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: steering
107 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Feb 17, 2013
STEERING WHEEL LOCK JAM LIGHT CAME ON IN THE CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO RESET IT. HAPPENED AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 15 AND THIS TIME IT WILL NOT RESET. *TR
Steering, Feb 9, 2013
PARKED AT AIRPORT 6AM FEB 8 2012, LEFT FOR OVERNIGHT TRIP. GOT BACK NEXT MORNING FEB 9TH 2012 AT 10:30AM. PUT KEY IN CAR PRESSED BRAKE TO START AND WOULD NOT START. GOT 'ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK' ERROR ON I DRIVE SYSTEM AND AN YELLOW/AMBER ERROR SYMBOL WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND A LOCK. NUMEROUS AND NUMEROUS REPORTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING ON BMW E90'S WORLDWIDE. *TR
Steering, Feb 8, 2013
WARNING LIGHT APPEARED INDICATING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAULT. A FAULT CODE SCAN REVEALED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM WAS IN FAILURE AND WOULD RESULT IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO COMPLETELY LOCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE. *TR THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS DEFECT YET BMWNA ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR IT. THE NATURE AND EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR IS SIGNIFICANT AS THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT.
Steering, Jan 29, 2013
I AM GETTING A NEW MESSAGE ON MY CAR INDICATING THE WHEEL BEING LOCKED. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND IT SEEMS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. PLEASE CHECK OUT ALL THE COMMENTS ON THIS WEBSITE. HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=410153. MY HOPE IS THAT A RECALL HAPPENS. THIS 2006 BMW HAS BEEN A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE. HAVE HAD WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Steering, Jan 21, 2013
THIS VEHICLE, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, OF OTHERS ARE AFFLICTED WITH A KNOWN DEFECT BMW IS WELL AWARE OF (AND HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MADE ENGINEERING CHANGES AFTER 2006) INVOLVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK IN E90 AND E91 CHASSIS. AN AMBER OR RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR WILL LIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON NOR WARNING RENDERING THE VEHICLE NON-DRIVABLE (NOR TOWABLE) AND NON-STARTABLE. BMW SAYS THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A COMPLETE CHANGE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THE OWNERS BLOG SHOWS HUNDREDS OF OTHER DISSATISFIED OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE A RECALL OF THESE BMW'S BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS DEFECT IN ITS ENGINEERING. AND, FURTHERMORE, SINCE BMW CHANGED THE WHOLE STEERING LOCK SYSTEM IN THEIR LATER MODELS, THEY TOO KNEW OF ITS FAULTS. PROVING THEIR GUILT. *TR
Steering, Jan 17, 2013
MY STEERING WHEEL LOCK INDICATOR WAS WARNING ME THAT IT WAS LOCKED (AMBER LIGHT) ULTIMATELY THE INDICATOR TURNED RED WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR AND STRANDED ME. *TR
Steering, Dec 31, 2012
STEERING COLUMN. BMW PROBLEM, FACTORY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. STEERING LOCK LIGHT. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 1, 2012
I HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE THIS MORNING. WHEN I GOT INTO MY CAR, IT WOULDN'T START WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. INSTEAD IT HAD AN ICON ON THE DASH OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH A LOCK SIGN ON IT. I PULLED THE FOB OUT AND PUT IT BACK IN A FEW TIMES, TRYING TO START THE CAR EVERY TIME, BUT NO LIFE. THIS IS A VERY WEIRD PROBLEM. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULDN'T RELEASE. I TRIED TO GET IT STARTED FOR OVER 30 MINUTES, STILL UNSUCCESSFUL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 06 AND EARLY 07 MODELS OF THE 3 SERIES. IN MID-07, BMW STOPPED PUTTING LOCKS IN THE STEERING COLUMNS. APPARENTLY, THIS PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC LOCK POWER DRAW WHEN STARTING THE CAR, AND A SOFTWARE UPDATE NORMALLY FIXES THE PROBLEM. IF THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DOES NOT WORK, BMW REPLACES THE STEERING COLUMN IF YOU ARE UNDER THE WARRANTY. ALL MY UPDATES ARE DONE BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO MY BMW DEALER ON 11/14/12 AND THEY RECHECKED EVERYTHING. SINCE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE ARE MANY CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AS STATED IN HERE; HTTP://WWW.IMPORT-CAR.COM/ISSUE/ARTICLE.ASPX?CONTENTID=89276, BMW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 1, 2012
THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WAS YELLOW, THEN WENT RED AND WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC GOT HIT TO GO BACK TO YELLOW, TOOK IT TO BMW AND THEY SAID THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOOK THE CAR HOME AND TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE COLUMN, BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. EVERYONE TELLS ME THE CASE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Steering, Air bags, Aug 31, 2012
THE TWO ISSUES ARE (1) AIRBAG MALFUNCTION AND (2) STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION. (1) THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON CA I-80 TOWARDS BERKLEY FROM DAVIS ON 8/17/2012. AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR DISPLAYED A NOTIFICATION THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM AND SHUT OFF. THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. AS OF THIS DATE, THE AIRBAG IS STILL SHUT OFF. (2) THE SECOND ISSUE OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON CA I-280 FROM BURLINGAME TOWARDS MILLBRAE ON 8/30/2012. AS I WAS DRIVING, I NOTICED A STEERING WHEEL LOCK NOTIFICATION. LUCKILY, I WAS AT MY EXIT AND NEAR HOME SO I DROVE SLOWLY HOME. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RESTARTING AND TURNING THE CAR OFF CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO RANDOMLY LOCK/UNLOCK. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR AFTER THE INCIDENT. *TR
Steering, Aug 29, 2012
I NOW HAVE THE "STEERING LOCK" YELLOW CAUTION LIGHT ON. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 28, 2012
TRIED TO START CAR, PUT KEY IN, PRESSED START BUTTON AND AN AMBER PADLOCK ICON APPEARED OVER A STEERING WHEEL ICON - CAR WON'T START. *TR
Steering, Aug 5, 2012
TODAY MY BMW 325I WAS GIVING ME A TROUBLE SYMBOL WITH A RED STEERING WHEEL WITH A LOCK WITH THE NUMBER 1 IN IT. I WAS PARKED AT GAS STATION GETTING GAS AND WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE CAR BACK UP IT WOULD NOT START. I HAVE BEEN READING HUNDREDS OF OTHER BLOGS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR 70 MILES TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS SHOULD CERTAINLY BE A RECALL!!! SHAME ON YOU BMW FOR NOT ADMITTING THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. WHAT IF THE STEERING WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR GOING DOWN THE ROAD? *TR
Steering, Jul 22, 2012
STEERING WAS LOCKED AND I CAN'T START THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AFTER I TRYING SO MANY METHODS GOT FROM ONLINE. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 12, 2012
THE VEHICLES ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM HAS FAILED AND VEHICLE WILL NOT UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NOR START THE VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM IN PLACE. HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE BOARD WITH MY SAME PARTICULAR MY (2006) CAN EASILY BE FOUND BY A SIMPLE SEARCH ON ANY GIVEN BMW BLOG/FORUM. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF IT HAD LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING?? NOT SAFE AT ALL AND WILL CERTAINLY TRY EVERYTHING I CAN TO RECOUP THE $1000+ I WILL BE SPENDING FROM BMW FOR THE LABOR/REPAIR THAT IT WILL COST TO HAVE THIS RIDICULOUS ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
Steering, Jul 7, 2012
BMW STEERING LOCK FAILURE I SHOULD BE REPLACE BY BMW BECAUSE ALL THIS MODELS HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UNSAFE BUT BMW DON'T WANT TO DO A RECALL IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Steering, Jul 6, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELV STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,334.
Steering, Jun 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED,THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Steering, Electrical system, May 7, 2012
I HAVE AN AMBER COLORED STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON ON THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THIS WILL LOCK UP THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOLD THEM IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE. HOPEFULLY EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE FILES A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AS THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY BMW NA. *TR
Steering, Apr 2, 2012
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED, MY CAR NOW HAS A YELLOW STEERING WHEEL ICON WITH A LOCK. I HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL A FEW TIMES IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR TO UNLOCK AND START. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AS I HAVE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO START THE CAR ONCE THE ICON TURNS FROM YELLOW TO RED. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO BMW AND THEY HAVE DISCONTINUED USE OF THIS ELECTRONIC LOCK IN THEIR 2007+ CARS. WHY WON'T BMW ADMIT THAT THEIR IS AN ISSUE AND FIX IT? WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY $500+ TO FIX SOMETHING THEY'VE KNOWN WAS BROKEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR
Steering, Mar 29, 2012
VEHICLE HAS BEEN FAILING TO START AND DISPLAYING A ELV STEERING COLUMN LOCK. PROBLEM WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME AND GO. IT HAS NOW RESULTED IN A TOTAL FAILURE AND VEHICLE WILL NOT START OR RESPOND. PROBLEM IS EITHER WITH BMW SOFTWARE OR STEERING COLUMN MALFUNCTION WHICH HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY BMW SO THEY WON'T WARRANTY PROBLEM. *JS
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 28, 2012
WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF STEERING IN LOCK POSITION. AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT ERROR (RED ICON) IN PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Steering, Feb 29, 2012
THE CAR CONSTANTLY DISPLAYS A STEERING WHEEL LOCK ICON WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY DRIVERS AND IT CAN BE FATAL IF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY. *TR
Steering, Feb 23, 2012
RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION THE CAR WON'T START DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION I HAVE TOO GET IT TOWED DOWN TO THE DEALER. *TR
Steering, Feb 19, 2012
ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILURE PREVENTS STARTING THE CAR. *TR