FaultScore

BMW 328XI airbag problems

96 of the 672 complaints filed about the BMW 328XI are about the airbag system — 14% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.

96

Complaints

14%

Share of all complaints

8

Crashes

2

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

2006 328XI 1 1.0%

Median failure at 115,183 miles

2007 328XI 51 53.1%

Median failure at 95,500 miles

2008 328XI 16 16.7%

Median failure at 117,000 miles

2009 328XI 2 2.1%
2010 328XI 6 6.3%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2011 328XI 15 15.6%

Median failure at 53,100 miles

2013 328XI 3 3.1%

Median failure at 36,000 miles

2014 328XI 2 2.1%

Median failure at 2,000 miles

What owners said

2008 BMW 328XI at 162,000 miles Portage, IN

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag deployed unintendedly. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated prior to the air bag deployment. The air bag deployed, and there was no occupant inside the vehicle. The contact stated that after the air bag had deployed, the air bag warning light was illuminated after the air bag had deployed. The vehicle was recently taken to the dealer and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #11655170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI Washington, DC

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V513000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11650516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI Barrington, NH

AIR BAGS

Quote: 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 The Problem: 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. Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury. Repair: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, anticipated to be in March 2014, BMW will send a second letter 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. This is reproducible with the front passenger seat. The seatbelt light and airbag light turn on when a passenger is present. This car is unsafe for anyone to be seated in the front passenger seat even when buckled as the red seatbelt and red airbag turn on and stay on until the passenger unbuckles and exits this vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11616745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI Newburyport, MA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHTS KEEP GOING OFF, SAYING "FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR A SEAT BELT. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER." OR "FUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONERS, AND BELT FORCE LIMITERS FAULTY. ENSURE THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED DESPITE THE FAULT. HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED BY THE NEAREST BMW SERVICE CENTER". THESE LIGHTS COME ON EVERYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED, DEALERSHIPS CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT, AND ANY ATTEMPT TO CLEAR THE CODE DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #11352048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 BMW 328XI at 250,000 miles Brooklyn, NY Fire

AIR BAGS

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED ON SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND ALL DOORS LOCKED FROM INSIDE. THERE WERE 2 OCCUPANTS INSIDE THAT NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO GET OUT WHILE THE CAR WAS CATCHING FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #11337419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 98,000 miles Pataskala, OH

AIR BAGS

THE CAR HAS A SHORT DRAINING BATTERY ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON THE BLOWER MOTER SMELT LIKE FIRE WHEN TURNED ON. SCAN TOOL WONT CONNECT TO OBD2 SAYS NO COMMUNICATION AIR BAGS RESTRAINT LIGHTS CAME ON . I BELEIVE YOUR RECALLS WERE NOT DONE AND CAUSE A MASSIVE FAILURE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO OPERATE VEHICLE UNDER.

NHTSA complaint #11320272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 123,000 miles Seattle, WA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS LIT EVEN WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING. THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE AS TO IF THE PASSENGER SITS DOWN WITH THE CAR ON OR OFF, IF THE BELT IS FASTENED WITH THE CAR ON OR OFF, MOVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11298020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 123,000 miles Seattle, WA

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS LIT EVEN WHEN PASSENGER IS SITTING. THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE AS TO IF THE PASSENGER SITS DOWN WITH THE CAR ON OR OFF, IF THE BELT IS FASTENED WITH THE CAR ON OR OFF, MOVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA complaint #11298020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 93,000 miles Philadelphia, PA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. BMW OF DEVON (20 LANCASTER AV, DEVON, PA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA complaint #11289607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 110,000 miles Sairport, NY

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF ROCHESTER AT 585-617-0465 (LOCATED AT 4250 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #11288879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 110,000 miles Sairport, NY

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF ROCHESTER AT 585-617-0465 (LOCATED AT 4250 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #11288879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 110,000 miles Sairport, NY

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF ROCHESTER AT 585-617-0465 (LOCATED AT 4250 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #11288879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 328XI at 100,000 miles Arden, NC

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR: WHEN PASSENGERS SIT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT A WARNING COMES ON AND DISABLES AIRBAG EVEN WHEN BELT IS BUCKLED OR NOT, DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WARNING STAYS ON AFTER PASSENGER EXITS. WARNING STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 50 MILES OF DRIVING AND RESETS UNTIL THE SEAT IS SAT IN AGAIN. ONLINE FORUMS SHOW RECALL FOR THIS IN OTHER MODELS BUT NOT MINE YET MUCH IS BEING REPORTED. SEEMS THE SEAT SENSOR PAD GOES BAD. VERY FEW PEOPLE SIT IN THIS SEAT SO THE SENSOR SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE MALFUNCTIONING/WEARING OUT. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT SUGGESTING IT IS THE SAME SYMPTOM ISSUE AS OTHER BMW MODELS WITH RECALLED SEAT SENSOR PADS.

NHTSA complaint #11209678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 328XI at 100,000 miles Arden, NC

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR: WHEN PASSENGERS SIT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT A WARNING COMES ON AND DISABLES AIRBAG EVEN WHEN BELT IS BUCKLED OR NOT, DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WARNING STAYS ON AFTER PASSENGER EXITS. WARNING STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 50 MILES OF DRIVING AND RESETS UNTIL THE SEAT IS SAT IN AGAIN. ONLINE FORUMS SHOW RECALL FOR THIS IN OTHER MODELS BUT NOT MINE YET MUCH IS BEING REPORTED. SEEMS THE SEAT SENSOR PAD GOES BAD. VERY FEW PEOPLE SIT IN THIS SEAT SO THE SENSOR SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE MALFUNCTIONING/WEARING OUT. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT SUGGESTING IT IS THE SAME SYMPTOM ISSUE AS OTHER BMW MODELS WITH RECALLED SEAT SENSOR PADS.

NHTSA complaint #11209678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 BMW 328XI at 100,000 miles Arden, NC

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR: WHEN PASSENGERS SIT IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT A WARNING COMES ON AND DISABLES AIRBAG EVEN WHEN BELT IS BUCKLED OR NOT, DRIVING OR STATIONARY. WARNING STAYS ON AFTER PASSENGER EXITS. WARNING STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 50 MILES OF DRIVING AND RESETS UNTIL THE SEAT IS SAT IN AGAIN. ONLINE FORUMS SHOW RECALL FOR THIS IN OTHER MODELS BUT NOT MINE YET MUCH IS BEING REPORTED. SEEMS THE SEAT SENSOR PAD GOES BAD. VERY FEW PEOPLE SIT IN THIS SEAT SO THE SENSOR SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE MALFUNCTIONING/WEARING OUT. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT SUGGESTING IT IS THE SAME SYMPTOM ISSUE AS OTHER BMW MODELS WITH RECALLED SEAT SENSOR PADS.

NHTSA complaint #11209678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 BMW 328XI at 36,000 miles Piedmont, SC

AIR BAGS

SYSTEM RESTRAINTS PASSENGER SIDE. WILL NOT RESET. CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE RESTRAINT ERRORS. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, AND STAYS ON WHEN PARKED.

NHTSA complaint #11195515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI Southplainfield, NJ

AIR BAGS

FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM.EFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSION OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. WHAT IS THAT?

NHTSA complaint #11194756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI Southplainfield, NJ

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM.EFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSION OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. WHAT IS THAT?

NHTSA complaint #11194756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 120,000 miles Palmdale, CA

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL .......DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V071 BLOWER MOTOR WIRING NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V676 POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE HEATER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V683................. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET BUT ALOT ARE CATCHING ON FIRE DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS....AND I DONT JUST HAVE 1 I HAVE 2 FIRE ISSUES AND ONE MAJOR WITH THE AIRBAG...... IVE CONTACTED BMW SERVERAL TIMES BUT I HAVENT GOT A EMAIL OR CONTACTED BACK FROM SERVICE TO FIX THESE ISSUES.... THE CAR IS MY LIVELYHOOD SO I FEEL LIKE JUST BUYING THE PARTS MYSELF AND FIXING THEM OTHER THAN THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #11171543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 BMW 328XI at 195,000 miles Colchester, CT

AIR BAGS

FAILED PRESSURE MAT SENSOR, PASSENGER AIRBAGS DISABLED BMW FAILURE CODE (93C3 OC3) SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED, HOWEVER EXISTING RECALLS DO NOT COVER MY VIN. CURRENT CONDITION LEAVES PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED.

NHTSA complaint #11156735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other BMW 328XI problems