FaultScore

BMW 3 Series seat belt problems

30 of the 1,149 complaints filed about the BMW 3 Series are about the seat belts — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

30

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

Seat Belts complaints by model year

2000 3 Series 1 3.3%

Median failure at 99,000 miles

2002 3 Series 1 3.3%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2004 3 Series 1 3.3%
2006 3 Series 12 40.0%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

2007 3 Series 10 33.3%

Median failure at 91,500 miles

2008 3 Series 1 3.3%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

2009 3 Series 3 10.0%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

2010 3 Series 1 3.3%

Median failure at 103,000 miles

What owners said

2010 BMW 3 Series at 103,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

SEAT BELTS

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.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 71,555 miles LOS Angeles, CA

SEAT BELTS

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.

2009 BMW 3 Series at 84,000 miles Playa DEL REY, CA

SEAT BELTS

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.

2000 BMW 3 Series at 99,000 miles Comyers, GA Crash

SEAT BELTS

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.

2006 BMW 3 Series at 130,000 miles Browns Summit, NC

SEAT BELTS

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. RECEIVED WARNING MESSAGE WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN FRONT SEAT. LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11039266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 3 Series at 118,000 miles Dallas, TX

SEAT BELTS

GETTING A HARD WARNING FOR "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". APPARENTLY THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT GOING BAD. THIS CAN CAUSE INJURY OR FATALITY AS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA complaint #11023483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 148,000 miles Diamond BAR, CA

SEAT BELTS

THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PRODUCES A FAULT IN THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM PREVENTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET, ON A HIGHWAY, AND WHEN TURNING. THERE IS NO DAMAGE OR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR TO THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS USED NORMALLY AND AS INTENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I BELIEVE THE SEAT MAT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE OF PEOPLE SITTING ON IT. OVER TIME THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT MAT FAILED AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE VEHICLE'S FRONT PASSENGER SINCE THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #11000535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 950,000 miles EWA Beach, HI

SEAT BELTS

WHEN TURN IN ON THE CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WHEN ON AT THE SAME TIME

NHTSA complaint #10991324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 3 Series LOS Angeles, CA

SEAT BELTS

FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ALWAYS BREAKS

NHTSA complaint #10875036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 62,347 miles Delray Beach, FL

SEAT BELTS

PASSENGER SEAT DETECTION MAT NOT WORKING. SEAT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY EMPTY FPR YEARS FAULTY PRODUCT.. DANGEROUS FOR A PASSENGER WHEN I HAVE ONE. AIR BAG MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAULTY MAT DETECTION I FEEL BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED DUE TO THEY ONLY COVER CERTAIN VIN'S FOR THAT YEAR..

NHTSA complaint #10845545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 BMW 3 Series at 40,000 miles Missouri City, TX

SEAT BELTS

COUPE OF TIME THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS THE RESULT SRS & AIRBAG LIGHT NOW STAY ON.

NHTSA complaint #10819107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 BMW 3 Series at 75,000 miles Palacios, TX

SEAT BELTS

I TURNED ON MY VEHICLE ONE DAY AND A MESSAGE SAYING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. CONTINUE TO WEAR SEATBELT. BRING TO LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP." THE DAY BEFORE NOTHING HAPPEN AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DALLAS TO HOUSTON. OCCASIONALLY AS I DRIVE WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING GOES AWAY BUT THEN THE CHIME GOES OFF AND THE MESSAGE REAPPEARS. THIS HAPPEN ALL IN JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST. NOW EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE WARNING COMES ON AND STAYS ON. THE SEATBELT AS WELL SEEMS TO HAVE NO RESTRAINT AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF I WAS EVER IN AN ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT WON'T HOLD THE PASSENGER BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10765127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 BMW 3 Series Cape Coral, FL

SEAT BELTS

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED SEPTEMBER 2014 FROM BMW REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN FT MYERS FL ON 10/28/14 TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK AND ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN IT BECAME AVAILABLE. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE DEALER I DECIDED TO FOLLOW UP AND CALLED THEM ON JANUARY 8, 2015. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK. THE WOMAN SAID THEY ONLY RECEIVE SMALL QUANTITIES AT A TIME. AGAIN, I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND WOULD BE CALLED WHEN THE PART WAS RESTOCKED. HOW CAN BMW SEND OUT A RECALL NOTICE ASKING YOU TO CALL IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIR PERFORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN THEY DON'T SUPPLY THE DEALER WITH THE PART? I EXPECTED MORE FROM BMW. I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND EXPEDITE THE REPAIR!

NHTSA complaint #10671452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 3 Series at 89,000 miles Chicago, IL Crash

SEAT BELTS

THE AIR BAG AND SEATBELT SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10667790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 110,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

SEAT BELTS

A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME UP SAYING THAT MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10664715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 105,000 miles Austin, TX

SEAT BELTS

THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL LISTING MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMWUSA AND A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP WITH BOTH CLAIMING MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATE IS SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTICE LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS LISTED OR WHY BMW IS NOT ASSISTING FURTHER.

NHTSA complaint #10633712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series Wahiawa, HI

SEAT BELTS

FAULT CODE "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARS ON THE VEHICLE. NO ACCIDENT THE CODE IS FAULTY. CODE COULD AFFECT THE PASSENGER IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #10628984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 3 Series at 80,000 miles Alexandria, VA

SEAT BELTS

CAR STARTED SHOWING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". I RESEARCHED THE MATTER, AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL. WHEN I CALLED BMW AND GAVE THEM MY VIN, THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. ALMOST EVERY OTHER BMW FROM THAT SERIES/MODEL WAS RECALLED AND GOT THE ISSUE RECTIFIED UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10621745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 BMW 3 Series at 144,000 miles SAN Bruno, CA

SEAT BELTS

I AM AN OWNER OF 2006 BMW 330I SEDAN WITH SPORTS SEAT (MANUFACTURE DATE: 5/2005). RECENTLY, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR BECAME MALFUNCTION, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS INDICATED AS 'PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF' AS THE RESULT. AFTER RESEARCHING ON NHTSA WEBSITE, I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND BMW IS ISSUING A RECALL ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. HOWEVER, IN FURTHER REVIEWING THE RELATED DOCUMENTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, ALTHOUGH BMW HAS RECALLED 2006 330I SEDAN WITH SPORT SEATS, THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ARE FROM DEC 2005 TO SEPT 2006, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, IT EXCLUDES MY VEHICLE. WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SAME ISSUE HAS IMPACTED A LOT OF OWNERS OF 2006 330I SEDAN WITH SPORT SEAT PRIOR TO THE MANUFACTURE DATE THAT BMW HAS SPECIFIED ON THE RECALL. DUE TO THIS REASON, THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE EARLIER MANUFACTURE DATE OF THE MODEL CONSIDERED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10588133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 3 Series at 91,500 miles Scotts Valley, CA

SEAT BELTS

PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION, AIRBAGS DISABLED. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10585706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW 3 Series problems