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
1,243 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Jul 4, 2016
TAKATA RECALL
Air bags, Jul 1, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 09/14/16 *BF *JS
Air bags, Jun 30, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Jun 25, 2016
FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE ELV STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION. I JUST PARKED MY CAR, TURNED OFF ENGINE, AND TOOK OUT THE KEY FOB. I NOTICED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER A PICTURE OF A STEERING WHEEL AND A PAD LOCK. SO I PUT THE KEY FOB BACK IN THE SLOT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THEN TRYING COUPLE TIMES TAKING OUT & PUTTING THE KEY FOB IN THE IGNITION SLOT AND TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT, THE CAR FINALLY STARTED.
Air bags, Jun 23, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Jun 18, 2016
FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ALWAYS BREAKS
Air bags, Jun 17, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,235.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 9, 2016
RECENTLY THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT SENSOR INDICATED A FAILURE. I CAN ATTRIBUTE SUCH FAILURE TO A DEFECTIVE SENSOR (PLACED IN THE SEAT MAT). WHEN I CONTACTED BMW USA, THEY REFUSED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL (CAMPAIGN [XXX]). I WOULD APPRECIATE THE NHTSA / DOT TO INVESTIGATE EXPANDING THE RECALL TO ALL E90 / 2006 BMW 330XI NOT JUST MODELS PRODUCED AFTER 12/ 2005. I TOOK DELIVERY OF MY VEHICLE IN 11/2005. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Jun 2, 2016
RECALL 08V384000: SEAT OCCUPANT SENSON DEFECT. I TOOK MY CAR THREE TIMES ALREADY TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS STILL NO PARTS , THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE IN 2 DAYS AND I'M WORRY THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED , THE RECALL WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO , AND STILL NO PARTS ...
Air bags, Seats, Jun 2, 2016
AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY ENTRY TO THE LONG LIST OF BMW 325 OWNERS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT DEFECT RECALL (SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000), BUT APPARENTLY ARE NOT. ACCORDING TO BMW, MY CAR WAS MADE A MONTH BEFORE I.E. NOV 2005, THE RECALL DATE PARAMETERS, WHICH STARED IN DEC 2005. THIS INVOLVES A FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR MALFUNCTION THAT DISABLES THE AIRBAGS IN 2006 E90 BMW 3 SERIES SEDAN. BMW RECALLED PREVIOUS YEARS SENSORS BUT HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE IN LATER MODELS. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS AFFECTED BY THIS: SEE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/BMW/325/2006/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SEATS.SHTML NTSB, PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ASAP! AND THANKS!
Air bags, Seat belts, May 27, 2016
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE/TENSIONER FAILED AND WOULD NOT HOLD ONTO SEATBELT. THIS CAUSED THE SEATBELT ALARM TO SOUND AS WELL AS DEACTIVATE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG
Steering, Electrical system, May 23, 2016
ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE AND RENDERS THE CAR INCAPABLE OF STARTING. A YELLOW STEERING WHEEL ICON (OR RED IN SOME INSTANCES) APPEARS IN THE INFORMATIONAL PANEL ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ACCOMPANYING ERROR CODE IS CC-ID 187. THIS CONDITION WHEN IT OCCURS, WILL NOT ENERGIZE (DISABLES) THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND PREVENTS THE CAR FROM BEING STARTED. DRIVERS WILL BECOME STRANDED WHEREVER THEY HAPPEN TO BE ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AS THE ERROR NOTIFICATION APPEARS ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS SWITCHED OFF OR BACK ON. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR AND IDENTICAL CASES ON THE INTERNET WHEN PERFORMING A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, May 19, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Seat belts, May 18, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Air bags, May 17, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 10, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 6, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR, WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MODEL YEAR, HOWEVER MY CAR'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, May 1, 2016
FOOT WELL MODULE AND JUNCTION BOX ELECTRICAL SHORT. SOME LIGHTS STAY ON EVEN IF THE CAR IS OFF SOME SIGNALS DONT WORK, ONE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT DOES NOT WORK, REAR WINDOWS WORK SOMETIMES AND DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDO DOES NOT WORK A ALL, ECT
Air bags, Seat belts, Seats, Apr 30, 2016
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT ERROR IS SHOWING. ACCORDING TO TBE NHTSA DATA BASE UNDER VEHICLE DESCRIPTION (MAKE MODEL AND YEAR) THERES AN OPEN RECALL FOR MY MODEL.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 26, 2016
I OWN A 2006 BMW 325I. ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, THE REVERSE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHILE REVERSING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, AND MENTIONED MULTIPLE ONLINE ACCOUNTS OF THIS PROBLEM EXTENDING AT LEAST FROM 2003 THROUGH 2008. IT COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER. I ALSO REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL) AND NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10443539 (TAIL LIGHT FAILURE). THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FRM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WIRING MALFUNCTION. FROM ONLINE REPORTS AND PICTURES, I CONFIRMED MY REVERSE LIGHT FAILURE WAS ALSO A WIRING ISSUE CAUSED FROM A VERY POOR WIRE ROUTING DESIGN BY BMW. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 AND THE COST TO REPAIR WAS OUTRAGEOUS! SINCE THAT TIME EVEN WITH MULTIPLE DOCUMENTED CASES, BMW HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADMIT THIS IS THEIR DESIGN FAILURE AND TO SHARE IN ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS.
Air bags, Apr 26, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF UPDATED 07/21/16.*JB
Steering, Apr 26, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE DOES NOT START STEERING WHEEL LOCKS I HEAR FROM A FORUM THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE CAN BE A REASON FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Steering, Apr 26, 2016
STEERING WHEEL LOCK LIGHT IS ON ENGINE DOES NOT START STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE IS LOCK
Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 19, 2016
PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT MESSAGE. FEW DAYS WENT BY WITH THIS FAULT MESSAGE COMING ON AND OFF. NOW ITS CURRENTLY STAYING ON. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE WEB, I'VE FOUND MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, BUT ONLY A FEW MODELS ARE COVERED UNDER RECALL (08V384000). AFTER SEARCH MY (VIN) SHOW NO CURRENT RECALLS. RECALL (08V384000) STATES 2006 YEAR 3-SERIES. HOW CAN THIS ONLY BE LIMITED TO SOME 2006 ,BUT NOT OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS? VEHICLE HAS AROUND 86K MILES. THANKS
Steering, Apr 15, 2016
ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK.