2006 BMW X3 Complaint Log

AFTER MY 2006 BMW X3 HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WITH THE HEATED SEAT ON, I BEGAN TO FEEL A BURN IN MY BOTTOM AS WELL AS SMELL SMOKE. I PULLED OVER, GOT OUT, AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT CUSHION OF MY DRIVERS SEAT WAS SMOKING AND HAD MELTED ABOUT A QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN THE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY. THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOW ISSUE TO BMW. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. VERY DANGEROUS!!! *TR

THE INTAKE BOOT BETWEEN THE MASS AIR SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY CRACKS OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE ITEM, AND THE CAR IS WITHIN THE CPO WARRANTY PERIOD, BMW DOES NOT COVER ANY HOSES OR TUBES, AS THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE "WEAR" ITEMS. SINCE IT IS NOT COVERED ITS A $175 DOLLAR DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND $38.54 FOR THE PART VS $50 DEDUCTIBLE. YOU DO NOT KNOW IF YOUR REPAIR IS COVERED UNTIL THE DIAGNOSTIC, SO SHORT OF HAVING TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE IT CHECKED YOU COULD BE PENALIZED $125 FOR WANTING YOU CAR REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH YOU PAID EXTRA FOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR BY THE PRIOR OWNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME WOULD SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACTS WAS ADVISED BY HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

THE HEATED SEAT DEVICE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO BURN YOUR LEG, PRIMARILY ON THE LEFT SIDE. A BURNING SENSATION AND INTENSE HEAT IS FELT WHEN THE HEATED SEAT IS TURNED ON, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE, FOR FEAR OF BURNS OR FIRE. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE SEAT ELEMENTS, AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS BURNS OR FIRE. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON A SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, SAFETY AND FIRE ISSUE? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT FAILED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE VIN DID NOT APPLY TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,620. UPDATED 12/19/11

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR MAT IS DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURING DATE OF MY VEHICLE IS 1/1/06 - SIX WEEKS AFTER MANUFACTURING DATE OF RECALL 08V-384 FOR THIS ISSUE. BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY ON THIS ITEM HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS. HOWEVER, MY "AUTHORIZED BMW SERVICE CENTER" DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THIS AND ESTIMATED $137 FOR DIAGNOSTIC WORK AND $1242 TO REPAIR. RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED SO THAT OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES ARE NOTIFIED THAT THEIR AIRBAGS MAY NOT ACTIVATE IN A CRASH. EXTENDING A WARRANTY THAT IS NOT COMMUNICATED IN WRITING TO VEHICLE OWNERS OR SHARED WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING ON IT DOES NOTHING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE PARKED AND SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. AIRBAG INDICATOR COMES ON WHEN A PASSENGER SITS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT USUALLY STAYS ON TIL THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITHOUT A PASSENGER AND ONCE A BUMP IS HIT. UPDATED 11/03/2011 *LN *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT UPHOLSTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000.

AIR CONDITIONER TEMPERATURE BEGAN TO WARM JUST ON DRIVERS SIDE BUT REMAINED COOL ON DRIVERS SIDE. BASED UPON MY MANY YEARS OR WORKING WITH CARS, I ASSUMED THIS WAS A MALFUNCTION OF SOME OF THE "DOORS" IN THE AIR ROUTING SYSTEM HAD FAILED NOT ALLOWING SUFFICIENT COOL AIR ON DRIVERS SIDE. TAKEN TO REGULAR BMW DEALER (HE HAS SERVICED ALL 6 BMW'S I HAVE OWNED) AND WAS TOLD AC CONDENSER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CAR WAS 4 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY ALTHOUGH MILEAGE WAS LOWER THAN WARRANTY LIMIT. DEALER STATED THEY CONTACTED BMW AND TOLD ME THAT BMW REFUSED TO COVER REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $2200. HAVING BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF A COUNTY CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY IN TAMPA, FL, I FOLLOWED THE PATH OF DIRECTIONS WE GIVE TO OUR OWN CONSUMERS BEFORE WE (AS AN ENFORCEMENT AGENCY) WILL NORMALLY INITIATE A COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION. I WROTE A LETTER TO BMW OUTLINING MY PROBLEM.WITHIN THREE WEEKS MY DEALER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT BMW HAD CONTACTED THEM, VERIFIED THE REPAIR AND THAT I HAD PAID FOR IT. THEY THEN TOLD THE DEALER TO CONTACT ME AND TELL ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PARTIALLY REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A CHECK FROM BMW FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF THE REPAIR COST AND NO EXPLANATION. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW OR WHY THEY CHOOSE TO PAY A PORTION VERSUS ALL OR NOTHING. HOWEVER, SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I CONSIDERED THIS A FAIR SETTLEMENT FOR THE BILL. HOWEVER, I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE OF THE A/C CONDENSER IN FIVE YEARS OF FULL TIME USE WAS UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE FOR THIS PART. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED IN FEBRUARY. AS A RESULT, PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NO LONGER DEPLOY UNTIL THE SENSOR IS REPLACED. COST TO REPLACE IS ABOUT $1,300--MAINLY LABOR. *TR

I STARTED MY 06 BMW X3 IN MY DRIVEWAY TO WARM IT UP PRIOR TO DRIVING. IT APPEARED TO BE FINE, I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED IT WAS SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST. I DROVE ABOUT 100FT TO THE END OF MY STREET AND THE SMOKING WORSENED SO I DECIDED TO RETURN HOME. I TURNED ONTO THE MAIN STREET AND DROVE AT MOST 20MPH FOR A FEW BLOCKS TO GET BACK HOME. THE SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE EXHAUST SO BADLY THAT I COULDN'T SEE OUT MY BACK WINDOW. IT WAS BLUE/GREY COLORED. THE CAR WAS PUTTING AND CHUGGING. I DID NOT MAKE IT HOME. EVENTUALLY THE CAR CHUGGED A FEW TIMES AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE WARNING LIGHTS ALL LIT UP AND I LOST ALL POWER, INCLUDING POWER STEERING. IT WAS STRANDED ACROSS A DRIVEWAY AND WOULD NOT START. I HAVE FOLLOWED ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE, DRIVE LOCALLY AND USE PREMIUM GAS. THERE WAS NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION TO THIS FAILURE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL BMW REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THAT IT WAS THE "OIL SEPARATOR" THAT FAILED. MY INVOICE STATES THAT IT WAS AN "ENGINE HYDRAULIC LOCK". THE FAILURE OF THE "OIL SEPARATOR", WHICH IS CALLED A CYCLONE SEPARATOR ON MY INVOICE, CAUSED THE CAR TO FLOOD WITH OIL. THE CYCLONE SEPARATOR AND CRANKCASE VENT HOSES WERE REPLACED. RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH BMW, MOSTLY THE X5 MODELS. BMW N.A. REFUSED TO ASSIST ME, MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 3 MONTHS PRIOR DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE CAR, BUT HAD NOT MET THE MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. THE REPAIR COST $1100 AND I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR 3 DAYS. I ALSO HAD TO PAY $70 FOR A TOW AS BMW WOULD NOT HONOR THE ROAD ASSISTANCE. *TR

2006 BMW X3 HEATER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND MY COAT. *TR

HEATING ELEMENT FOR FRONT DRIVER SEAT SHORTED, CAUSING IT TO BURN THROUGH THE LEATHER. FORTUNATELY, I CAUGHT IT IN TIME BEFORE FIRE OR INJURY. SEARCHING THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR MANY OTHERS AS WELL, SOMETIMES WITH MORE DAMAGING RESULTS. *JS

06 BMW X3 3.0 DRIVER SEAT HEATER GETS EXTREMEMY HOT IN ONE SPOT. HOT ENOUGH TO CAUSE A BURN IF NOT TURNED OFF QUICKLY. *TR

2006 BMW X3 SERIOUS BUCKING OF TRANSMISSION ABOVE THREE THOUSAND RPM UNDER LOAD GOING UP A HILL BUT ALSO OCCURS ON FLAT GROUND. HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE MULTIPLE TIMES AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND BMW DENIED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. HAD SERVICE REP TAKE A RIDE WITH ME TO SHOW HIM THE ISSUE AND HE ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. IN THE END TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT BMW SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE CAR BECAUSE IT WASN'T A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY A FEW TIMES WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO BUCK AND I HAD TO MOVE OVER INTO THE SLOW LANE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED. THIS COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS SITUATION BUT BMW DOESN'T THINK SO. *TR

FAILURE OF FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA08001 FOR MY 2006 BMW X3 (54,700 MILES). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AS THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

WE WERE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER AND ACTIVATED THE SEAT WARMERS ON THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDES WHEN WE DETECTED AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING AND SMOKING. WE STOPPED AND GOT OUT OF OUR SUV AND DISCOVERED A BURNT HOLE/SPOT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT, LOWER LEFT SEAT BACK BOLSTER. ON TAKING IT OUR BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SEAT WARMER WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE BURNT HOLE/SPOT ON THE SEAT BACK, I.E., "FAILED COMPONENT 3". FURTHER WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR SUV WAS TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT THE COST OF REPAIR WOULD COST $2,900. WE HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS ON BMWS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT WARMERS. FURTHER, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT WARMER SYSTEM ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE IT TOO BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS A CLEAR CASE FOR BMW TO ABSORB THE COST OF REPAIR, SINCE THIS SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTION HAS A HISTORY OF OCCURRENCES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION REGARDING THIS CASE.WV

2006 BMW X3 .HEATED SEATS BURNED A HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT CAUSING BURNS TO MY LEFT THIGH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) DID NOT APPLY TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S SHOE BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

2006 BMW X3 PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT ACTIVATES. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #: 08V384000 2006 BMW X3 - [XXX], PRODUCED 03/2006. 20100910 @ 1319: ZACH AT AUTOBAHN MOTORS IN FW ADVISED $1021 [PARTS AND LABOR] TO REPAIR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SEAT MAT. ZACH ADVISED RECALL FOR THAT SPECIFIC ITEM DOES NOT COVER OUR VEHICLE DUE TO PRODUCTION MONTH BEING 4 MONTHS OUTSIDE THE RECALL PARAMETERS. ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V384000, SMALL CRACKS IN THE SEAT MAT CAUSES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEACTIVATE AND ILLUMINATE THE "ON-OFF" LAMP. THIS IS EXACTLY THE ISSUE BEING EXPERIENCED IN MY VEHICLE. 20100910 @ 1325: CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS [800-831-1117] SPOKE WITH TOM. EXPLAINED THE ISSUE TO TOM AND HE TRANSFERRED ME TO KRISTIN DYER. KRISTIN CONFIRMED THE RECALL ENDED WITH X3'S PRODUCED IN 11/2005. SPOKE WITH RICHARD, SERVICE MANAGER, AT AUTOBAHN. KRISTIN STATED SHE WOULD 'ESCALATE' THE MATTER TO BE DETERMINED WHETHER IT WOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. 20100920 @ 1326: SPOKE WITH BETSY HOHMANN [BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS], SHE ADVISED THERE WOULD BE "NO GOODWILL ASSISTANCE" FROM BMW. BESTY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SEAT MAT PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

AUTOMATIC AIRBAG DISARM LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE ADULT PASSENGER WAS IN FRONT SEAT. THE LIGHT NOW REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES AND THE FRONT AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED EVEN WITH ADULT PASSENGER IN SEAT. CALLED BMW USA WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I HAVE THE SPORT SEATS AND SAME YEAR AS THOSE WITH PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THE SAME ISSUE AS OTHER INCLUDED IN RECALL. HIGHLY CONCERNED CAR WITH 55,000 MILES WILL NOT BE SAFE BECAUSE AIRBAGS WON'T WORK. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT AND DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT BOTH TURNED ON SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING OUR PRE-OWNED 2006 BMW X3. THIS MEANS THAT OUR PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE BMW DEALERSHIP HAS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT. I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON SOME 2006 X3 SEAT MATS, BUT WAS INFORMED BY BMW THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT SEEMS VERY ODD THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, YET THE EXACT SAME PART IS FAULTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD WHETHER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,539.

BMW HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR MY 2006 BMW X3 EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MECHANISM! I AM NOW FACED WITH PAYING AN EXORBITANT CHARGE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE FORWARD PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TO NOT WORK IN A COLLISION.

AIR BAGS. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT FAULT AND AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON - OFF LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. *TR

ELECTRICAL AND HAS BEEN AFFECTED SINCE THE CAR WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD, RADIO WOULD SUDDENLY GET LOUD IF VOLUME WAS ADJUSTED. AFTER THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER MY A/C STARTED HAVING ISSUES THOUGHT IT MAY BE A LEAK BUT NOW AFTER SEEING THE RECALL ON ELECTRICAL ISSUES ON SOME MODELS THIS SUV X3 SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LIST BUT IT'S NOT, AND SHOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS A LONG TIME AGO THAT THIS IS A LEMON. THE BACK WINDOW ALSO SLIDES DOWN ANOTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR PLEASURE EVERY FEW DAYS BUT HAS MORE ISSUES THAN OLDER CARS.

EXPERIENCED A WET FLOOR BOARD IN BACKSEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALONG WITH A PUDDLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A SEAL, THEY REMOVED THE BACKDOOR PANEL AND WATER TEST SHOWED THE VAPOR SEAL HAD BECAME LOOSE. THE NEXT RAIN, STILL A PUDDLE IN THE FRONT - WHICH MEANS THAT VAPOR SEAL WENT BAD AS WELL. ALSO, WATER IS DROPPING IN FROM THE SUNROOF CONTROLS ON THE ROOF. THEY STILL FUNCTION AND THE SEAL AROUND THE SUNROOF SEEMS BONE DRY. I ALSO EXPERIENCE THE AIR BAG ISSUE - IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THIS MAY BE A RECALL THAT BMW NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. *TR

2006 BMW X3 PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THE "FASTEN SEAT BELT" LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON WHILE DRIVING WITH A LOUD BEEP (WHILE THE DRIVER IS WEARING THE SEAT BELT AND THERE IS NO ONE OR NO OBJECT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS MORE ALARMING AS ONE IS NOT SURE IF THE AIR BAG IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT IN EMERGENCY. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND SEARCHING THE WEB SHOWS OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY RUN SOME DIAGNOSTICS, KEEP IT OVERNIGHT AND TELL ME THERE IS NO FAULTS REGISTERED, DIAGNOSTICS FOUND NO ISSUES, AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. TODAY THEY TOLD ME THE SAME THING AGAIN AND WHEN I DROVE OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP THE FASTEN SEAT BELT LIGHT WENT ON WITH THE BEEP BUT BY THE TIME I TURED AROUND TO GO BACK THE ALARM TURNED OFF. SO I DIDN'T GO BACK. ON THE WAY HOME HAD TO STOP AT THE GROCERY AND THE LIGHT AND ALARM TURNED ON AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME FROM GROCERY. IT'S PRETTY DISAPPOINTING FOR A BRAND KNOWN FOR SAFETY AND QUALITY.

2/5/10 SMELL OF FIRE IN MY 2006, BMW, X3, NOTICED DRIVERS SEAT HAD A BURNT HOLE MARK. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND A MANUFACTURING FAULT IN THE SEAT, HEATER SHORTED OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HER AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HER AIR BAGS WERE NOT ACTIVATED AND IF SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, HER AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK. THE DEALER ALSO TOLD HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE SENSOR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE HEATER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHILE PASSENGERS WERE POSITIONED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR WITHIN THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT 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 39,000.

I WAS EXITING A CITY PARK, I WAS STOPPED WAITING FOR A STEADY STREAM OF TRAFFIC TO PASS SO I COULD MAKE A LEFT TURN. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SUDDENLY IT SEEMED AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AS I WAS HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HELD DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD BECAUSE THE CAR WANTED TO TAKE OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ACROSS THE TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS IN THIS CAR OR ANY CAR BEFORE, NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. THE ENGINE WAS RACING AT A EXTREMELY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF I PUT THE CAR IN PARK FIRST OR JUST SHUT THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND SINCE IT SOUNDED ALRIGHT I RELUCTANTLY PUT IT IN GEAR TO DRIVE HOME. I MADE IT HOME SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2009 . WE CONTACTED YOUR AGENCY FIRST, BUT WE ARE PHONING OUR DEALER IN INDIANAPOLIS TO COME AND PICK THE CAR UP, IT WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL IT IS THOROUGHLY CHECKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO AN OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS;FRONTAL). THE VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 73,900. BL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHENEVER THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING IS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT SMELLS BURNING PLASTIC INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT IT BURNS HER EYES AND NOSE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE PROBABLY LEAVES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, SO THEY CLEANED OUT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE DIFFERENCE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TWO WEEKS LATER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD SMELL SOMETHING IN THE VEHICLE, BUT BELIEVED IT TO BE CLEANING FLUID. THE DEALER DID NOT WANT TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANAGER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS SINCE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE ODOR WAS ORIGINATING. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, BUT NONE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF ODOR THAT WAS IN HER VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE A DEALER THAT WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

SERIOUS SAFTEY ISSUE THE SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED BY BMW ONCE IN THIS VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY UNDER MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT CODE: 6577081500. IT HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME AT 82,000 MILES. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THE VIN IS NOT COVERED IN HE RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS APPARENTLY MANUFACTURED RIGHT WHEN BMW STARTED INSTALLING UPDATED SENSORS. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT HAS FAILED TWICE. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 20 - 30 MPH. THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AS THE LIGHT TURNED FROM YELLOW TO RED, FIRST IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH THE LIGHT BUT THEN STOPPED. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND THE ABS BRAKES DID NOT WORK. MY BRAKES LOCKED AND I SKIDDED. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME HEARD ME SQUEALING, AND STARTED EASING FORWARD. IT HAPPENED TO BE A TRUCK WITH A RECEIVER HITCH ON THE BACK. THAT'S WHAT I HIT, PUSHING HIM INTO THE INTERSECTION. HE WAS NOT HIT. THE PERSON I HIT TURNED OUT TO BE A POLICEMAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE CONTACT BEGAN DECELERATING FOR TRAFFIC AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND THEN SHUT OFF. APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES AND HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE STALLING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. MOST RECENTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,352.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PILLAR ACCELERATOR SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFUELING, THE "CHECK GAS CAP" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN