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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports6 fire reports1 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

1 reports

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60,000 miles · Jul 10, 2014

Exterior Lighting

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THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM ON A TON OF BMW VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH BMW'S ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT TECHNOLOGY. NOT ONLY IS IT A HUGE PROBLEM ON THE CARS, BUT IS A DANGER TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF SAID BMW. THE ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS WILL MOVE AS THE CAR MOVES (LEFT/RIGHT AND UP/DOWN). THESE HEADLIGHTS HAVE A MECHANISM IN THEM THAT CONTROL THE MOVEMENT AND IT BREAKS QUITE OFTEN ESPECIALLY ON BUMPY ROADS. BMW DEALERSHIPS WILL SAY "YOU HIT A POT HOLE AND THE LIGHT MECHANISM BROKE. YOU WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW ASSEMBLY AND IT COST $1800". THIS WOULD BE OK IF IT DIDN'T ENDANGER OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD AND THE ACTUAL DRIVER AND PASSENGERS OF SAID CAR. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL JAM TO EITHER THE STRAIGHT UP POSITION. THIS IS JAMMED SO FAR UP THAT IT LIGHTS THE ROOF IN MY GARAGE AND I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. THEY ALSO JAM ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT, AND STRAIGHT DOWN DEPENDING ON WHEN THE MECHANISM FAILS. THIS MEANS THAT DRIVERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD CAN BE COMPLETELY BLINDED AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT BY LOOKING AWAY FROM THE ROAD. THIS ALSO CAUSES A HUGE ISSUE FOR THE DRIVER OF THE CAR AS YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU. MY PREVIOUS CAR (INFINITI G35 COUPE) HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE EXCEPT NISSAN HAD THE PROJECTS AIMED TO HIGH FROM THE FACTORY. THIS WAS A HUGE RECALL AND FORCED NISSAN TO REISSUE FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS. BMW WILL NOT BUDGE ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. FROM RESEARCH ONLINE I AM 1 OF THOUSANDS THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE AND BMW HAS NOT RECOGNIZED IT. I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A ISSUE THAT IS CLEARLY A ENGINEERING QA ISSUE AND IS ALSO RISKING MY LIFE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND PUTTING ON COMING MOTORIST IN DANGER AS WELL. ANY HELP WITH THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609748

Official recalls

24V513000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 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

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

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

20V017000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

17V676000 · Electrical System:wiring

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.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.