10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,598 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #78

Oct 092012

325

  • 62,400 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning light would illuminate on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the front passenger seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised him that the repair was not covered under warranty nor were there any recalls for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,400. The current mileage was approximately 62,476.

- Burmingham, AL, USA

problem #77

Oct 102012

325 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
Sitting in parking lot, engine off, key in ign (listening to radio). Air-bag warning lamp lights and has been on steady ever since. Passenger air bag disabled indicator also on. Called dealer to make appointment. I inquired about the recall and service advisor says no active recalls on my car. Seems that this is the exact fault identified in NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000. This car has the "sport seats" which are specifically identified in the recall.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #76

Oct 082012

325

  • 104,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325xi. The contact stated that while parked the contact noticed the air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated the seat sensor mat would have to be replaced. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id 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 104,000.

- Mendota Heights, MN, USA

problem #75

Oct 012012

325 6-cyl

  • 69,000 miles
I am the 2nd owner of my 2006 BMW 3 series. I've driven it for about 4 months and one day I go to start my car to go to work and I noticed that the air bag indicator came on and it says passenger restraint malfunction. I have no idea why or what caused this!? I don't mess with my car, it just randomly did it once I tried to start it.'ve done some research and I seen an article from nbc news that says "BMW ag said Wednesday it was recalling 200,000 vehicles over concerns that the front passenger air bag may not deploy in a crash." Now that really concerns me! I need to get this fixed as soon as possible. Please help!

- Yuba City, CA, USA

problem #74

Sep 052012

325 6-cyl

  • miles
A warning indicator light came on telling me that the passenger restraint system was malfunctioning. At first it was occasional. Now the warning is on every time I get in the car with or without a passenger. I would like to have the car included in recall 08V384000.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #73

Aug 172011

325

  • 57,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the passenger side air system malfunctioned due to a defective air bag sensor in the passenger's seat. The contact was concerned that if the vehicle was involved in a crash that the passenger side air bag would not deploy. The contact was informed of NHTSA campaign I.D. number: 08V384000 (air bags:frontal) and took the vehicle to a local dealer. The dealer advised the contact that the front passenger seat sensor mat needed to be replaced and that the contact's VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 57,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #72

Aug 172012

325 6-cyl

  • 97,500 miles
The two issues are (1) airbag malfunction and (2) steering wheel malfunction. (1) the first issue occurred while I was driving on ca I-80 towards berkley from davis on 8/17/2012. As I was driving, the car displayed a notification that the passenger air bag was experiencing a problem and shut off. There was a passenger in the car. As of this date, the airbag is still shut off. (2) the second issue occurred while I was driving on ca I-280 from burlingame towards millbrae on 8/30/2012. As I was driving, I noticed a steering wheel lock notification. Luckily, I was at my exit and near home so I drove slowly home. After turning the car off, the steering wheel locked up. Restarting and turning the car off causes the steering wheel to randomly lock/unlock. I have not driven the car after the incident.

- Millbrae, CA, USA

problem #71

Jul 272012

325 6-cyl

  • 36,500 miles
My car started displaying a warning that there was a malfunction in the passenger restraint system. Took it to dealer who said that there was a low voltage issue with my battery and fixed it. 2 weeks later the warning reappeared. This time, when I took it to the dealer, I was informed that there was a defective sensor module in the seats and that the airbags would not deploy in the event of a crash. Even though the NHTSA issued a recall for this specific malfunction (NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000), the dealer refused to fix the module under warranty. The cost of this repair was quoted to be $1400 and is out of my budget, and even though this is a noted safety defect that BMW is aware of, they refuse to honor the recall claiming that my car's VIN number is not among those covered by the recall.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #70

Jul 292009

325

  • 83,653 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact was traveling 60 mph when the passenger air bag restraint system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the passenger air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 83,653 and the current mileage was 141,000.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #69

Jul 202012

325

  • 57,585 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that at engine startup, the passenger restraint system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer confirmed that the battery needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN failed to qualify for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags:frontal). The failure and current mileages were 57,585.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #68

Jul 192011

325

  • 88,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. While parked, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the mat on the front passenger seat would have to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags:frontal) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #67

Jul 172012

325 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles
Dashboard reads "passenger seat restraint malfunction" and shows an image of a dummy with an air bag deployed. When I called BMW they stated that my VIN number was not on the list for this recall, even though my car fits under this recall completely.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #66

May 212012

325 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles
Passenger airbags sensors come on and off, seat belt light on with passenger in car.

- Paterson, NJ, USA

problem #65

Jul 102009

325

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact noticed the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags:frontal) but the contact was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

- Kelseyville, CA, USA

problem #64

Apr 232012

325 6-cyl

  • 49,884 miles
Warning light that air bag is not functioning comes on. Dealer found a fault in the seat adjustment sensor (part of the seat motor). Said seat motor would have to be replaced. This appears to be the same fault others are reporting that was covered for some series 3 models by a NHTSA recall. The dealer made no mention of a recall. I have not had the repair done.

- Silver Spring, MD, USA

problem #63

Jan 182007

325

  • 4,000 miles
Our vehicle fails to detect passengers and the airbag turns off. We were told by BMW initially that our passengers were too light, however, we understand that this item has been recalled several years ago, because the seat should detect passengers over 90 lbs, I weigh 115 lbs. Anyway, when I called the manufacturer they said our VIN was not included in the recall. NHTSA relies on the manufacturer to include VIN's in the recall, however, this is an obvious problem that my vehicle should have been included in the recall which is so well documented. We are the original owners and have not sold the vehicle.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #62

May 012012

325 6-cyl

  • 70,800 miles
The passenger air bag light started going on and off when a passenger is and is not sitting in the passenger seat. The defect is clearly the seat weight sensor that many others have cited. This is a significant safety issue. I called the dealer, and like many others, I was told my vehicle was not covered under NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000. The dealer wanted to charge $125 for the diagnosis and $1500-1700 (estimate) to replace the seat mat. All the cost is was going to be the owner's responsibility. Mileage is currently 71K. I'm hopeful this compliant helps push the NHTSA and BMW to extend the recall to all 2006 325I models so owners don't have to absorb the high cost of a serious safety and design defect that could lead to a serious injury or death.

- Hanna City, IL, USA

problem #61

May 092011

325

  • 118,000 miles
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.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #60

Apr 022012

325

  • 43,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the air bag light warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed and the failure was located at the passenger seat air bag sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer denied assistance with the repair because the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags: Frontal). The failure and the current mileage was 43,000.

- Alexandria , VA, USA

problem #59

Sep 102008

325 6-cyl

  • 28,000 miles
Failure of SRS seat belt warning system which deactivates passenger air bag deployment. This is extremely dangerous as the passenger is no longer protected. Failure repaired under warrant. Same problem occurred 2011 and dealer and BMW manufacturer will not repair as vehicle falls outside their recall vins. This problem is obviously a safety problem and one in which the manufacturer knows is a problem for this vehicle.

- Elk Grove, CA, USA

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