10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
54,033 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #5

Jun 252011

X3 6-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
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

- Belleville, MI, USA

problem #4

Jun 012010

X3

  • 35,000 miles
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.

- Redondo Beach, Ca 90277, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 012011

X3 6-cyl

  • 37,000 miles
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.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #2

Apr 262010

X3

  • 70,000 miles
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.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #1

Mar 122010

X3

  • 43,000 miles
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.

- Raleigh, NC, USA