The passenger seat occupancy sensor (OC3 mat) on my 2006 BMW 3 Series (VIN: [XXX] ) has failed. As a result, the front passenger airbag is disabled, which poses a serious safety risk. BMW issued a 15-year warranty extension for this issue, acknowledging it as a common failure, but my vehicle is now slightly outside the coverage period. This part is vital for detecting front-seat occupants and enabling the airbag during a crash. I believe BMW should still be required to fix this safety-critical defect, especially in vehicles where the issue was never repaired while under the extended coverage window. This should be reclassified as a full safety recall, not just an expired service campaign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11669664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Put a box of moderate weight into the passenger seat (hard drives) - probably 40 lbs. After driving for a few minutes and over a few bumps, the seat belt warning light came on because the seat sensor was tripped by the weight. Put the seat belt on to silence the warning. Shortly thereafter, both the seatbelt and passenger airbag warning lights showed on the dash, regardless of occupancy. Hooked up to scanning tool and cleared the codes but they always return. This is not a rare event from reading the online forums - it is likely due to the sensor mat in the seat for occupancy being defective, or a combination of that and the seat belt pre-tensioner being defective, for the passenger side only. The vehicle operates normally other than the warning lights. Obviously have not tested the airbag, but that is highly unlikely to be the actual problem from my investigation of the symptoms.
NHTSA complaint #11530296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Existing vehicle recall excludes this particular VIN among the same MY and model even though this VIN is affected. Report Receipt Date: NOV 12, 2013 NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 76,565 Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, [shortened]. 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: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
NHTSA complaint #11504177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH LEATHER AND BURNED THROUGH MY COAT. I MADE COMPLIANT TO BMW AND SPOKE TO MICHAEL PIGONCELLI. BMW REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT OR TO COMPENSATE ME FOR MY COAT. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED. THE SEAT WARMER WILL SEVERELY INJURE ANYONE WHO USES IT IF A HEAVY COAT IS NOT WORN. I WAS TOLD BY THE BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEAT WARMER BURNING THROUGH THE LEATHER AND PEOPLES SKIN/COAT IS COMMON. BMW (NEWMARKET, ONTARIO) TOOK PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE TO THE SEAT AND MY COAT.
NHTSA complaint #11074338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BELIEVE THE SEAT SENSOR IN MY 2006 BMW 325I FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY. THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, THE LIGHT COMES ON THAT SHOWS THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT ON AND ALSO THAT THE PASSENGER IS NOT BUCKLED, WHETHER THEY ARE BUCKLED, OR THERE ISN'T A PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT AT ALL. WHETHER I AM STATIONARY OR DRIVING/MOVING AT ANY SPEED, THOSE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, AND WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, THEN THEY COME BACK ON AGAIN. I AM IN A CARPOOL SO I FREQUENTLY AM THE DRIVER AND I HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NEWER MODELS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE THIS SEAT SENSOR ON RECALL, SO THE 2006 SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11066114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE REQUESTED SINCE MAY 2015-NOVEMEBR 2017 A REPAIR TO THIS RECALL. MY CAR WAS ON A MOUNTAIN GOING UPHILL AND IT STALLED OUT AND MADE FLICKERING. IT WAS TOWED TO BMW SEALERSHIP WHO KEPT THE CAR FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS AND COULD NOT FIX. I CALLED BMW TO NO RESOLUTION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION GOING UP A HILL.
NHTSA complaint #11045269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT RECOGNIZED A PASSENGER EVEN WHEN NOTHING OR NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEATHER SEATS NEEDED TO BE RECONDITIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10960404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT AND BURNED THE PASSENGER. THE HEATER WAS SET ON HIGH AT THE TIME. IT HAS REPEATED THIS ISSUE ON ALL THREE SETTINGS. THE LEATHER IS BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #10955535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. THERE'S A RECALL FOR THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR BUT FOR SOME REASON "MY VIN" DOESN'T FALL INTO THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10883572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY ENTRY TO THE LONG LIST OF BMW 325 OWNERS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT DEFECT RECALL (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000), BUT APPARENTLY ARE NOT. ACCORDING TO BMW, MY CAR WAS MADE A MONTH BEFORE I.E. NOV 2005, THE RECALL DATE PARAMETERS, WHICH STARED IN DEC 2005. THIS INVOLVES A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR MALFUNCTION THAT DISABLES THE AIRBAGS IN 2006 E90 BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN. BMW RECALLED PREVIOUS YEARS SENSORS BUT HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE IN LATER MODELS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS AFFECTED BY THIS: SEE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/BMW/325/2006/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS.SHTML NTSB, PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ASAP! AND THANKS!
NHTSA complaint #10872138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT ERROR IS SHOWING. ACCORDING TO TBE NHTSA DATA BASE UNDER VEHICLE DESCRIPTION (MAKE MODEL AND YEAR) THERES AN OPEN RECALL FOR MY MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10862341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL. THE PASSENGER SEAT'S AIRBAG/WEIGHT SENSOR ON OUR 2006 325I HAS GONE OUT REPEATEDLY (WE'RE ON THE 4TH OR 5TH REPLACEMENT.) IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THEN THE SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON TO ALERT US THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG AND STAYS ON UNTIL IT'S REPLACED. HOWEVER, IT USUALLY GOES OUT AGAIN WITHIN 18 MONTHS OR SO. I AM USUALLY SITTING IN THE SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENS WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OF THE FIRST MALFUNCTION, BUT WE HADN'T OWNED THE CAR VERY LONG; IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WE HAVE THE SPORTS SEATS WHICH FROM MY READING SEEM TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT OVERLOOKED IN THE RECALLS. IT NEVER STAYS FIXED FOR LONG AND I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WHEN I'M LYING IN A HOSPITAL BED, OR WORSE. SEEMS LIKE MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE...
NHTSA complaint #10821159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PASSENGER SEATBELT/AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND OFF FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER AROUND FOUR YEARS OF MY PURCHASE IN 2005. THE PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE EXISTED EARLIER; HOWEVER, AS MY VEHICLE USUALLY DID NOT CARRY ANY PASSENGERS, I DID NOT NOTICE THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. RECENTLY, THE LIGHT WOULD NOT EVEN GO AWAY. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME ABOUT THE RECALL NUMBER 13V564000, STATING THE "OWNERS OF MODEL YEAR 2006-2007 3 SERIES WITH STANDARD SEAT ... WILL RECEIVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THEIR FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT." I HAVE CONTACT BMW, BUT THEY SAID THE RECALL AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10806262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY BMW DOES NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL THAT BMW PUBLISHED. AFTER SEVERAL LIGHTS APPEARED IN MY DASH (AIRBAG, BRAKE, SEATBELT) I HAD THE DISNOSTIC TOOL LOOKED UP AND RECEIVED A FAULT CODE 93C3 SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR, PASSENGER . LOOKING ON THE WEB THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10786061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 BMW 325I WITH THE INTENTIONS OF LETTING MY DAUGHTER DRIVE IT, DUE TO THE HIGH SAFETY RATINGS OF THESE AUTOMOBILES. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT SOME ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND SOME WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS. WHEN I INQUIRED ABOUT THE WARNING LIGHTS, THE SERVICE WRITER OF THE DEALERSHIP IN MERIDIAN MS TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SEAT MAT WAS FAULTY. LATER I GOOGLED INFO ABOUT THE SEAT MAT, AND I CAME ACROSS A LINK THAT SHOWS MY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR. I CALLED NHTSC AND LEFT A MESSAGE ABOUT MY INQUIRY, AND I WAS CALLED BACK PROMPTLY BY MR. NATE HAYES. AFTER I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO MR. HAYES, HE DID SOME CHECKING AND FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH SOME 2006 325I'S WEREN'T RECALLED (THE ONES WITH MANUAL SEATS) MINE HOWEVER SHOULD'VE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO HAVING THE ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTED SPORTS SEATS. MR. HAYES INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF MAYBE THIS WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE ON MY VEHICLE. UPON CALLING THE DEALERSHIP BACK, I WAS TOLD THAT IT HADN'T BEEN DONE, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WASN'T IN THE RECALL. AFTER QUESTIONING HIM MORE ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS ABLE TO FIND THAT BMW HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON MY CAR TO 15 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATIONS, IF THAT IS WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT IF NOT, I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. WHAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THIS, IS THE FACT THAT BMW WAS MANDATED BY THE NHTSC TO RECALL A CERTAIN LIST OF AUTOMOBILES TO PREVENT INJURY, RATHER THAN WAIT TO SEE IF PROBLEMS OCCUR LATER THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR DEATH. I DON'T KNOW IF OTHERS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WERE PUT OFF BY BMW OR NOT, BUT THIS COULD HAVE SOME DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.
NHTSA complaint #10761737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURN HOLE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOLE. THE CONTACT DEACTIVATED THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER AND POURED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE SMOKE. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT PARTS OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WERE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10749378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY APPEARING. OWN RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS FAULT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON TO BMWS FROM AROUND THIS TIME AND A NON-DEPLOYING AIRBAG WOULD POSE A LIFE-THREATENING SAFETY RISK. BMW HAS AS YET APPARENTLY REFUSED TO ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10726981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEAD REST WAS TURNED AT AN ANGLE THAT PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING COMFORTABLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RAIL WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE ABNORMAL AND BOTH SEATS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
NHTSA complaint #10725854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED BUT NOTED THAT THE VIN DOESNT FALL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER DIDNT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR ($700 ESTIMATE). RECALL 13V-564 IS SPECIFICALLY FOR BMW/325I/2006/SPORT SEAT/AIRBAG MY EXACT CAR AND EXACTLY THE ISSUE IM EXPERIENCING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BMW/325I/2006/AIRBAG COMPLAINTS. BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS REFUSE TO HELP
NHTSA complaint #10717838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.