270 of the 1,149 complaints filed about the BMW 3 Series are about the airbag system — 23% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
270
Complaints
23%
Share of all complaints
14
Crashes
0
Fires
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
THE SEAT BAG SENSOR IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE SEAT. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 65K, THE CAR NOW HAS 106K...IS THIS DANGEROUS TO A PASSENGER? OF COURSE, THIS SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THE SEATBELT LIGHT ALSO...
NHTSA complaint #11218641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THE SEAT BAG SENSOR IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE SEAT. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 65K, THE CAR NOW HAS 106K...IS THIS DANGEROUS TO A PASSENGER? OF COURSE, THIS SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THE SEATBELT LIGHT ALSO...
NHTSA complaint #11218641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
THE SEAT BAG SENSOR IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. THERE IS NO ONE IN THE SEAT. THIS STARTED AT ABOUT 65K, THE CAR NOW HAS 106K...IS THIS DANGEROUS TO A PASSENGER? OF COURSE, THIS SEEMS TO ACTIVATE THE SEATBELT LIGHT ALSO...
NHTSA complaint #11218641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON, HAD IT CHECKED BUT STILL THERE
NHTSA complaint #11176210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
RECALL FOR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT & PCV VALVE HEATER NOT COMPLETE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS TO REPAIR THESE RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #11161124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
TAKATA RECALL - I THINK AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME. BMW SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AFFECTING THIS. BOTH STATIONARY AND MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #11132144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL - I THINK AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME. BMW SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL AFFECTING THIS. BOTH STATIONARY AND MOVING.
NHTSA complaint #11132144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT FAILURE - BMW'S, IN PARTICULAR 3 SERIES AND E90 MODELS, HAVE A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE WHERE THE SEAT BASED ELECTRICAL MAT FAILS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR AS THE SEATS OFTEN GO UNUSED BUT SIMPLY FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE ERROR CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEFAULT TO ALWAYS ON, WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO CHILDREN OR SMALL PASSENGERS IN THAT SEAT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS USUALLY $200 FOR PARTS AND $400 FOR LABOR WHICH MEANS MANY DRIVERS SIMPLY DON'T FIX IT CREATING A VULNERABILITY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RECURRING WITH BMWS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND ACROSS MODEL TYPES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS ITS A POORLY MADE PART AND SET UP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES ON BMW FORUMS AND A PARTIAL RECALL FOR SOME MODELS WAS IMPLEMENTED. A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED ON ALL CARS AFFECTED, INCLUDING 2007 3 SERIES MODELS. THE ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR FIXED UNTIL THE F MODEL 3 SERIES CAME OUT. HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4746508#POST4746508 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-496444.HTML
NHTSA complaint #11121592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT FAILURE - BMW'S, IN PARTICULAR 3 SERIES AND E90 MODELS, HAVE A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE WHERE THE SEAT BASED ELECTRICAL MAT FAILS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR AS THE SEATS OFTEN GO UNUSED BUT SIMPLY FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE ERROR CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEFAULT TO ALWAYS ON, WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO CHILDREN OR SMALL PASSENGERS IN THAT SEAT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS USUALLY $200 FOR PARTS AND $400 FOR LABOR WHICH MEANS MANY DRIVERS SIMPLY DON'T FIX IT CREATING A VULNERABILITY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RECURRING WITH BMWS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND ACROSS MODEL TYPES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS ITS A POORLY MADE PART AND SET UP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES ON BMW FORUMS AND A PARTIAL RECALL FOR SOME MODELS WAS IMPLEMENTED. A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED ON ALL CARS AFFECTED, INCLUDING 2007 3 SERIES MODELS. THE ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR FIXED UNTIL THE F MODEL 3 SERIES CAME OUT. HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4746508#POST4746508 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-496444.HTML
NHTSA complaint #11121592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT FAILURE - BMW'S, IN PARTICULAR 3 SERIES AND E90 MODELS, HAVE A KNOWN AND COMMON FAILURE WHERE THE SEAT BASED ELECTRICAL MAT FAILS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR AS THE SEATS OFTEN GO UNUSED BUT SIMPLY FAIL AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE ERROR CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO DEFAULT TO ALWAYS ON, WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO CHILDREN OR SMALL PASSENGERS IN THAT SEAT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS IS USUALLY $200 FOR PARTS AND $400 FOR LABOR WHICH MEANS MANY DRIVERS SIMPLY DON'T FIX IT CREATING A VULNERABILITY. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RECURRING WITH BMWS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND ACROSS MODEL TYPES AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS ITS A POORLY MADE PART AND SET UP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED CASES ON BMW FORUMS AND A PARTIAL RECALL FOR SOME MODELS WAS IMPLEMENTED. A FULL RECALL IS NEEDED ON ALL CARS AFFECTED, INCLUDING 2007 3 SERIES MODELS. THE ISSUE DOES NOT APPEAR FIXED UNTIL THE F MODEL 3 SERIES CAME OUT. HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=4746508#POST4746508 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-496444.HTML
NHTSA complaint #11121592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
FOR OVER A YEAR NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS ONLY TURNING ON WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. NOW IT TURNS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PERSON SO I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE IS MALFUNCTIONING TOO. IN ADDITIONAL THE SEATBELT LIGHT IS TURNING ON TOO NOW. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT IS THE AIRBAG AND SEAT SENSORS THAT HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. EACH TO FIX IS OVER $500. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS AND TO WAIT FOR A SUPPOSABLY RECALL LETTER. HOWEVER, THAT WAS A YEAR AGO AND I NOW HAVE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT GOING OFF. I'VE ALSO COME ACROSS MANY BMW FORUMS (OWNERS) TALKING ABOUT THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. IT'S SURPRISING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT YET NOTHING IS BEING RESOLVED. THERE HAS TO BE A REMEDY FOR THIS ANNOYANCE AND LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY BMW. IF ANYTHING THERE HAS TO BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS ON BMW'S PART SINCE THE CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEM FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE YEARS NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11098714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
FOR OVER A YEAR NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF. ORIGINALLY, IT WAS ONLY TURNING ON WHEN I HAD A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. NOW IT TURNS ON WITH OR WITHOUT A PERSON SO I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE IS MALFUNCTIONING TOO. IN ADDITIONAL THE SEATBELT LIGHT IS TURNING ON TOO NOW. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT IS THE AIRBAG AND SEAT SENSORS THAT HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. EACH TO FIX IS OVER $500. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OWNERS AND TO WAIT FOR A SUPPOSABLY RECALL LETTER. HOWEVER, THAT WAS A YEAR AGO AND I NOW HAVE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT GOING OFF. I'VE ALSO COME ACROSS MANY BMW FORUMS (OWNERS) TALKING ABOUT THEIR FRUSTRATION WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. IT'S SURPRISING THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE BUT YET NOTHING IS BEING RESOLVED. THERE HAS TO BE A REMEDY FOR THIS ANNOYANCE AND LACK OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY BMW. IF ANYTHING THERE HAS TO BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS ON BMW'S PART SINCE THE CONSUMERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEM FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE YEARS NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11098714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
HELLO, MY 2009 BMW E92 328I IS EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, WHICH WILL CAUSE THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT TO NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT WITH THE SAME DESIGN AND PARTS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. (HTTPS://BRANDILAW.COM/2013/12/26/BMW-RECALLS-76565-VEHICLES-DUE-TO-A-FRONT-PASSENGER-SEAT-ELECTRONIC-SENSING-MAT-FAILURE/) THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ON SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE RECALL DATE. I AM TRYING MY BEST TO DO DUE DILIGENCE AND INFORM THE NTSB TO REVIEW THIS INCIDENT WITHIN OTHER BMW MODELS AND TO HOPEFULLY REMEDY ANY AFFECTED CARS. THE DESIGN OF THE SENSOR IS VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, LEAVING MANY OWNERS TO SIMPLY FOREGO MAKING THE NECESSARY FIXES. IN FACT, SEVERAL MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT CUSTOMERS TYPICALLY AVOID MAKING THE FIX DUE TO HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS, RUNNING THE RISK OF THEIR PASSENGER NOT BEING PROTECTED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I HOPE THE NTSB CAN LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT [XXX] FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11092723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM ONE SOURCE MOTORS (10633 NORTHLAND DR NE, ROCKFORD, MI 49341, (616) 951-7068), HE WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). SHARPE BMW (1010 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49508, (616) 452-5101) SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED, BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE REPAIR FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND HAD NOT PROVIDED A TIME FRAME TO PROVIDE THE PART TO THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. SHARPE BMW DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOORMAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY AIR BAG RECALLS TO COVER THE FLOORMAT SENSOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000.
NHTSA complaint #11091326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS REMOVED. I CALL MY LOCAL DEALER AND ALL THEY SAY IS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE BACKORDER. WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEM THEY WILL CALL ME. I HAVE WAITED OVER ONE YEAR AND NO ANSWER.
NHTSA complaint #11089786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
2002 BMW 3 SERIES. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT ANY ADDTIONAL RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #11065149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTS TO SERVICE THE RECALL ANY TIME I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS OR HAVE CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11057747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL THE FIRST COMPLAINT IS THAT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE OR ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH THIS AIRBAG RECALL WHICH HAS IN SOME CASES RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE CAR IS THUS PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHILE THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR 6 WEEKS AT LEAST WHICH IS UNACCEPTABLE. SECONDLY, THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONA RECALLS THAT HAVE NO "FIX" AT THIS POINT WHICH COULD ALSO RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I AM AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A HAZARD AND COMPLETELY USELESS FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS INTENDED. THE TWO ADDITIONAL RECALLS ARE BOTH FIRE HAZARDS AND ARE NOT CORRECTABLE AT THIS JUNCTURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11053341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DISABLES PASSENGER AIRBAG CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERABLE FOR PASSENGER OCCUPANCY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT EXPERIENCED BY PREVIOUS MODELS. COST OF REPAIR IS EXCESSIVE..
NHTSA complaint #11048471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WITH A TAKATA RECALL NOTICE. MY 2000 323I HAS A AIRBAG SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGE FROM THE REAR END PASSENGER SIDE. REPAIR WORK WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE DAMAGES.
NHTSA complaint #11048275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.