Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 25 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
25 reports
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2016
Air Bags
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10870043
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2016
Air Bags
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.
NHTSA ODI #10854078
31,000 miles · Mar 4, 2016
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper
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…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10839998
53,000 miles · Feb 19, 2016
Air Bags
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
NHTSA ODI #10837142
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2015
Air Bags
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.
NHTSA ODI #10811686
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2015
Air Bags
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.
NHTSA ODI #10790547
100,000 miles · Aug 27, 2015
Unknown Or Other
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 …
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10759722
67,000 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Air Bags
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 EXCE…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10672734
75,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Air Bags
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
NHTSA ODI #10671328
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2014
Air Bags
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 …
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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
NHTSA ODI #10641089
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE09036 · Rear Lamp Illumination
Opened Aug 7, 2009 · Closed Dec 22, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:tail Lights; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Exterior Lighting
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.
2005 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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