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 16, 2012
STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN RED ON DASH. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2006 325I SERIES. BMW HAS DISCONTINUED THIS TYPE OF STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHEN BUILDING THEIR 2007 VEHICLES BECAUSE ITS AN ISSUE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED AND WHY HASNT ANYONE TAKEN ACTION ON THE INCIDENT? *TR
Steering, Feb 13, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE DRIVER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Suspension, Feb 9, 2012
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHENEVER GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR TIRE ROTATION. WHILE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A LOT OF PLAY IN THE FRONT WHEELS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE BALL JOINT THAT CONNECTS THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS EXTREMELY WORN OUT CAUSING APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE RIGHT WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT IT TOO WAS BECOMING VERY WORN. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY TECHNICIAN AT OWNERS COST. OWNER CONTACTED BMW ABOUT A RECALL CONCERNING THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON 3 SERIES BMWS, AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. *TR
Steering, Feb 4, 2012
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, IT'D DISPLAY A YELLOW ICON WITH A STEERING WHEEL LOCK. ON THIS DATE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILED TO DISENGAGE AND THE ICON WAS RED, LEAVING ME STRANDED. THIS SAME ISSUE OCCURRED TO MY FRIEND LAST MONTH AS HE HAS THE EXACT SAME CAR AS ME. ACCORDING TO MANY ONLINE SOURCES, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. *KB
Steering, Feb 4, 2012
STEERING WHEEL LOCK IS ON WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING EVEN AFTER MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL AND INSERTING/REMOVING THE KEY FOB IN THE KEY SLOT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND AS WELL AS A SAFETY ISSUE. NUMEROUS PEOPLE FROM BMW FORUMS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM AND BMW WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *KB
Steering, Jan 8, 2012
MY VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WITH THE AMBER LIGHT. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE NUMEROUS 3 SERIES WITH THIS ISSUE IN US AND WORLD. THIS IS COMMON FOR THE E90S. BELOW IS A LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY. THIS FAULT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. REPORTS: 10380778, 10378186 - 330I 10322165 - 325XI 10380077, 10353644 - 325I 10173714,10369685,10341920,10341836,10238977,10181405 AND MANY OTHERS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HOLD BMW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS MAJOR ISSUE AND SAFETY HAZARD? *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Jan 5, 2012
STEERING LOCK LAMP IS AMBER AND NOW RED. SAYS CAR WILL NOT START BECAUSE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM COULD ENGAGE. COULD POSSIBLY LOCK WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Steering, Dec 29, 2011
I GOT INTO MY CAR ON THE MORNING OF THE 29TH DEC. 2011. I SHOWED A YELLOW STEERING WHEEL LOCK CODE (INDICATING A POSSIBLE PROBLEM). I DROVE THE CAR AFTER WORK WITH NO PROBLEMS ALTHOUGH PLANNING ON GETTING THE VEHICLE INTO SERVICE JUST TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PARKED THE CAR, RETURNED TO IT 15 MIN LATER AND IT WOULDNT START! AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM THE CAR SHOWED A RED STEERING WHEEL LOCK CODE INDICATING IT WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER DEEP INVESTIGATION I FIND THE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON HUNDREDS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR AS MINE. MOST PEOPLE ARE TOLD TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER AND/OR REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN (SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES) AND THEN MOST STILL HAVE PROBLEMS. *KB
Steering, Nov 16, 2011
STEERING WHEEL COLUMN HAS LOCKED AND THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP. AFTER RESEARCHING THE VEHICLES MAKE AND MODEL (325I 2006 BMW) I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND IGNITION PORT. BMW HAS DISCONTINUED THIS TYPE OF STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WHEN BUILDING THEIR 2007 VEHICLES BECAUSE ITS AN ISSUE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED AND WHY HASN'T ANYONE TAKEN ACTION ON THE INCIDENT? *TR
Steering, Nov 15, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING COLUMN COULD SEIZE AND PREVENT THE WHEELS FROM BEING TURNED. THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT A SENSOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS POSSIBLY FAILING AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD MOST LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,009.
Steering, Nov 7, 2011
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK. AN ERROR MESSAGE SHOWS ON THE DISPLAY INDICATING A STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. THIS ERROR WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR THE CAR TO START. THIS RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDING REPLACED. *TR
Steering, Aug 6, 2011
THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC LOCK ON THE 2006 BMW 330I IS DEFECTIVE. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED AND EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE KEY, ETC. IT LOCKS IN ERROR. THIS OCCURS ON EVERY ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THEIR IS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IN THE VEHICLE.
Steering, Aug 2, 2011
I OWN A 2006 BMW 330I. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK WHICH PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED. THEN, WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS RED, THE CAR DOES NOT START. I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM IN 2007 AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IN 2010, THE YELLOW LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN INTERMITTENTLY AND IT IS NOW ON EVERY TIME I ENTER THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED. THEY TELL ME I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN YET AGAIN. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE BMW REGIONAL IS REFUSING TO COVER THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE A SAFETY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. IT COSTS $1428 TO REPLACE THE PART. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BMW CHANGED THEIR STEERING COLUMNS AFTER 2006 BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM. *KB
Steering, Jul 14, 2011
STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE CAUSING ISSUES WHEN TRYING TO START IGNITION. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WILL HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES A WEEK AND EVENTUALLY DISABLE COMPLETELY AFTER A FEW MONTHS. HAD TO REPLACE WITH A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Steering, May 16, 2011
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Steering, Apr 15, 2011
MY 2006 BMW 325XI HAS HAD THE AMBER STEERING LOCK LIGHT ON FOR OVER A MONTH AND WILL NOT GO OFF. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR AND BMW HAS REFUSED TO FIX IT. MY CAR IS 3000 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY AND IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Steering, Mar 29, 2011
STEERING WHEEL LOCK
Steering, Feb 20, 2011
THERE IS A RED DASH WARNING LIGHT WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND LOCK. CAR WILL NOT START.
Steering, Feb 12, 2011
STEERING WHEEL LOCK FAILURE. I HAVE A 2006 BMW 325I. ACCORDING TO BMW IT JUST BROKE. HOW? MY VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN TRULY 6 YEARS OF AGE AND DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT YET. I'VE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON BIMMERFEST.COM CONCERNING THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT SOMEONE SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM MORE THOROUGHLY. YES I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY OWN FIX BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT'S OCCURRING IN THIS MODEL MAKE AND YEAR. *TR
Steering, Feb 7, 2011
STEERING WHEEL LOCK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN RED ON DASH. VEHICLE WHEEL COULD LOCK ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL. *LN
Steering, Feb 7, 2011
ON 2/3/2011 MY VEHICLE HAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK WITH THE AMBER LIGHT. 2006 325I WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT TOOK RE-PROGRAMMING AND THE STEERING COLUMN BEING REPLACED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS 3 SERIES WITH THIS ISSUE IN US AND WORLD. THIS IS COMMON FOR THE E90S. BELOW IS A LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY. BMW IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE DEFECT YET THEY TOOK THIS FEATURE OUT IN 2008. REPORTS: 10380778, 10378186 - 330I 10322165 - 325XI 10380077, 10353644 - 325I 10173714,10369685,10341920,10341836,10238977,10181405 - 3 SERIES. *LN
Steering, Feb 4, 2011
STEERING WHEEL HAD RANDOM ELECTRONIC LOCK FAILURE. *TR
Steering, Feb 3, 2011
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON 2006 325I - CAR HAS ONLY 41000+ MILES. NEITHER KEY WOULD WORK TO START THE CAR. BATTERY IN GOOD CONDITION. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS STUCK AND SO WAS THE GEAR. NEITHER OF THE KEYS WERE ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ON BIMMERFEST.COM AND OTHER CONSUMER WEBSITES. *TR
Steering, Jan 21, 2011
2006 BMW 330I WAS FITTED WITH A STEERING COLUMN EQUIPPED WITH A STEERING LOCK SENSOR THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE AND MAY RENDER THE CAR SAFE AND/OR INOPERABLE. I HAVE THIS ISSUE CURRENTLY THAT WILL REQUIRE OVER $1,000 IN REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL MAY LOCK UP DURING VEHICLE USE COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND/OR FAMILY. THIS IS A CHRONIC AND RECURRING ISSUE THAT BMW IS AWARE OF AND THEY HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO RE-DESIGN THE COLUMNS IN 2007+ VEHICLES. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE 2006 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE COLUMNS THAT HAVE THIS DESIGN FLAW AND PROPENSITY FOR FAILURE. I HAVE CALLED BMW NA MULTIPLE TIMES TO DISCUSS BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO ADMIT ANY CULPABILITY OF ADDRESS MY CONCERNS IN A PRODUCTIVE MANNER. I IN SPEAKING WITH MY BMW PARTS ADVISOR AND MECHANIC WHO RUNS A LARGE SCALE SERVICE GARAGE, HE SEES MANY VEHICLES COME IN FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM AND ADVISED THAT IT IS "ONLY A MATTER OF TIME" BEFORE A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS TAKEN AGAINST THEM. IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT MY FAMILY IS AT RISK BECAUSE BMW WILL NOT TAKE AN ETHICAL STANCE ON THIS ISSUE AND ADDRESS THE SHORTCOMINGS IN THE DESIGN OF THE RE-DESIGNED 3-SERIES VEHICLE THAT I HAVE PURCHASED. 2006 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RE-DESIGN OF THE 3-SERIES AND THAT IS PERHAPS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE PROBLEM (SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THIS DESIGN WAS EMPLOYED IN A VEHICLE). PLEASE TAKE THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND CHECK THE FACTS BY GOOGLING "E90 STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS" TO FIND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON THE TOPIC INCLUDING MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE AND HAVE HAD THEIR SAFETY AND FINANCES COMPROMISED. IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T KEEP THESE LARGE AUTO MANUFACTURERS HONEST IN ADDRESSING THESE DESIGN FLAWS, CONSUMERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO PERPETUAL FINANCIAL AND POSSIBLE PHYSICAL HARM. SOMEONE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE INJURED OR WORSE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY THREAT.. MOST COLUMNS OPERATE PROPERLY FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Steering, Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 8, 2010
FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK, CAUSING INABILITY TO RESTART AUTOMOBILE INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EARLY 2006 330I MODELS, BUT A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES, SO IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. BMW OFFERED TO SUPPLY THE PARTS FOR FREE, HOWEVER I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN 100% COVERED BY BMW AS A RECALL AND HANDLED PROACTIVELY BY THE COMPANY. *TR