10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
63,930 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

Sep 282011

325 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,400 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325xi. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for an unrelated repair when it was discovered that the front passenger sensor mat was defective and could result to the air bag failing to deploy. There was a recall pertaining to only the 3 series sport model under NHTSA campaign id number 08V384000 (air bags: Frontal). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the owner was responsible for the repair expenses. The approximate failure mileage was 32,400. Updated 02/14/12 updated 02/22/12

- Scottsdale , AZ, USA

problem #33

Nov 012011

325

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the floor mat sensor failed for the passenger side air bag. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags: Frontal), but was told by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Clovis, NM, USA

problem #32

Nov 022011

325

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised that the front passenger air bag sensor failed. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags: Frontal) and the vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 67,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #31

Oct 152011

325

  • 61,500 miles
I've lately been experiencing an issue with my vehicle where when a passenger sits in the front passenger seat, two icons on my dash come on indicating that safety features are disabled; I get an airbag disable icon in the dash along with the roof lining of my vehicle near the sos button, a text that reads, "passenger air bag disabled" and is illuminated, indicating that the passenger airbag is disabled. Also a 'seat belt' icon shows in the dashboard despite it being clicked in. NHTSA action number: EA08001 thankfully due to NHTSA, the manufacturer, bmwna, was forced to recall a total of 200,000 vehicles with this exact same issue. According to the NHTSA listing, my vehicle is covered under a mass recall of the 'sensor mat' located in the passenger seat of various BMW models to detect when a passenger is sitting on the seat which then triggers the sensor to ready the airbag in the event of an accident. My model 2006 BMW 325I (with sports and premium package) is mentioned in the vehicle list, both by manufacturer make (BMW), model (3-series/ 325I), and specifically the type of seat, being sports package. I have taken my vehicle to the BMW dealership where I purchased it from to get the issue looked at as the safety of myself and my passengers was a prime consideration when purchasing the vehicle in the first place. I was informed by the service advisor that my vehicle was not covered and that I should pay out of pocket or contact bmwna. I've contacted them and they denied me coverage explaining my vehicle does not fall under the recall. I firmly believe that I am being asked to pay exorbitant repair fees to fix basic safety systems despite that my car should fall under the recall as it is experiencing the exact same issues. My car is 'babied' and to be experiencing a failure of safety systems is extremely nerve-wracking. Thank you for your time.

- Duarte, CA, USA

problem #30

Jun 202011

325 6-cyl

  • miles
I took my 325I 2006 BMW to the local dealership about the air bag passenger warning light in the computer's dashboard. I was told that it was the passenger sensor mat underneath the seat that needed to be replaced&was given an estimate of $900 to fix it. I asked to check if there have been any recalls on air bags for my vehicle. I was asking the question-why does an airbag not work" I was told yes there has been a recall but my VIN# was not on the list. I asked why&he said because BMW only recalled so many of the 2006 325I vehicles to fix. I said this is a vehicle defect&BMW only recalled certain ones" the answer was yes.I decided to follow up with BMW usa who confirmed a recall for the 2006 325I BMW sensor mat&once again said the recall did not include my VIN#. I made it very clear of my feelings with their decision to fix certain vehicles and not all the VIN#S. I did further research on the computer & found other consumer complaints about the passenger sensor mat warning light and vehicle VIN#S who are not on the recall list. I would ask that you take this matter into consideration very seriously. Everyday drivers take precious cargo into their vehicles children&adults. If there is a manufacturer defect with a vehicle they need to be responsible for all VIN#S of that year, make&model. This recall is not just a problem for a certain#of vehicles&excluding others. The recall cost for BMW is far less&avoids a more serious problem if the air bag does not deploy causing injury or death. If the sensor mat does not work, the air bag does not go off. It does not take a rocket scientist to know the sensor mat is the problem-the one BMW installed-yet they won't be responsible for replacing it. I am the consumer-should I pay for something that is defected-a installed life saving device in the vehicle.no, I do not feel this is something I am responsible for. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Santa Barbara, CA, USA

problem #29

Jun 232011

325 6-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
My car was having the passenger restraint malfunction displayed on the screen and it was intermittently on and off for a long time but recently the fault is constantly on doesn't matter what I do even when I have the passenger or not. This is a safety issue so searched to understand it better and found the NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 for the recall of the passenger seat mat defect which covers my car but for some reason I've contacted the BMW dealer where I bought my car from to see if I can get it fixed based on the recall for free of charge but the dealer told me that I car is not covered even though my car is one of defected car based on manufacturing date. The cost of the mat replacement is over $1000, I think BMW should fix my car for free since this is a safety recall issue. Please have BMW to include my car in the recall list.

- Lowell, MA, USA

problem #28

Oct 202011

325

  • 56,254 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags:frontal), and denied any assistance with the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 56,254.

- Atlanta , GA, USA

problem #27

Aug 242011

325 6-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
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 64,000.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #26

Oct 012011

325 6-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
A few weeks ago when I was driving with a passenger my airbag light came and all sorts of cautions popped up on my I drive about the passenger air bag and seat belt restraints. Later on that day when I did not have a passenger with me everything was fine. Now almost every time I have a passenger with me the light comes on. From all the research I have been doing on this was a recall for this same exact problem but only on the early model 2006 325I. So I called BMW usa earlier today gave them my VIN and my 2006 325I was not apart of the recall! which I do not understand because the recall should have covered all the 2006 because there were a lot more cases of this happening to even the late model 325I. So is there any way my VIN can be added to the recall so I can get this safety issue resolved?

- Beaufort, SC, USA

problem #25

Sep 192011

325

  • 44,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 3 series. While driving approximately 5 mph, the contact 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. The contact 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 44,000.

- Bronxville, NY, USA

problem #24

Oct 082011

325

  • 33,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325xi. The contact started the ignition and the front passenger air bag off warning indicator was illuminated. The passenger seat was not occupied. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number 08V384000 (air bags: Frontal). The manufacturer was notified and they informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.

- Flushing, NY, USA

problem #23

Jan 192011

325 6-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
2006 BMW 325I passenger seat mat sensor for airbag system has failed but my model/year is outside the recall range honored by bmwusa.

- Poquoson, VA, USA

problem #22

Mar 232011

325 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
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.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

problem #21

May 202011

325 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
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.

- Sabula, IA, USA

problem #20

Oct 112010

325 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
1. speedometer accuracy! the speedo on my 2006 325I was off by 10%. at 80mph on the speedo, actual speed was 72. At 30 actual was 27. I have been pulled by a cop twice because of this problem. 2. passenger restrain error message the air bag warning light illuminated and a message displayed on the message board stating that the passenger restraint had malfunctioned.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #19

Apr 292009

325

  • 65,786 miles
Front passenger air bag warning light illuminates and warning signals sound every time a passenger sits in the front passenger seat, regardless of occupant size. This results in the passenger air bag being deactivated. This has been reported to BMW of fort myers (two occasions in person in 2009 and 2010) and BMW (via their online customer email system two times in 2010 and 2011). Neither party is willing to check the system or repair it even though the NHTSA website indicates (1) BMW recalled 200,000 vehicles with this issue and (2) BMW has extended the warranty to 10 years without any mileage limit. I need NHTSA's assistance in getting BMW to review and fix this issue similarly to the hundreds of thousand of other cars they have recalled.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #18

Dec 302010

325 6-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
The front passenger-seat occupancy detector failed, resulting in the airbag warning light turning on, warning of an airbag malfunction. Initially, the airbag warning light only turned on when a passenger occupied the front passenger seat, but later it remained on regardless, most of the time. Had the passenger-seat occupancy detector replaced, and that fixed the problem. Note that this is exactly the same problem as a BMW recall, except that I was told by BMW that my VIN was not covered.

- Potomac, MD, USA

problem #17

Apr 012010

325 6-cyl

  • 44,000 miles
SRS lights activate while driving. It deactivate the passenger airbag system. Passenger SRS light activated due to faulty occupancy seat sensor. The occupancy sensor must be replaced to correct the error.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #16

Apr 192011

325

  • 63,900 miles
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.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #15

Jan 012009

325 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated the air bag light intermittently illuminated on the dashboard while the front passenger seat was occupied. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 82,000. Updated 05/03/11 updated 05/11/11

- Benning, GA, USA

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