Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2006 record →
COOLANT LEAKING FROM RESERVOIR TANK. A COMMON ISSUE AMONG BMWS- AND IS CURRENTLY EFFECTING MY 330XI 2006. THE EXPANSION TANK IS FAULTY AND WONDERING IF THE TANK AND HOSES ARE TESTED TO EVEN WITHSTAND THE "BMW BRAND" NAME COOLANT. *TR
AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH REMAIN LIT AT ALL TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED" INDICATOR REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN (SEE BELOW) FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS, YET APPARENTLY NOT FOR MY VIN. THE DISABLED PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AND CLEARLY MY VIN SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. STATEMENT ON VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS - AUGUST 13, 2008 TODAY, BMW ANNOUNCED A VOLUNTARY RECALL REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MAT INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MODEL YEAR 2004-06 VEHICLES. AFFECTED ARE CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 3-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-06 5-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-06 X3 VEHICLES, DEPENDING UPON SEAT TYPE. BMW HAS FOUND THAT THE SENSOR MAT MAY BECOME DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE USAGE DEPENDING UPON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
THE MESSAGE 'STEERING WHEEL LOCK' CAME UP AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. I HAD TO PAY TO BRING IT HOME. BMW SAYS 'IT HAPPENS TO SOME CUSTOMERS' AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO A SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. I SEE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS IN FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY IT IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE LOCK MECHANISM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT SENSOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT, BUT NO REMEDY WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2006 BMW 330XI AND THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LAMPS HAVE BEEN ON/OFF ON MY CAR SINCE LAST NOVEMBER. SINCE THIS CAR MODEL HAS A RECALL RELATING TO AIRBAG AND SEATBELT, I AM WONDERING WHY I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY "RECALL LETTER" SO I CAN PRESENT IT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. THANK YOU. *TR
DRIVING WITH BAG ON PASSENGER SEAT, "RED AIRBAG & RED SEATBELT" INDICATORS LIGHT UP. UPON TAKING TO DEALERSHIP, THEIR CODE READER SUGGESTED "LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE" CAUSED LIGHTS. CLEARED CODE. MONTHS LATER, WITH WORK BAG ON PASSENGER SEAT HAPPENS AGAIN. CLEARED CODE. SUGGESTED TO BUY A NEW BATTERY. BOUGHT A NEW BMW BATTERY, AND SAME THING, HAPPENS AGAIN. I TAKE TO ANOTHER SHOP (BMW CHARGES 100-150 TO CLEAR CODE EACH TIME...) AND THEY CLEAR CODE, STILL "LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE" BUT SUGGESTED I LOOK INTO THIS OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR RECALL. GO BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY UNLESS CODE READER SAYS AIRBAG FAULT, THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY. THROUGH THE COURSE OF 2 YEARS NOW, THE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON 4 TIMES PRIOR, AND NOW TODAY A 5TH TIME. I HAVE YET TO TAKE BACK TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN, BUT MAKING MY COMPLAINTS. I AM NOT A GENIUS BUT SOMEHOW I THINK THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT MUST BE DEFECTIVE YET THROWS ERROR CODES OF "LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE". WHEN I CHECK THE CODE MANUALLY THROUGH THE DRIVERS STALK, CCID-97 (FROM MEMORY) WHICH ONLINE REFERENCED TO AIR BAG FAULT. ALTHOUGH I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS, IT WAS A "CERTIFIED" PREOWNED FROM DEALER, AND I"M BEING TOLD THAT THE RECALL COVERS ONLY 10 YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL SALE DATE. WHICH MEANS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER THIS YEAR OF 2014, I AM OUT OF LUCK. HUNDREDS WASTED EACH TIME, INCORRECT DIAGNOSING. AND BMW REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS RECALL UNTIL A MACHINE TELLS THEM OTHERWISE. AND UNTIL THAT DAY COMES, THEY'LL KEEP SELLING ME NE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. DR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE SENSOR INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND TO PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
THIS BMW HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK AND ON MY CAR, THE COLUMN HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ELV. IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE ELV, THE CAR IS DISABLED LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED! BMW'S FIX FOR THIS IS EITHER A REPROGRAM OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN, AGAIN IN MY CASE. THIS DOES NOT COME CHEAP! BMW MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS PLAGUE PROBLEM! *TR
VEHICLE AIRBAG WARNING AND PASSENGER SEATBELT WARNING LAMP ARE DISPLAYED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LAMP ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS DISABLED IN CASE OF A CRASH. BMW HAS ISSUED A PARTIAL RECALL ON OTHER MODELS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN 13V-564) CITING A DEFECT WITH REGARDS TO THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT BUT WILL NOT HONOR A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, WHICH IS CLEARLY AFFECTED BY THE ISSUE. WITHOUT REPAIR A CRASH MAY VERY WELL RESULT IN UNDUE PHYSICAL HARM TO A PASSENGER. *TR
IT WAS RAINING REALLY HEAVY WITH LIGHTNING AND THUNDERSTORMS AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM LIGHTNING CAME DOWN AND MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE PLACE ON THE HIGHWAY TO WAIT FOR THE HEAVY RAIN TO STOP BEFORE I COULD DRIVE AGAIN.
I HAVE AN ERROR MESSAGE TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A "RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION" ON MY PASSENGER SEAT. IT WARNS ME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING FOR THREE WEEKS. THERE WAS A RECALL NOTIFICATION RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000(AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114, 000. ,,UPDATED 04-23-14 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ERRONEOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR PAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13V564000 (AIRBAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 3/31/14*CN
MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS OFFLINE. I BROUGHT IT INTO MY MECHANIC AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR MAT AND POSSIBLY MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $700-$800 DOLLARS. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION THAT MY VEHICLE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000. WHEN I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND BMWNA THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE UNTIL REQUIRED TO DO SO EVEN THOUGH MY AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS ALREADY FAILED AND IT IS SHOWING AS OFFLINE. I'M REGISTERING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT THAT THEY ARE NOT ACTIVELY RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ERROR CONSISTENT WITH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE MAT RECALL NOTICE. BMW ONLINE RECALL CHECK REVEALED THAT THIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EITHER. BMW REFUSED TO REPLACE AND WILL NOT TELL ME IF THE AIR BAG WILL OR WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ERROR CONSISTENT WITH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE MAT RECALL NOTICE. BMW ONLINE RECALL CHECK REVEALED THAT THIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JS
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT AS THE CAUSE. FAILURE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FAILURES HIGHLIGHTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 08V384000. BMW NORTH AMERICA POSITION IS THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE (VIN) IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS VERY TROUBLING. THERE IS A KNOWN FAILURE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A SAFETY RECALL, HOWEVER THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE ACTUAL VEHICLES THAT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE. RESEARCH ON THIS SITE (AND OTHERS) CONFIRMS THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AFFECTING SEVERAL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS OF BMW VEHICLES. LEFT UNFIXED, A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT WILL NOT HAVE THE SAFETY BENEFITS OF AN OPERABLE AIRBAG AND THIS COULD RESULT IN UNECESSARY SERIOUS INJURY. MY REQUEST IS FOR THE NHTSA AND BMW TO EXPAND THE SAFETY RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES EXHIBITING THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AND RECTIFY THE POSSIBLE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS THIS FAILURE PRESENTS.
STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND LOCKED THE DOOR AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. THE DOOR LOCKS DIDN'T OPEN WHEN TRYING TO OPEN WITH THE REMOTE. THE DOOR FUSE AND ACTUATOR BLEW UP. OPENED THE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND SAT INSIDE THE CAR. THE DOORS LOCKED AND THEN COULDN'T UNLOCK THE DOORS TO GET OUT. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ERROR CONSISTENT WITH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE MAT RECALL NOTICE. BMW ONLINE RECALL CHECK REVEALED THAT THIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *TR
2006 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG ERROR CONSISTENT WITH FRONT PASSENGER SEAT PRESSURE MAT RECALL NOTICE. *SMD BMW INFORMED THE CONSUMER, HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
I HAVE A 2006 BMW 330XI SPORT AND WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE CAR, I RECEIVE A PASSENGER AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT. I WAS TOLD BY PARK AVE BMW IN NJ THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER THE RECALL. RECALL ID # 57362 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL RECALL DATE AUG 05, 2008 RECALL DATE: AUG 05, 2008 MODEL AFFECTED: 2006 BMW 3-SERIES SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCES: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 NOTES: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC. *TR
I WENT TO ADJUST THE VERTICAL POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE LEVER GEARS BROKE WITH IN THE STEERING COLUMN . NOW THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES UP AND DOWN FREELY WHILE DRIVING. I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAID IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VERY REPUTABLE FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SHOP AND HE SAID IN HIS 50 YEARS OF FIXING FOREIGN CARS, HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN. I FEEL THIS IS A VERY BAD SAFETY ISSUE ! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING AND OFTEN TIMES THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD REQUIRE A JUMP START FOR TIMES WHEN IT WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY RESTART. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND CHARGED THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY NIGHTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL WHEN THE BATTERY WAS NOT CHARGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THE CONTACT HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED UNTIL THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S AIR BAG RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING AND MESSAGE DISPLAYING AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WHEN PASSENGER SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL AS PER BMW USA THAT INCLUDES 200,000 VEHICLES WITH "SPORT SEATS" BUT OUR VEHICLE WITH "PREMIUM SEATS" IS NOT INCLUDED. THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WHICH IS DEFECTIVE UNDER THE RECALL MAY BE COMMON AND THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MORE VEHICLES. BMW USA HAS CONFIRMED THAT OUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR
WARNING LIGHT HAS APPEARED INDICATING AIR BAG FAULT. CODE CHECK REVEALS A DEFECT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF SAME FAULT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR SAME MODEL IN US AND CANADA HOWEVER DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VIN. BMWNA AND BMW CANADA BOTH DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT FOR THIS VIN. BMW NORTH AMERICA MAY BE EVADING RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THIS SAFETY ISSUE BY ONLY RECOGNIZING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VERY FEW SPECIFIC VEHICLES. *TR
WARNING LIGHT APPEARED INDICATING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAULT. A FAULT CODE SCAN REVEALED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS IN FAILURE AND WOULD RESULT IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETELY LOCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE. *TR THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS DEFECT YET BMWNA ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT. THE NATURE AND EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR IS SIGNIFICANT AS THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT.
I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. INSTEAD IT HAD AN ICON ON THE DASH OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH A LOCK SIGN ON IT. I PULLED THE FOB OUT AND PUT IT BACK IN A FEW TIMES, TRYING TO START THE CAR EVERY TIME, BUT NO LIFE. THIS IS A VERY WEIRD PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULDN'T RELEASE. I TRIED TO GET IT STARTED FOR OVER 30 MINUTES, STILL UNSUCCESSFUL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 06 AND EARLY 07 MODELS OF THE 3 SERIES. IN MID-07, BMW STOPPED PUTTING LOCKS IN THE STEERING COLUMNS. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC LOCK POWER DRAW WHEN STARTING THE CAR, AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE NORMALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM. IF THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DOES NOT WORK, BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN IF YOU ARE UNDER THE WARRANTY. ALL MY UPDATES ARE DONE BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO MY BMW DEALER ON 11/14/12 AND THEY RECHECKED EVERYTHING. SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE ARE MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AS STATED IN HERE; HTTP://WWW.IMPORT-CAR.COM/ISSUE/ARTICLE.ASPX?CONTENTID=89276, BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP CAME ON AND STAYED ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE OVERHEAD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. THESE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON CONTINUALLY FOR OVER A YEAR. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS SITUATION FOR OTHER 2006 BMW 3-SERIES BUT ACCORDING TO BMW MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AS OF 11/20/2012L. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT MY CAR BEING AFFECTED BY THIS KNOWN ISSUE IS JUST A COINCIDENCE. *TR
THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. NOW BOTH LAMPS REMAIN ON CONTINUALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS ON. THE OVERHEAD LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF IS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY RECALL FOR OTHER BMW VEHICLES. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA MY PARTICULAR VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW, WHEN I AM DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER I AM PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WEIGHT SENSOR FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
2006 BMW 330XI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 08V-384 CONCERNING MODIFY SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT *TGW IN DECEMBER 2011, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS NOT ACTIVATED. THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM FROM THE VEHICLE'S ERROR CODE AND GAVE HIM A PRINTOUT, SHOWING THERE WAS AN OPEN CAMPAIGN FOR HIS YEAR AND MODEL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MAT DETECTION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS CHARGED $ 139.19 FOR THAT SAME INFORMATION, THAT HE WAS GIVEN PREVIOUSLY FROM HIS MECHANIC. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS FOR HIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR, HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BECAUSE THE RECALL PERTAINED TO A PARTICULAR LIST OF SEATS, WHICH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE, EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECTIVE SEAT MAT WAS COMMON IN ALL.
RANDOMLY WHILE THERE IS EITHER WEIGHT FROM A BAG OR A PERSON IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE SEATBELT LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASH AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WILL LIGHT UP ON THE ROOF. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 42 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE CONNECTORS. AFTER THE REPAIR THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE BENT AFTER PREVIOUSLY STATING THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THEM. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE CONNECTORS. EIGHT MONTHS LATER THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FUSE WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT DROVE 10 MILES AND THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAG FRONTAL). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE PASSENGER FRONT SENSOR MAT. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 06/29/12 *BF UPDATED 07/09/12
MY CAR DISPLAYS EXACT SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 WHICH IS A PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILURE. I CALLED BMW NA TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND IT SEEMS LIKE BMW IS DENYING THIS RECALL TO MOST OF THE OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MANY MORE CARS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE THEN ORIGINALLY DETERMINED BY BMW AND NHTSA. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ERROR MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MAT IS NOT WORKING AND THIS CAUSES THE RED AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE ON DASH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED AS A RESULT. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF A 200,000 VEHICLE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEREFORE WON'T FIX IT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH A VITAL SAFETY COMPONENT WILL NOT BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THAT THE CONSUMER MUST PAY WELL OVER $500 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THESE AND SAVE LIVES. *TR
MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE MESSAGE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ONLINE, IT APPEARED THAT BMW HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT: NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000. HOWEVER, AFTER CONTACTING BMW, I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DEFECT EXTENDS BEYOND THE VINS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL GIVEN THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND BMW IS NOT HONORING THE WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR AND THE ONLY WAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WAS THROUGH THAT DOOR. IN ADDITION, ON ONE OCCASION THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE USING THE KEY FOB AND HE WAS FORCED MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER ARE CONSTANTLY ON, INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS IF A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SPORT SEATS. THERE IS A RECALL IN ORDER FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT MY 2006 330XI WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME REASON. HERE IS THE #: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 THERE ARE MULTIPLE CASES FOR 2006 BMW 330 (XI AND I MODELS) THAT ARE NOW HAVING THIS ISSUE. HERE IS A LINK TO A FORUM THREAD ABOUT THIS: HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=358892 *KB
I GOT INTO MY CAR ON THE MORNING OF THE 29TH DEC. 2011. I SHOWED A YELLOW STEERING WHEEL LOCK CODE (INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM). I DROVE THE CAR AFTER WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS ALTHOUGH PLANNING ON GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO SERVICE JUST TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PARKED THE CAR, RETURNED TO IT 15 MIN LATER AND IT WOULDNT START! AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM THE CAR SHOWED A RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK CODE INDICATING IT WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER DEEP INVESTIGATION I FIND THE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON HUNDREDS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR AS MINE. MOST PEOPLE ARE TOLD TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AND/OR REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN (SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES) AND THEN MOST STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. *KB
AIRBAG LIGHTS AND RESTRAINT LIGHTS BECAME LIT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR MAT. ALREADY HAS HAD A RECALL ON SOME OF THE MODELS. NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO OTHER VEHICLES. *KB
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AN ERROR MESSAGE SHOWS ON THE DISPLAY INDICATING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS ERROR WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR THE CAR TO START. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDING REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2006 BMW 330Xi → · Every 330Xi year → · How the figures are calculated →