NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
104 reports123,000 miles · Apr 22, 2014
Steering
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 N…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10584142
109,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014
Seat Belts
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.
NHTSA ODI #10583343
109,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014
Visibility/wiper
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.
NHTSA ODI #10583340
114,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Air Bags
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 N…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10574350
70,000 miles · Mar 6, 2014
Steering
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 AV…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10567632
190,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
Air Bags
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 VE…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10566312
89,810 miles · Feb 25, 2014
Air Bags
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…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10565830
97,000 miles · Feb 6, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts
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 REC…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10563315
98,000 miles · Oct 22, 2013
Air BagsSeats
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
NHTSA ODI #10549001
115,350 miles · Sep 1, 2013
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats
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
NHTSA ODI #10538316
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 ↗
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