE HOWEVER MY 3 PASSENGERS WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THERE DOORS. THE CENTRAL UNLOCKING BUTTON ON THE CAR'S DASH WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THE KEYLESS ENTRY BUTTON WOULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOOR EITHER. ALL THE PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT THE WINDOWS. AFTER DOING SOME QUICK RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 3 SERIES HOWEVER IT'S A PROBLEM THAT BMW REFUSES TO FIX UNLESS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HAVING PASSENGERS BECOME UNEXPECTEDLY TRAPPED INSIDE THEIR CAR DUE TO A COMMON DEFECT IS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S A PROBLEM BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES AND AIR BAG DISENGAGES WHEN SOMEONE SITS ON IT...SRS WARNING LIGHT. REPLACE SEAT MAT SENSOR NOT COVERED BY RECALL FOR E90 2006 330I SEDAN WITH SPORTS PACKAGE. I WANT TO KNOW WHY IS MY CAR NOT INCLUDED ON RECALL...IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AS WITH THE OTHER MODELS...THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE INJURY.... *TR
WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. BMW SAYS THERE WAS A RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN NUMBER. I FEAR THAT THEY DID NOT RECALL ALL OF THE CARS THAT WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR MAT. I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION THAN TO PAY $2,000 TO HAVE THE MAT REPLACED. THE SERVICE ASSISTANT EVEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE RECALLED/EXTENDED WARRANTY CARS WERE HAVING WITH THE SEAT MAT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD NOT RECALL ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
DOOR LOCKS ON 2006 BMW 330XI SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY MIDWAY THROUGH THE DAY AND WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE EMBEDDED PHYSICAL KEY IN THE FOB BUT WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR AND TRIED OPERATING THE DOORS THEY AGAIN LOCKED BUT WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED NEITHER BY THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE, THE FOB OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR WAS TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, AND USE THE EMERGENCY MECHANICAL KEY TO UNLOCK IT BY EXTENDING MY HAND OUT THE WINDOW. SINCE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR WITH A PHYSICAL KEYLOCK, IT WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT WAS ABLE TO OPEN. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY, ALL 3 PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THEIR WINDOWS TO EXIT. *TR
I OWN A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, I NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I REFERENCED 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 STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TR
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A BMW DEALER TO HAVE THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000). THE BMW DEALER IN SCOTTSDALE SAID IT ISN'T LISTED AS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY WANT $180 JUST TO PERFORM A CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS THERE SHOULD BE NO FEE AT ALL TO FIX SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM (AIRBAG). *TR
WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SERVICE INDICATOR, NO SEATBELT INDICATOR, AND "PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED" INDICATOR ARE ALL ILLUMINATED. WHEN TAKING MY VEHICLE IN TO THE LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT (HAVE DOCUMENTATION), WHICH IS MEANT TO DETECT WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. IN ADDITION, I WAS TOLD IN MY VEHICLES CURRENT STATE, IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A PASSENGER PRESENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. WHILE PERFORMING INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT BMW HAS RELEASED AN OFFICIAL RECALL (#08V384000) WHICH DESCRIBES THESE SAME SYMPTOMS, CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. IN THE RECALL DETAILS, THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND SEAT TYPE ALL MATCH THE SPECIFICATIONS OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER DISCOVERING THE RECALL INFORMATION, I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE BY TELEPHONE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THE REPAIR MUST BE DONE AT AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT SENSOR REDUCES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE PASSENGERS, AS WELL AS VIOLATES AIR BAG REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE NHTSA. SINCE THIS IS A DEFECT, THE COST SHOULD BE COVERED 100% BY THE MANUFACTURER, BMW. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE CAUSING ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO START IGNITION. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WILL HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES A WEEK AND EVENTUALLY DISABLE COMPLETELY AFTER A FEW MONTHS. HAD TO REPLACE WITH A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR
ALL THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK WHETHER I USED THE KEY FOB OR THE CENTRAL UNLOCK BUTTON. COULD NOT EVEN OPEN UP DOORS FROM INSIDE. IF I WOULD HAVE HAD KIDS IN MY CAR AND AN EMERGENCY EXISTED THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THEM OUT THE DOOR LET ALONE GETTING MYSELF OUT. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND THE DOORS WORKED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NOW THE DOOR LOCK ISSUE HAS RESURFACED. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT THAT BMW HAS HAD THIS DOOR LOCK FUSE/DOOR ACTUATOR ISSUE FOR A LONG LONG TIME, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS (LIFE THREATENING) AND DESERVES A RECALL. BMW ONLY WANTS TO REPLACE THE 15A FUSE WITH A 20A FUSE FOR A FIX, BUT DOING THIS DOESN'T FIX THE ROOT PROBLEM. *TR
CENTRAL DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED PREVENTING ANY OF THE 4 DOORS AND FUEL DOOR FROM OPENING. PASSENGERS COULDN'T OPEN THEIR DOORS AND HAD TO CRAWL UP FRONT TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY FOR THEM TO EXIT THE CAR, THE DOORS WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. REPLACED 15A FUSE WITH 20A FUSE AS RECOMMENDED BY BMW DEALER WHICH WORKED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. PROBLEM RESURFACED SO I INSPECTED THE FUSE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED TO DISCOVER IT WAS BLOWN AGAIN. NOW ALL POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK EXCEPT FRONT PASSENGER. THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED SOON. WHEN THERE IS A DOOR UNLOCKING FAILURE, WHICH ACCORDING TO MANY PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THESE CARS, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY FOR PASSENGERS TO EXIT - ESPECIALLY IF THEY NEEDED TO EXIT QUICKLY. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCK
I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AS I OWN A 2006 BMW 325XI WITH APPROX 55K MILES AND HAVE A PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. AT THIS TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED ALL THE TIME. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS A RECALL BUT IT IS VIN SPECIFIC AND MY VEHICLE ISN'T INCLUDED. IF A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH IS PERFORMED THERE ARE MANY FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM VERBATIM BUT I AM NOT COVERED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY PASSENGER AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THERE WAS A CRASH. THEY WOULD NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS BAD AND WAS ADMITTEDLY A POOR DESIGN. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD BE ON THE HOOK TO FIX SUCH A CRUCIAL FEATURE SUCH AS AIRBAGS OR ANY PART WITH A BAD DESIGN THAT COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEATH. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE TIME ON THIS THAN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO. I TALKED TO MECHANICS AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHY ONE WAS COVERED AND ANOTHER ONE NOT AS THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME SENSOR. I WOULD ASSUME MORE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT MADE BECAUSE OF THE TIME REQUIRED TO DO SO AND MOST PEOPLE JUST TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO THE DEALER AND PAY THE PRICE. ESPECIALLY MOST BMW OWNERS. I HAVE BEEN AROUND AND WORKING ON VEHICLES MY WHOLE LIFE AND VERY SELDOM TAKE A VEHICLE TO A SHOP FOR REPAIR. I RESEARCH EVERYTHING I DO AND MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN ME THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT SHOULD NOT COST ME ANY MONEY. *TR
MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WENT OFF, AND AFTER RUNNING $125.00 WORTH OF DIAGNOSTICS, BMW DETERMINED THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT, HAS FAILED AND IT WOULD COST $987.00 TO REPAIR. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR 2006 3 SERIES, HOWEVER FOR SOME REASON MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER INSTALLED IN MY CAR AS THE RECALLED PART NUMBER, HOWEVER BY SOME GLITCH, MY CAR IS NOT COVERED SINCE IT IS VIN SPECIFIC, AND NOT YEAR/MODEL SPECIFIC. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING, AND MY PASSENGER'S SAFETY ARE IN JEOPARDY DUE TO A VIN# LOOPHOLE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE IS A FLOOD OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME VEHICLE, NOT COVERED DUE TO A CRAFTY LOOPHOLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THAT MULTIPLE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET COVER BOLTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,197.
BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN (SIB-51-19-07) ON THE BMW VEHICLES: DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR CENTRAL LOCKING BUTTON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS ONLY ONE EXIT (AND ENTRY) INTO THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND THE ABILITY/MOBILITY OF THE PASSENGERS THIS MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE. MY 2006 325I BMW (VIN: [XXX]) IS HAVING ITS FRONT DOOR LOCKING/LATCHING ASSEMBLES REPLACED DUE TO THEM MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING A SHORT IN THE SYSTEM. THIS SHORT IS CAUSING THE FUSE WHICH UNLOCKS THE DOORS TO BLOW WHICH CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR PASSENGERS NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK THEIR DOORS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE (EXCEPT FOR THE DRIVER?S DOOR) IN THE EVENT ONE NEEDS TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY (OR JUST ENTERING OR EXITING THE BMW). AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY FORMER MOTHER-IN-LAW HAS A 2006 325I BMW AND SHE JUST HAD HER BMW SERVICED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. FROM WHAT I AM BEING TOLD THE COST TO REPAIR THESE LOCKING/LATCHING ASSEMBLE WILL RUN ABOUT $750-800 (PARTS AND LABOR). IN MY OPINION, THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PARTS SHOULD BE A RECALL REPLACEMENT VS A CONSUMER COST. *TR
DOORS LOCK, BUT ONLY DRIVER DOOR UNLOCKS. USED KEY ONLY UNLOCKED DRIVERS DOOR, USED BUTTON ON DASH ONLY UNLOCKED DRIVERS DOOR, FOB ONLY UNLOCKED DRIVERS DOOR. OTHER THREE DOORS NOT UNLOCKING.
BMW REFUSING TO PROVIDE RECALL SERVICE ID # 13V564 FOR 2006 AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR WHILE MY CAR IS SHOWING THE SAME FAILURE MODE AS DESCRIBED IN THE BMW AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE :- NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 13V564 MANUFACTURER : BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC MAKE / MODEL YEARS : BMW / 2006-2007 SUBJECT : FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT *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.
I HAVE HAD THREE SEPARATE INSTANCES IN A NINE MONTH PERIOD STARTING IN MAY OF 2010 OF ALLOY WHEELS CRACKING ON MY 2006 BMW 325XIT, WHICH HAS RUN FLAT TIRES. THE DEALER SAID IT IS FROM HITTING POT HOLES, CURBS, OR PARKING BLOCKS. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY UNUSUAL AS I LIVE IN A WARMER STATE WHERE THERE ARE VERY FEW POT HOLES, AND I HAVE NOT HIT A CURB OR PARKING BLOCK. MOREOVER, IN THIRTY-THREE YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HAD A SINGLE WHEEL CRACK ON ANY CAR THAT I OWNED. I ALSO OWN A 2002 BMW (THAT DOES NOT HAVE RUN FLATS) AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WHEEL CRACK ON IT. A REVIEW OF THE INTERNET REVEALS COMPLAINTS BY BMW OWNERS WITH RUN FLAT TIRES EXPERIENCING REPEATED WHEEL CRACKS. IT APPEARS THAT THE RUN FLAT TIRES MAY NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE WHEELS. YET, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY BMW TO RECALL OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND VERY EXPENSIVE WITH THE WHEELS COSTING $345 EACH TO REPLACE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
MY 2006 BMW 325XI HAS HAD THE AMBER STEERING LOCK LIGHT ON FOR OVER A MONTH AND WILL NOT GO OFF. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR AND BMW HAS REFUSED TO FIX IT. MY CAR IS 3000 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY AND IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR
ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, A 2006 BMW 325, E90 CHASSIS, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FOUND DUE TO A FAULTY BOLT IN THE ENGINE BAY WHEREBY MY ENGINE HAD ABOUT 52K MILES PUT ON IT. I SPOKE TO VARIOUS OWNERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE, AND THEY TOO HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLES AS WELL. IT'S APPARENT THAT BMW HAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NEGLECTED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TT
ALL 4 DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND OPEN. *TR
2006 BMW 330I WITH SPORT PACKAGE; WITH PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT THE AIR BAG TURNS OFF AND MESSAGE IS SENT SAYING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS YEAR AND MAKE AND MODEL BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOT ON MINE. THEY SAY IT IS VIN SPECIFIC. I SAY THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM SO FIX IT. I THINK THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE FOR THE PAYMENT TO FIX THE ISSUE. I PAID TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
DOOR LOCKING ISSUES, DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN HANDLE IS OPENED BY PASSENGERS. DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK VIA KEY FOB. POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH CONTROL MODULE GM5 WITHIN THE BMW DASHBOARD. *LN
I HAVE A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT. BMW HAS A RECALL LIMITED TO 200,000 VEHICLES BUT IT OBVIOUSLY AFFECTS MORE THAN THAT. THEY NEED TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES. SAME SYMPTOMS SAME DEFECTIVE PART BUT NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL.
WHEN THERE IS A POWER FAILURE IN THE 2006 BMW 330I, IN THIS CASE CAUSED BY A BLOWN FUSE, THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN EITHER BY ATTEMPTING TO ELECTRONICALLY UNLOCK THEM OR BY USING THE DOOR HANDLES. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR WAS TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND USE A MANUAL KEY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. IN THE EVENT OF A TOTAL POWER FAILURE AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED AS WELL, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN BY BREAKING THE WINDOWS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE A WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING TO RELY ON THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. I HAVE A 2006 BMW 325I. ACCORDING TO BMW IT JUST BROKE. HOW? MY VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN TRULY 6 YEARS OF AGE AND DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT YET. I'VE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON BIMMERFEST.COM CONCERNING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM MORE THOROUGHLY. YES I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY OWN FIX BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT'S OCCURRING IN THIS MODEL MAKE AND YEAR. *TR
BMW CENTRAL LOCKING MODULE FAILURE WILL RESULT LOCKING UP PASSENGERS INSIDE. ALL 4 DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH DOOR NOB OR UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON. EVEN FUSE BLOWN WILL MAKE THIS CENTRAL LOCKING MODULE FAIL RESULTING PASSENGER LOCK UP IN THE CAR. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE TO UNLOCK DOORS FROM INSIDE. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON 2006 325I - CAR HAS ONLY 41000+ MILES. NEITHER KEY WOULD WORK TO START THE CAR. BATTERY IN GOOD CONDITION. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK AND SO WAS THE GEAR. NEITHER OF THE KEYS WERE ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON BIMMERFEST.COM AND OTHER CONSUMER WEBSITES. *TR
ON 2/3/2011 MY VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WITH THE AMBER LIGHT. 2006 325I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT TOOK RE-PROGRAMMING AND THE STEERING COLUMN BEING REPLACED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS 3 SERIES WITH THIS ISSUE IN US AND WORLD. THIS IS COMMON FOR THE E90S. BELOW IS A LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY. BMW IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECT YET THEY TOOK THIS FEATURE OUT IN 2008. REPORTS: 10380778, 10378186 - 330I 10322165 - 325XI 10380077, 10353644 - 325I 10173714,10369685,10341920,10341836,10238977,10181405 - 3 SERIES. *LN
2006 BMW 325I AIRBAG LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT JUST CAME ON 2 DAYS AGO. NOTHING CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO GO ON. THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF. EVIDENTLY THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, MY CAR IN NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE PROBLEM CARS BASED ON THE VIN #. *TR
STEERING WHEEL HAD RANDOM ELECTRONIC LOCK FAILURE. *TR
STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN RED ON DASH. VEHICLE WHEEL COULD LOCK ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. *LN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ALSO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT 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 MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
2006 BMW 325I DOOR LOCK/LATCH FAILURE. UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS WITH KEY FOB. DOORS WILL LOCK BUT NOW NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN ANY DOORS WITH FOB OR WITH LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON INSIDE CAR. MUST UNLOCK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITH VALET KEY. FUEL DOOR ALSO LOCKED AND WILL NOT OPEN. ALL READY HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. *LN
DOORS WILL NO LONGER UNLOCK USING REMOTE KEY FOB OR INTERIOR DOOR UNLOCKING BUTTON. ONLY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL OPEN MANUALLY. *TR
2006 BMW 325I PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED BUT MY MODEL/YEAR IS OUTSIDE THE RECALL RANGE HONORED BY BMWUSA. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. HE STATED THAT THE PASSENGER MAT SENSOR FAILED AND WOULD NOT REGISTER WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
DOORS FAILED AND CONTINUE TO FAIL TO UNLOCK. PASSENGERS WERE STUCK IN VEHICLE. DRIVER'S DOOR WAS UNLOCKED BY OPENING WINDOW. FRONT PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER CONSOLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT AIR SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 03/20/13*LJ UPDATED 04/12/2013 *JS
I TOOK MY CAR TO RICHMOND BMW AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DISCOVERED I HAD BROKEN HEAD GASKET BOLTS ! I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON MANUFACTURES PROBLEM ! THESE MAKE AND MODELS SHOULD BE RECALLED THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ! *TR