2006 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 1,243 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 29 involved a crash and 40 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, exhaust system, emission control, crankcase (pcv)Mar 2, 2022
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 22V119000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, cooling system, fanAug 10, 2012
This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Campaign 12E029000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalAug 5, 2008
BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.
IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Campaign 08V384000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control armOct 18, 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ONE OF THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND SWIVEL BEARING CONNECTION BOLTS WAS NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD LOOSEN.
THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD BREAK WHICH COULD IMPAIR VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BOLTED CONNECTION AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CONNECTION. IN SOME CASES, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND THE SWIVEL BEARING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Campaign 06V400000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
188 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 25, 2010
BMW DOOR LOCKS RANDOMLY AND AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED. THIS IS ONE WEEK AFTER A SERVICE PERFORMED AT THE DEALER FOR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. LOCKS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE EXCEPT MANUALLY WITH EMERGENCY KEY (FROM OUTSIDE). DRIVER'S DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL OPEN - OTHERS ARE INOPERABLE. FUEL FILLER CAP WILL ALSO NOT OPEN. HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE RESEARCHED BY BMW AND REMEDIED AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER - THIS IS DEFINITELY AN INCONVENIENCE AND COULD BE DANGEROUS OR POTENTIALLY FATAL. *TR
Electrical system, May 30, 2010, fire
MI NOMBRE ES [XXX]. SOY DE PUERTO RICO Y POSEEO UN BMW 325I 2006. EL MISMO EL DIA DE AYER REPENTINAMENTE COMENZO A SALIR UN HUMO ENTRE EL DASH Y TODA LA PARTE INTERIOR DEL VEHICULO. EN MENOS DE 2 MINUTOS SE ENCENDI EN LLAMAS,ACTIVAMOS AL 911, CUANDO LLEGARON LOS BOMBEROS EN CARRO SE HABIA QUEMADO EN SU TOTALIDAD. ENTRE OTRAS COSAS QUE HIZO MIENTRAS SE ESTABA QUEMANDO. NECESITO QUE ME ORIENTEN AL RESPECTO DE LO QUE DEBO HACER. MI EMAIL ES [XXX]. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM FROM PUERTO RICO AND I OWN A 2006 BMW 325I. THE SAME DAY YESTERDAY SUDDENLY A SMOKE BEGAN BETWEEN THE DASH AND THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. IN LESS THAN 2 MINUTES IT LIGHTED IN FLAME, WE ACTIVATED 911, WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARRIVED BY CAR IT HAD BURNED IN ITS ENTIRETY. AMONG OTHER THINGS HE DID WHILE HE WAS BURNING. I NEED TO BE GUIDED ON WHAT TO DO. MY EMAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, May 17, 2010
2006 BMW 325I DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. THE FUSES RELATING THE DOOR LOCK SYSTEM KEEP BLOWING OUT. THEY SHOULD RECALL FOR ACTUATOR CHANGE. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 3, 2008, fire
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC ON FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 2008, AT 5 P.M., IN HOUSTON,WHEN MY 2006 BMW 325I BEGAN SMOKING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND BURST INTO FLAMES BY THE TIME I GOT IT PARKED. I FIRST NOTICED THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THEN SMOKE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN FILLING THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE TIME THE HFD ARRIVED. THE CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAD NO RECENT SERVICE OR PROBLEMS. IT HAD NO PREVIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE AC JUST BEGAN BLOWING WARM AIR, AND SMOKE STARTED POURING INTO THE COMPARTMENT FROM ABOVE AND BELOW THE DASHBOARD - NOT FROM THE AC. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL IT BURST INTO FLAMES. IT HAD TO BE A MECHANICAL DEFECT OR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OF SOME KIND. *TR
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 2, 2008
BMW 325XI DOES NOT PROVIDE A MANUAL DOOR LOCKING OVERRIDE FOR THEIR CARS. THIS LACK OF DESIGN MAKES THEIR CAR A TRAP FOR ALL PASSENGERS WHEN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FAILS. ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING A CAR ( NEW ) BMW 325XI, THE DOORS AND WINDOW SYSTEM FAILED IN VERY DANGEROUS WAY. WITH MY BABY AND MY WIFE ON THE BACK SIT, WHEN I TRY TO EXIT THE CAR THE DOOR SYSTEM START SHUTTING DOWN, THE DOORS AND WINDOW SYSTEM JUST WOULD NOT OPEN. THE ONLY ONE THAT OPEN WAS THE DRIVER SIDE ONE. AFTER THIS INCIDENT IT HAPPENED THREE MORE TIME. ONCE ALL FOUR DOORS LOCKED AND I HAD TO LEAN OUT THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE MANUAL KEY. THE LATEST ONE WAS WITH MY 7 MONTH PREGNANT WIFE CLIMBING OUT OF THE CAR THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ONCE I PULLED UP THE DOOR KNOB WITH A PLIER, BUT THE DOOR STILL LOCKED.MY COMPLAINT IS NOT THAT I NEED TO FIX THE CAR, BUT THE FACT THAT THIS CAR DOES NOT PROVIDE A MANUAL OVERRIDE TO OPEN THE DOOR IN CASE THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILS. BASICALLY ALL PASSENGER CAN BE TRAPPED IN THE CAR AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Electrical system, Feb 12, 2008
SINCE I PURCHASED MY BMW 325I (2006) IN AUG. 2007 NEW, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A 10% INACCURACY OF THE SPEEDOMETER, THAT THE DEALERSHIP RELUCTANTLY REPLACED (WITH NO IMPROVEMENT) AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA FINALLY ADMITTING THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND I WAS STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. THE SPEEDOMETER IS 10% OFF AN ACTUAL READING. SO IF YOU WANT TO 65 MPH AND SET THE SPEEDOMETER AT 65MPH YOU ONLY GO 58 MPH. IN ORDER TO GO 65MPH YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AT 73 MPH ON THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Apr 30, 2007
TWICE IN 6 WEEKS I HAVE LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE OF THE CAR AT 70+ MPH ON HIGHWAYS. THIS IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR AND I HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BOTH TIMES AVOIDING CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS. THE CAR BEHAVES AS IF IT HAS RUN OUT OF GAS BUT THERE WAS AT LEAST 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. BMW REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THE FIRST TIME IN LATE MARCH. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE BMW SHOP NOW. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.*AK
Electrical system, Structure, Apr 26, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED DUE TO THE PAINT PEELING. HE STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. ALSO, THE CONSOLE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE PEELING PAINT. IN MARCH 2007 THE STEERING WHEEL SENSOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. IN ADDITION, THE SUN ROOF FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUN ROOF WERE BOTH CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SPEED AND THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE NOT FACTORS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 15,000 ,AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. *AK
Electrical system, Jan 4, 2007
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AFTER RESET AND UPON INITIAL COLD START. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Dec 27, 2006
BMW 325I HAS AN ACCELERATION DELAY PROBLEM. WHEN THE DRIVER DEMANDS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION, THE CAR HESITATES ANYWHERE FROM 1.5 TO 3 SECONDS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHEN SOMEONE IS MAKING A LEFT TURN IN TRAFFIC, OR GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY, OR PASSING ON A 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD, ETC. OTHER CARS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ARE MOVING AT 88 FT/SEC. THE AMOUNT OF LEEWAY THIS CAR NEEDS IS MUCH TOO EXCESSIVE. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS - "PROBLEM NOT VERIFIED". FRIENDS WHO HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR THINK IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. BAD ACCELERATION IS JUST AS BAD AS POOR BRAKING. *JB
Electrical system, Dec 13, 2006
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM, CAR INTERIOR, DELIVERS 110 DEG F AIR TO FLOOR VENTS WHEN IN AUTOMATIC MODE. THE REQUESTED TEMPERATURE IS 70F AND THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE IS 79F. THIS IS A CONSTANT DEFECT, NOT A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE. BMW ADVISES THE SYSTEM WORKS AS DESIGNED. 2006 BMW 325XI, CAR MILEAGE - 850 MI. *JB
Electrical system, Nov 13, 2006, crash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED WHILE PARKED AND THE HORN DID NOT WORK TO WARN THE OTHER DRIVER. THE ENGINE WAS NOT ON PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE HORN NOT TO WORK IF THE ENGINE WAS NOT ON. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT ANOTHER DEALER FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
Electrical system, Apr 9, 2006
I JUST PURCHASED A BMW 330 WITH AN OPTION CALLED "COMFORT ACCESS". THIS OPTION ALLOWS THE DRIVER (WITH THE KEY ON HIS/HER PERSON) TO UNLOCK & START THE CAR AS WELL AS AND KILL THE ENGINE (BY PRESSING THE START/STOP BUTTON) & LOCK THE VEHICLE, ALL WITHOUT USING A KEY....JUST NEED IT IN YOUR POCKET ETC. THE RISK IS THAT YOU CAN EXIT THE VEHICLE AND LOCK THE DOORS W/O KILLING THE ENGINE. MY CONCERN IS BEING DISTRACTED OR FORGETFUL AND LEAVING THE CAR RUNNING IN OUR GARAGE AND HAVING EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE HOUSE! A SIMPLE FIX WOULD BE TO HAVE THE ENGINE STOP RUNNING WHEN THE DRIVER EXISTS THE CAR AND/OR LOCKS THE DOORS FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM