2005 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 227 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2005 reports, 8 involved a crash and 11 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: air bags
118 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Jan 5, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 03/10/15*LJ UPDATED 6/18/2015 *JS
Air bags, Dec 17, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WAS THE SAME EXACT AIR BAG USED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) COULD POSSIBLY HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG, WHICH WAS INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.
Air bags, Dec 16, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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.
Air bags, Dec 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIRBAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 1/21/15*CN UPDATED 01/26/15*JB
Air bags, Nov 18, 2014
I AM WRITING YOU TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE A VEHICLE AFFECTED BY THE AIR BAG RECALL - TWICE I HAVE SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT, TWICE THE DEALERSHIP HAS CALLED ME ON THE MORNING OF THE APPOINTMENT TO SAY THE PARTS ARE NOT IN STOCK. THEY ARE NOT APOLOGETIC, NOR CONCERNED FOR THE URGENCY OF THIS SITUATION. I TRAVEL A VERY DIFFICULT ROUTE INTO THE CITY - DURING RUSH HOUR - AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO AT LEAST DISCONNECT THE BAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. THEY REFUSE TO DO SO. THIS EVENING THE NEWS REPORTED THAT EVEN DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS ARE BEING RECALLED. WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG? DO DEATHS AND INJURIES HAVE TO TOP THE HUNDRED MARK FOR CAR MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO GET INTO HIGH GEAR OVER THIS? THE OCCASIONAL NEWS REPORT JUST ISN;T DOING IT -CAR DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS ARE RESPONDING IN A VERY SLOW AND SEEMINGLY UNCONCERNED FASHION. AT LEAST MY BMW DEALER IS. SOME HELP WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Air bags, Nov 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325 IC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Nov 5, 2014
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IN MY ONLY CAR IS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN GREENWOOD INDIANA TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST SINCE THIS PART IS "BACK ORDERED". THEY PROMISED TO CALL ME AS SOON AS THE PART WAS AVAILABLE BUT COULD NOT STATE WHEN THAT CALL WOULD OCCUR. I TOLD THE GENTLEMAN THAT I MUST DRIVE A LONG DISTANCE EVERY WEEK FOR BUSINESS WITH MY STANDARD POODLE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. MY DOG PROVIDES SECURITY ON THESE LONG DRIVES. THE SALESMAN STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD DEPLOY ONLY IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. I FURTHER INFORM HIM THAT THE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF HUNTING SEASON AND THE HIGHWAY I DRIVE ON HAS FREQUENT ACCIDENTS WITH DEER RUNNING OUT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. HE ONCE AGAIN STATED THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AS LONG AS THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS. THE IDEA OF THIS AIR BAG RUPTURING WHILE I AM DRIVING OR IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS DOES NOT MAKE ME FEEL SAFE. I ALSO AM CONCERNED THAT BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT FOR YEARS AND DID NOT SEND ME RECALL NOTICE UNTIL A MONTH AGO. BUT THE LAST INSULT IS THAT I HAVE TO WAIT AN INDEFINITE TIME TO HAVE MY ONLY CAR REPAIRED. *TR
Air bags, Nov 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SPECIFY WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Nov 4, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE.
Air bags, Oct 3, 2014
AFTER 4 WEEKS OF RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE AND MANY CALLS TO BMW NORTH AMERICA THEY TELL ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" AND IMPLIED THAT THEY ARE IN NO HURRY TO SATISFY CUSTOMERS! THEY HAVE ALSO WARNED ME SEVERAL TIMES NOT TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT! *TR
Air bags, Sep 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Air bags, Jun 9, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE RIGHT HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 7, 2014, fire
MY WIFE PARKED THE CAR IN THE DOCTORS OFFICE PARKING LOT. IT WAS 58 DEGREES AND RAINING. SHE LEFT OUR FAMILY PET IN THE CAR. WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF THE DOCTORS OFFICE SHE SAW THAT THE CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT OPEN THE LOCKS. THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE GLASS IN THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT BREAK UNDER HER STRENGTH EVEN WITH A GLASS HAMMER THAT SOMEONE MANAGED TO RETRIEVE FOR HER. SHE FINALLY REMEMBERED THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. OUR DOG WAS LIFELESS, FIRE AND RESCUE TRIED TO REVIVE HER TO NO AVAIL. THE FIRE APPARENTLY STARTED SOME WHERE AROUND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OR BEHIND THE VENT WHERE THE CABLES FOR THE DOOR PANEL AIRBAG PASS. IT CAUSED THE DOOR AIRBAG AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE FIRE REACHED THE ROOF PANEL BEFORE APPARENTLY SELF EXTINGUISHING DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN. I ARRIVED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER. ALTHOUGH THE LOSS OF MY DOG IS A TRAGEDY THE REALLY HORRIBLE PART IS FINDING THAT I COULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOORS. THE KEY FOB WILL NOT OPEN THE LOCKS. I CLIMBED ACROSS THE DRIVERS SEAT AND COULD NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I REACHED BACK AND COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE EITHER. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN WHICH PASSENGERS CAN NOT EXTRACT THEMSELVES FROM A BURNING AUTOMOBILE? WITH ALL OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OF MODERN AUTOMOBILES WAS EGRESS OVERLOOKED? I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA LOOKS INTO THIS AND ENSURES THAT IT ISN'T CHILDREN THAT ARE TRAPPED IN THE FUTURE. *TR
Air bags, Aug 30, 2013
I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON SEPULVEDA BLVD IN LOS ANGELES ON JULY 29TH,2013 AROUND 10:00 PM WITH MY BROTHER, SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND BRUISED MY BROTHER'S RIGHT ARM MY CAR STOPPED OPERATING AND WE CALLED PAYLESS TOW TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO RUSNAK BMW IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE DEPT IN REGARDS TO MY CAR AIRBAG INCIDENT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY STATE FARM TO SEE IF THEY PROVIDE COVERAGE, THEY TOLD SINCE THIS WAS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY POLICY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY BMW CORPORATION. THEY HAVE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND PAY FOR MY BROTHER INJURY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTION I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD THANK YOU, SINCERELY MS.SHAHRZAD BABAEIAN
Air bags, May 27, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE CRASH TEST SENSOR HAD ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
Air bags, Feb 24, 2010
THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FEB 14TH 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 2320 HOURS. I MANAGED TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTHING STRUCK IT AND THERE WAS NO TIRE DAMAGE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE HOME AND CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO COVER THE OCT OF THE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 30, 2008
I HAVE A 2005 330I BMW AND THE SEATBELT/AIRBAG SENSOR HAVE BEEN LIGHTING UP. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS AN INTERNAL ERROR IN THE SEATBELT SENSOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE AS STATED BY BMW AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE MODEL PRODUCTION # IS KM42802.*TR
Air bags, Oct 20, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE THAT WAS TWELVE INCHES IN DIAMETER, AND BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. SHE WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIRE. SHE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS CAUSED HER TO HAVE A HEADACHE AND RING IN EAR. IT WAS A LOANER VEHICLE. *AK