2004 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 558 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2004 reports, 26 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 29 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: air bags
210 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Sep 2, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE WHETHER THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ON REMEDYING THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Air bags, Jan 22, 2011
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 330I, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. NO ACCIDENT, NO COLLISION, NO POT HOLE. NOTHING TO EXPLAIN THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALERSHIP FIRST CLAIMED, "THERE WAS A COLLISION". WHEN IT WAS DISCERNED THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A COLLISION, THEIR STORY WAS "THERE WAS A 'POT HOLE' HIT". AFTER DESCRIBING THE SMOOTH DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE STREET THIS OCCURRED, THEIR STORY WAS " THE VEHICLE WENT 'AIR-BORNE'". ALL OF THE DEALERSHIPS CONCLUSIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE BASED ON "COMPUTER" EVIDENCE. ONCE I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO GET NOWHERE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR AND GO HOME. I WAS INJURED IN THE LEFT SIDE WHEN THE DOOR PANEL BLEW OPEN AND THE BAG DEPLOYED. MY EVIDENCE, WAS MY "IN-VEHICLE" "CONCIERGE" (WHICH I HAD NO LONGER SUBSCRIBED TO) CAME ON VIA MY RADIO TO NOTE THAT THEY " HAVE NOTED A DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG" AND INQUIRED WHETHER I WAS ALRIGHT, AND WHAT WERE MY NEEDS: I.E., AN AMBULANCE, TOW TRUCK ETC. *TR
Air bags, Jul 17, 2010
SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG. NO POT HOLE; NO COLLISION. SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. ONSTAR (OR BMW EQUIVALENT) ACKNOWLEDGED DEPLOYMENT. ASKED IF I NEEDED AN AMBULANCE OR TOW TRUCK. I FELT LIKE I WAS "SHOT" THROUGH THE DRIVER'S DOOR. VEHICLE BECAME "DISABLED". IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. WHEN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO BMW WITH MY STORY, THEY TOLD ME I MUST HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT (NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE); THEN THEY SAID, I MUST HAVE HIT A "POT HOLE" (SMOOTH STREET OF OCCURRENCE); THEN THEY SAID MY CAR MUST HAVE GONE "AIRBORNE" ???? MY CONCERN IS THE OTHER AIRBAGS: CONCERN FOR SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. I AM GLAD IT WAS ME (MALE) DRIVING. IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INCIDENT AT THAT TIME. NO PROBLEMS SINCE, BUT I WILL NOT BRING MY CAR TO THIS DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AT ALL: MY OPTIONS ARE LIMITED. I NOW GO TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP FOR SERVICE. I DID NOT REPORT TO BMW, BECAUSE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 4 DAYS PRIOR: DIDN'T THINK I WOULD GET ANY SYMPATHY. DRIVER SIDE (DOOR) AIRBAG: SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT. NO PROVOCATION FOR THIS. SPONTANEOUS AND SCARY. *TR
Air bags, Mar 31, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Air bags, Mar 9, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATORS REMAIN ILLUMINATED FOR BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Air bags, Jan 17, 2009
THE PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG ON 2004 BMW 325I 4-DOOR SEDAN WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NO IMPACT TO CAR, WHEELS, OR ANYTHING. TRAVELING ABOUT 38 MPH. *TR
Air bags, Dec 16, 2008
I HAVE A PROBLEM ABOUT FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSIONER AND FORCE LIMITER. DURING DRIVING I'VE GOT A WARNING DISPLAYED ON MY HUD. I HAD BROUGHT TWICE TO DEALER,THEY SAID FIXED,BUT AFTER ONE WEEK LATER THE WARNING LIGHT COME BACK AGAIN. THEY KEEP SAID THAT I NEED PAY FOR FIX IT. IS THIS RECALLS PART? I THINK IT IS SAFETY DEFECTS. THIS MODEL:BMW 2004 530I PLEASE HELP. THANKS, *TR
Air bags, Oct 19, 2008, crash
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR
Air bags, Sep 18, 2008, crash
ON 14 SEPTEMBER 2008 I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING MY 2004 BMW 330CI CONVERTIBLE. WE HAD A VEHICLE RUN A LEFT TURN RED LIGHT INTO US AS WE WERE PASSING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION IN KENT WA. I ESTIMATE THE IMPACT WAS PROBABLY EQUIVALENT TO A 50 TO 60 MPH COLLISION. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE ROLL OVER ROLL BAR DID. WITH THE RECALL OF AIR BAGS FOR THE BMW I THINK IT MAY ALSO APPLY TO THE 2004 3 SERIES ALSO. IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED IT MAY HAVE ELIMINATED SOME ACHES AND PAINS THAT WE ARE SUFFERING FROM. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES. DAMAGE TO THE BMW INVOLVED THE FRONT BUMPER, HOOD, AND OTHER DAMAGE TO RADIATOR FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 4300. I WILL BE CHECKING WITH BMW AS TO WHAT SPEED SHOULD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *TR
Air bags, Jun 30, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT SEVERELY INJURED THE CONSUMER AND CAUSED A NECK SPRAIN AND A MILD CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED