10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,574 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 BMW 330:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #64

Mar 282018

330

  • miles
Blower to heater/airconditioning and overheating. Motor making loud sound when air or heater is

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #63

Jan 202018

330

  • 125,000 miles
Fire hazard: Adaptive headlight controller car in motion, heavy rain, 'road following headlight' stopped working (I.e., headlight still illuminating, but would not swivel to follow direction of turns anymore). Dashboard code cc-id 295. Upon later inspection, obd reported ista codes 0932C: Frm acl faulty; 009cbd; frm communication with step motor left disrupted; 009cbe: Frm communication with step motor rigth disrupted during replacement of faulty module (P/N 63127189312), evidence of past electrical fire found: Strong burnt electrical insulator smell, wire harness in the headlight housing molten, extensive fire damage to both the module pcb and the electrical connector between the module and the headlight housing.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #62

Oct 252017

330

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330xi. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V676000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called wide world of cars BMW at 845-425-2600 (125 NY-59, spring valley, NY 10977) and was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Monreo, NY, USA

problem #61

Oct 252017

330

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V676000 (electrical system) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer (competition BMW of smithtown, 599 middle country rd, St james, NY 11780, (888) 861-6280) was unable to verify when the parts would be supplied from the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted. The contact was also informed by the dealer that there was an option of a loaner vehicle. The contact had not yet received the loaner option and was to check with the manufacturer. The contact stated that smoke entered the vehicle and he heard an abnormal noise. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available. * (recall related incident)

- Yaphank, NY, USA

problem #60

Oct 252017

330

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330I. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V676000 (electrical system); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated called BMW concord at (925) 682-3577 (1967 market St, concord, ca 94520) on several occasions and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Danville, CA, USA

problem #59

Aug 172017

330 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330xi. The contact noticed smoke under the hood, which entered the vehicle through the air vents. The contact also heard an abnormal noise coming from the motor months before the manufacturer sent notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V676000 (electrical system). In addition, the service engine warning indicator remained illuminated for an extended period of time. The dealer (newbold BMW, 1283 central park dr, O'fallon, il 62269, (618) 628-7300) replaced the wiring and diagnosed that the bearings needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. - (recall related incident)

- Belleville, IL, USA

problem #58

Jul 142017

330

  • 84,000 miles
Complete loss of electrical power while driving, usually from 30 to 70 mph, on a city street, country road and interstate highway. This has happened multiple times since buying the car second hand in July 2017 to the present January 2018. We will no longer drive the car since it is quite frightening to lose power while driving 70 mph on the highway in traffic. Also, several times there is no electrical power at all in the car after stopping the car and trying to restart it. The battery has been tested and is charged and working normally. There is a recall for the positive battery connection and cable to the terminal connection at the cabin fuse box which can wear out and fail for bmws starting in 2007 that cause the same problems. Our car has the same problem but why is it not included in the recall ?

- Mount Pleasant, NC, USA

problem #57

Jan 212018

330

  • 130,000 miles
The vehicle was parked in a parking lot on 1-21-18, when it caught fire

- Waverly Hall, GA, USA

problem #56

Nov 012017

330

  • 134,000 miles
The center console is continuing to overheat. It spreads to the cup holders and outward as well. Gets very hot! happens when car is on or when driving

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #55

Mar 022015

330

  • miles
Takata recall. The front passenger seat sensor in my 2006 BMW is defective making the passenger airbags turned off during the event of a crash when car is on or running airbag and seatbelt light turn on. Many other 2006 bmws like mine are affected with this issue. A recall has been done for bmws for models 2007 and newer but not for the 2006 model year. A recall needs to be done for this year make to insure the safety of people and passengers riding in this car. I use this car as a daily driver with my 5 year old daughter. Please update new info asap

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #54

Mar 132017

330

  • 169,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330xi. The contact stated that the power locks failed and a fuse had blown out. The front passenger side and rear doors failed to unlock from the interior and the exterior. In addition, the contact had to disconnect the battery to reset the ECM. The fuse was replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #53

Jan 062017

330

  • 156,000 miles
I got home from an outting with friends and "passenger restraint systems malfunction" appeared on my screen. Did alittle research, my passenger seat airbag will either deploy metal shards or not deploy at all incase of an accident. Or the seatbelt will not properly engage. The dealership says they are "VIN specific" and can only do my driver side. But everybody seems to only have the passenger side problem. They have the sensor in stock that can save a life, but they don't want to do the job just because my "VIN" does not match for the recall in their computers!

- Tulalip, WA, USA

problem #52

Dec 122016

330

  • 76,600 miles
Door actuators/locking mechanisms are unresponsive to remote control. Unable to lock or unlock the vehicle from the outside, nor is it possible to lock or unlock the vehicle from the inside.

- Colleyville, TX, USA

problem #51

May 222016

330

  • 99,932 miles
Electronic steering wheel lock malfunctions without notice and renders the car incapable of starting. A yellow steering wheel icon (or red in some instances) appears in the informational panel on the dashboard. The accompanying error code is cc-id 187. This condition when it occurs, will not energize (disables) the ignition system and prevents the car from being started. Drivers will become stranded wherever they happen to be once the car is turned off as the error notification appears only when the car is switched off or back on. There are literally hundreds of similar and identical cases on the internet when performing a google search on this issue.

- Mt Arlington, NJ, USA

problem #50

Jan 012014

330

  • 110,000 miles
I own a 2006 BMW 325I. About a year or two ago, the reverse lights will not illuminate while reversing. I took the vehicle to the dealership, explained the problem, and mentioned multiple online accounts of this problem extending at least from 2003 through 2008. It could have been longer. I also referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 11V438000 (exterior lighting:turn signal) and NHTSA id number: 10443539 (tail light failure). The dealer advised me that this vehicle year was not included in any recall campaign for this problem. In addition, the dealer advised that the frm module needed to be replaced due to a wiring malfunction. From online reports and pictures, I confirmed my reverse light failure was also a wiring issue caused from a very poor wire routing design by BMW. The failure mileage was at approximately 110,000 and the cost to repair was outrageous! since that time even with multiple documented cases, BMW has been unwilling to admit this is their design failure and to share in any of the repair costs.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #49

Apr 012014

330

  • 110,000 miles
Passenger seat airbags are disabled due to restraint detection malfunction. A message appears upon turning on the vehicle which states that due to restraint system detection fault, passenger airbags and restraint system will be turned off. Problem started as an intermittent issue and developed into a continual one. Happened for the first time in April 2014 and has continued to worsen. Car is equipped with BMW oem sport seats. This issue appears to be in line with recall from NHTSA campaign number 13V-564. However, BMW does not recognize my VIN as being a part of this recall.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #48

Apr 072015

330 6-cyl

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330xi. The contact stated that the air bags and the passenger side seat beat warning lights illuminated constantly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger sensor mat failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included NHTSA campaign number: 13V564000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000. Update 01/15/16

- Pace, FL, USA

problem #47

Jul 252014

330

  • 110,237 miles
All doors lock up but only the driver side has a manual override. Passengers cannot exit the vehicle in case of crash or fire.

- Chapel Hill, NC, USA

problem #46

May 162015

330

  • 142,000 miles
Rear exterior safety lighting does not work due to design flaw where trunk lid breaks ground wires. Recall already done on other model years. BMW skipped recall on 2006 E90S. Many consumers are still having the system short due to ground and crimp issues. Huge safety issue with potential fires and or crashes

- Bloomington, IL, USA

problem #45

Nov 012013

330 6-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
Error message "fault in passenger-restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. There was a recall on this for models up to 2005, and selectively for 2006, per BMW.

- Round Lake, IL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »