FaultScore

BMW airbag problems

Owners have filed 6,008 complaints with NHTSA about the airbag system on BMW vehicles — 15% of everything reported about the brand, across 141 models. The model that accounts for most of them is the BMW X5, worst in 2006.

These are raw counts. A model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone — the grade never compares one model with another.

6,008

Complaints

15%

Share of all BMW complaints

532

Crashes

46

Fires

Which BMW models have the most airbag problems

X5 628 10.5%

Worst in 2006

328I 604 10.1%

Worst in 2007

325I 529 8.8%

Worst in 2006

X3 332 5.5%

Worst in 2006

3 Series 270 4.5%

Worst in 2006

330I 259 4.3%

Worst in 2006

530I 205 3.4%

Worst in 2004

335I 192 3.2%

Worst in 2008

525I 168 2.8%

Worst in 2006

325XI 145 2.4%

Worst in 2006

323I 142 2.4%

Worst in 2000

325CI 133 2.2%

Worst in 2004

330CI 132 2.2%

Worst in 2004

330XI 111 1.8%

Worst in 2006

M3 101 1.7%

Worst in 2003

Z4 101 1.7%

Worst in 2003

X1 SAV 100 1.7%

Worst in 2014

X3 SAV 99 1.6%

Worst in 2007

528I 98 1.6%

Worst in 2008

5 Series 96 1.6%

Worst in 2006

328XI 96 1.6%

Worst in 2007

128I 90 1.5%

Worst in 2013

750LI 76 1.3%

Worst in 2006

530XI 65 1.1%

Worst in 2006

Z3 59 1.0%

Worst in 2000

X5 SAV 57 0.9%

Worst in 2006

545I 56 0.9%

Worst in 2005

535I 51 0.8%

Worst in 2012

540I 49 0.8%

Worst in 2018

M5 47 0.8%

Worst in 2006

325 44 0.7%

Worst in 1995

1 Series 39 0.6%

Worst in 2011

135I 37 0.6%

Worst in 2008

550I 36 0.6%

Worst in 2006

745LI 35 0.6%

Worst in 2003

X6 34 0.6%

Worst in 2013

328 33 0.5%

Worst in 2011

750I 28 0.5%

Worst in 2006

I3 28 0.5%

Worst in 2015

X1 26 0.4%

Worst in 2018

Worst BMW model years for airbag problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2006 BMW 325I 257 36% 81,000 F
2006 BMW 330I 142 47% 86,000 F
2007 BMW 328I 112 20% 84,425 D
2006 BMW 3 Series 109 38% 69,000 F
2011 BMW 328I 98 12% 72,000 F
2008 BMW 328I 94 25% 88,700 F
2006 BMW X5 88 40% 70,000 F
2012 BMW X5 88 24% 65,000 D
2006 BMW X3 84 47% 80,000 F
2000 BMW 323I 77 17% 65,000 F
2006 BMW 330XI 74 51% 96,500 F
2011 BMW X5 70 18% 69,500 C
2006 BMW 325XI 68 48% 75,500 F
2008 BMW X5 67 21% 80,940 C
2009 BMW 328I 66 22% 75,450 D
2003 BMW 325I 62 24% 92,300 F
2004 BMW 325I 62 34% 114,000 F
1999 BMW 323I 53 30% 110,000 F
2002 BMW 325I 53 27% 125,000 F
2006 BMW 525I 52 47% 100,000 F