NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
110 reports104,000 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE SEAT SENSOR MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 0…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE SEAT SENSOR MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
NHTSA ODI #10479867
63,000 miles · Jul 13, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts
PASSENGER AIRBAGS SENSORS COME ON AND OFF, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON WITH PASSENGER IN CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10465580
76,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE VEHICLE DOORS, OTHER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE, BY USING THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE LOCK MECHANISMS WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE SENSOR WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH AS A RESULT BOTH THE LOC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE VEHICLE DOORS, OTHER THAN THE DRIVER SIDE, BY USING THE KEY FOB OR MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE LOCK MECHANISMS WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE SENSOR WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH AS A RESULT BOTH THE LOCK MECHANISM AND SENSOR 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 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 06/06/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED TO THE FUEL DOOR, RENDERING HIM UNABLE TO FUEL THE CAR. UPDATED 06/07/12 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10457066
60,000 miles · Feb 24, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT BOTH THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND NOTICED THAT BOTH THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DETECTED THE MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT 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 DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10449244
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2012
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MODULE IS FAULTY IN OUR CAR. IT WAS OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED BY A BMW DEALER ON 20 FEB 2012. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT OUR CAR'S PRODUCTION TIME FALLS 1 MONTH OUT OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL ON THESE SAME PARTS (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA080001). BMW IS REFUSING TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448912
75,500 miles · Feb 17, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts
AIR BAG SIGN KEEPS GOING ON/OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL 08V-384 BUT BMW IS SAYING MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE BUILD WINDOW. I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448324
57,000 miles · Feb 6, 2012
Air BagsSeats
AT FIRST, IT WAS INTERMITTANT, THE PASSANGER SEAT BELT/AIR BAY SIGNAL WOULD DISPLAY EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEN, SIGNAL WAS ON ALL THE TIME. MECHANIC FOUND A BAD PART OC3 MATT. HAD IT NOT BEEN REPLACED, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10446815
15,500 miles · Feb 4, 2012
Steering
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, IT'D DISPLAY A YELLOW ICON WITH A STEERING WHEEL LOCK. ON THIS DATE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND THE ICON WAS RED, LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED TO MY FRIEND LAST MONTH AS HE HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AS ME. ACCORDING TO MANY ONLINE SOURCES, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD T…
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EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, IT'D DISPLAY A YELLOW ICON WITH A STEERING WHEEL LOCK. ON THIS DATE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND THE ICON WAS RED, LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED TO MY FRIEND LAST MONTH AS HE HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AS ME. ACCORDING TO MANY ONLINE SOURCES, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10446704
150,000 miles · Jan 8, 2012
Steering
MY VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WITH THE AMBER LIGHT. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS 3 SERIES WITH THIS ISSUE IN US AND WORLD. THIS IS COMMON FOR THE E90S. BELOW IS A LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY. THIS FAULT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. REPO…
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MY VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WITH THE AMBER LIGHT. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS 3 SERIES WITH THIS ISSUE IN US AND WORLD. THIS IS COMMON FOR THE E90S. BELOW IS A LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY. THIS FAULT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. REPORTS: 10380778, 10378186 - 330I 10322165 - 325XI 10380077, 10353644 - 325I 10173714,10369685,10341920,10341836,10238977,10181405 AND MANY OTHERS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HOLD BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MAJOR ISSUE AND SAFETY HAZARD? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10442826
83,400 miles · Dec 12, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATE WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT ALL FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATE WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT ALL FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,400. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10439403
Official recalls
6Jul 3, 2024
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags:frontal
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Jan 15, 2020
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Apr 4, 2019
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion to recall 17V-683.
Oct 25, 2017
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and air conditioning system may overheat.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Jul 6, 2017
BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Nov 12, 2013
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗