2005 BMW 3 Series

Routine

Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags16
001
Visibility/Wiper2
000
Exterior Lighting2
000
Electrical System2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Service Brakes1
112

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Dec 29, 2018GA

I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 MPH, AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD WHEN MY FRONT HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVE SIDE WITHOUT. ON THE DISHBOARD OF THE CAR THE CHECK BULB LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT HOME THE NEXT DAY WHEN TK THE PART PLACE TO GET A BULB TO FIND OUT THE WIRES WHERE BARE THERE WAS ONLY METAL NO PLASTIC. THEG TOLD ME YOU HAD TO REPLACE THE HOLE THING WITCH COST OVER 1000 DOLLARS FOR. I WENT HOME RESEARCH IT ONLINE, AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS A LOT ON BMW, AND THEY NEVER RECALL THEM. THAT THEY HAVE EVEN BEEN ON FIRE DUE TO THIS. I CALLED BMW AND THEY TOLD ME THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE, AND THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL THEN AND AFTER YOU FIT IT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS DUE TO HEAT.

Service BrakesCrashFire2 injured
Filed Jun 6, 2017150,000 milesVA

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 6-5-2017. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ON IGNITION START, THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS UNUSUALLY LOUD AND REVVED UP. UPON SHIFTING THE AUTOMATIC GEAR TO REVERSE, THE CAR SELF-ACCELERATED IN REVERSE WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS. ATTEMPTS TO REPEATEDLY BREAK DID NOT WORK, SO GEAR WAS SHIFTED TO DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND AVOID A COLLISION INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD HOME THAT WAS BEHIND THE PARKED CAR. UPON CHANGING GEAR TO DRIVE, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SELF-ACCELERATE FORWARD, AND AGAIN BRAKES DID NOT WORK. IN FORWARD MOTION, AT HIGH SPEED THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB AND HILLY GROUND. ATTEMPT TO SHIFT NOW TO PARK ALONG WITH BRAKE DID NOT WORK. TO AVOID MASSIVE ACCIDENT AND COLLISION WITH PARKED CARS AHEAD, THE DRIVER TURNED THE WHEELS TOWARD A UTILITY POLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STOPPED ONLY AFTER A COLLISION WITH THE UTILITY POLE. THE CAR WAS SMOKING IN THE BACK AND WAS STILL REVVING WHEN STOPPED. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER, CAR WAS MOVING AT SPEED 60 MPH. NO FLOOR MATS WERE MISPLACED NEAR DRIVER PEDALS. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO GET HELP, AT WHICH POINT 911 CALL WAS MADE. DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO FAIRFAX HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. DRIVER SUFFERED FRACTURED NOSE AND TEARS IN FACE THAT REQUIRED SURGICAL REPAIR AND SUTURES. EVENT REPORTED TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, 6-6-2017. MOST PEOPLE WILL TRY TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS WAS DRIVER ERROR. HOWEVER, VARIOUS MALFUNCTIONING SELF-ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH BMWS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ONLINE; INCLUDING E46 GENERATION BMWS, WHICH IS THE MODEL OF

Exterior Lighting
Filed Apr 8, 201790,000 milesCA

PASSENGER HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM REFLECTOR IS BURNT OUT DUE TO FAULTY MATERIAL BEING USED. REFLECTOR IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND NORMAL HEAT FROM BULB MELTS THE PLASTIC. THIS MAKES IT VERY UNSAFE AND DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON ON THE INTERNET. THE SOLUTION IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND DUE TO THIS COST,MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT FIX AND DRIVE UNDER THIS UNSAFE SITUATION. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND HOLD BMW RESPONSIBLE.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 9, 2016FL

TAKATA INFLATORS, HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND BMW DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NO ANSWER

Air Bags
Filed Nov 27, 2016CA

TAKATA RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT ATTEMPTED FOR 10/27/16. PETER PAN BMW CANCELED APPOINTMENT AND NOTIFIED ME THE PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATE FOR DELIVERY. 30 DAYS HAVE PASSED WITH NO UPDATES FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS ARE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 14, 2016MO

TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL BACK ON JULY 2015 AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT I CAN HAVE THIS FIXED! I HAD A TOYOTA VEHICLE THAT WAS REMEDIED VERY QUICKLY! THIS RECALL SHOULD NOT TAKE OVER A YEAR TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM DRIVING THIS CAR AND WANT THIS DOCUMENTED!

Air Bags
Filed Sep 23, 201670,000 milesMD

I RECEIVED A PRINTED NOTIFICATION FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC DATED JULY 2015 UNDER THE SUBJECT MATTER: "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-318: DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE." SINCE I RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION, 13 MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND STILL I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM CATONSVILLE BMW IN MARYLAND REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND STILL OWNS IT, I AM DRIVING IT RISKING MY LIFE AND LIMB FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. IT IS THEREFORE REQUESTED THAT NECESSARY ACTIONS BE TAKEN FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG OF MY 2005 BMW 325I BY CATONSVILLE BMW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVERT POTENTIAL DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND LIMB OF MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. THANK YOU. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Aug 29, 2016DC

TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OVER 12 MONTHS - TODAY I RECEIVED THE SECOND NOTIFICATION FROM BMW. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE BMW MAKE THE REPAIR IN OVER A YEAR DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY. WHAT IS "WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME" THAT THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD BE MADE?

Air Bags
Filed Jul 17, 2016NH

TAKATA RECALL: IN JULY 2015 RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL DUE TO DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEFICIT. HAVE CALLED 2 DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES IN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR. HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT I'M ON A WAIT LIST AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT OR FAILURE, ONE YEAR SEEMS AN EXCESSIVELY LONG TIME TO WAIT GIVEN THE SAFETY RISK. COMPLAINT ISSUED BY PHONE BUT VIN NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 11, 2016NH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed May 20, 2016SC

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 350CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. 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 MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF

Air Bags
Filed Apr 7, 2016TX

TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THE RECALL ON MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS ISSUED AND THEY HAVE STILL NOT REPLACED IT.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Mar 4, 201631,000 milesKS

SIDE MIRRORS FADING INTO A BROWN COLOR. MAKING THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THEM IMPOSSIBLE. MANY TIMES I HAVE ALMOST SIDE SWIPED CARS THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF ME DUE TO MY NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUR OF MY SIDE MIRRORS. ALSO FRONT LIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT. I HAVE CHANGED IT 3 TIMES IN TWO MONTHS AND IT KEEPS EITHER GOING OUT OR FALLING OUT OF THE HOLE MAKING THE INDICATOR LIGHT COME ON.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 19, 201653,000 milesNY

TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALER, LIFE QUALITY MOTOR SALES INC OF BROOKLYN NEW YORK AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC REFUSE TO COMPLETE THIS TAKATA PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE

Air Bags
Filed Dec 22, 2015CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 16, 2015DC

PER MY LETTER FROM BMW, I AM TO NOTIFY NHTSA THAT BMW IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE AIRBAG RECALL SITUATION WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER IN JULY 2015 AND CALLED BMW TODAY 11-16-15 TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE PARTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG.

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 27, 2015100,000 milesCA

REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAK ONTO THE TAN COLOR CONSOLE OF THE CAR. THIS IS DUE TO THE MANUFACTURES MALFUNCTION REAR VIEW MIRRORS PLACED IN MOST MODELS. THE LIQUID LEAK IS THE MAKE UP OF THE DIMMER IN ORDER TO WORK. BECAUSE THE LIQUID SPILLED OUT, THE DIMMER NO LONGER WORKS AND I HAVE A BLACK STAINED ON MY TAN COLOR CONSOLED THAT DOES NOT REMOVED AND A VERY EXPENSIVE MIRROR THAT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AS EXPECTED BY MANUFACTURE.

Air Bags
Filed Jan 15, 201567,000 milesNJ

BMW RECALLED THIS CAR FOR THE AIRBAG MANY MOTHS AGO. BMW ADVISED US THE AIR BAG REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF DECEMBER 2014. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY ADVISED ME THEY HAVE NO DATES WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. MY LOCAL DEALER STATES I AM ON A LIST AND 40 PEOPLE ARE IN FRONT OF ME AND IT CAN TAKE IN EXCESS OF THREE MONTHS TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR IF THEY GET THE PARTS. BMW HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND CAN NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 9, 201575,000 milesPA

RECEIVED FRONT AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE IN MID-SEPTEMBER 2014 AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED ABOUT REPLACEMENT. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE NOTICE AND THE CAR STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT USE OF CAR FOR 4 MONTHS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

Air Bags
Filed Oct 3, 2014ME

AFTER 4 WEEKS OF RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE AND MANY CALLS TO BMW NORTH AMERICA THEY TELL ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" AND IMPLIED THAT THEY ARE IN NO HURRY TO SATISFY CUSTOMERS! THEY HAVE ALSO WARNED ME SEVERAL TIMES NOT TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT! *TR

20 of 25 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230100Routine
201321000Routine
20127300Routine
20111300Routine
201030310Routine
200953220Routine
200868340Routine
2007115240Routine
2006202410Above average
2005 — this page25010Routine
200477030Routine
200373000Routine
200226000Routine
200136100Routine
200088120Routine
19996100Routine
19983400Routine
19975400Routine
19962400Routine
19953400Routine
19941300Routine
19930300Routine
19920300Routine

Compare every 3 Series year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.