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, May 23, 2015
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.
Air bags, Seats, May 22, 2015
THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHTS CAME ON MY CAR WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND WE WENT OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD.
Air bags, May 22, 2015
ABOUT JUNE 1, 2011, MY 2006 BMW 330I (SPORT SEATS) HAD A RED AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER ASKED IF I RECENTLY CHANGED BATTERIES AND I SAID THAT I DID. HE SAID SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON IF THE BATTERY WASN'T INSTALLED PROPERLY. IN 2014, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT BMW KNEW OF A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAGS IN THEIR 2006 330I VEHICLES- ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH SPORT SEATS. THE REPORT I READ STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY THE END OF 2014. I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY CONFIRMED, BY EMAIL, THERE WOULD BE A RECALL FOR SPECIFIC 2006 330I VEHICLES WITH SPORT SEATS. UPON CHECKING A RECALL WEBSITE, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM THE PROBLEM THAT INITIATED THE RECALL. BMW KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAGS IN CERTAIN VEHICLES, THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL OF THEM.
Air bags, Seats, May 21, 2015
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED BUT NOTED THAT THE VIN DOESNT FALL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER DIDNT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR ($700 ESTIMATE). RECALL 13V-564 IS SPECIFICALLY FOR BMW/325I/2006/SPORT SEAT/AIRBAG MY EXACT CAR AND EXACTLY THE ISSUE IM EXPERIENCING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BMW/325I/2006/AIRBAG COMPLAINTS. BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS REFUSE TO HELP
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Equipment adaptive/mobility, May 19, 2015
I WAS DRIVING FROM SCHOOL AND PUSH THE GAS AND 15MPH THE CAR JERKED IN TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR WENT INTO SAFE MODE. I COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 40 MP. THE DEALER SHIP SAID THE TRANSMISSION MECHATRONIC MAY HAVE MALFUNCTION. SOMETHING INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION THE MANUFACTURER BUILD IT WITH A PLASTIC VALVE COVER IT'S COMMON ON BMW THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE ARE OVER 67,000 COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. WHERE IS THE RECALL!. YOU PAY FOR THIS EXPENSIVE CAR TO PAY 7000 TO FIX. I AM LOOKING TO START A LAW SUIT IF THEY DON'T RECALL AND FIX THIS COMMON EXPENSIVE PROBLEM!
Engine, May 14, 2015
I HAVE 77,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THE WATER PUMP HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE AS I BEGAN TO SEACH ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE I SEE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF MY CAR I BELEIVE THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED
Air bags, May 7, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG CODE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Air bags, May 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD POSSIBLY NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 28, 2015
PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING! *TR
Other or unspecified, Apr 27, 2015, fire
4/27/2015, 4:00 AM THE CAR IS SITTING WITHIN 6 FEET OF MY HOUSE AND MY HUSBAND AND I AWOKE TO AN EXPLOSION. THE BMW WAS ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND BURNING OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED INSIDE OUR GARAGE SINCE 4/25/2015 AND IT WAS ONLY MOVED ABOUT 100 FEET ON 4/27/15. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ZERO MODIFICATIONS OR REPAIRS. THE BMW'S MOTOR AND FRONT END OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. OUR HOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED HAD I NOT USED 4 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND A WATER HOSE ON THE CAR AND HOUSE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT EITHER THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AND SOME PEOPLE WERE EVEN DRIVING THEM WHEN THEY CAUGHT FIRE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF THE BMW'S THAT ARE CAUSING FIRES AND PUTTING PEOPLES LIVES AT RISK. THIS BMW WAS MY HUSBANDS AND WASN'T FULLY INSURED AND I HAVE A BMW THAT I LOVED UNTIL THIS INCIDENT AND I AM EXTREMELY FEARFUL OF DRIVING NOW. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ALL BMW DRIVERS TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED AND SOMEONE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ISSUES THE BMW'S ARE HAVING. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW THE STATISTICS FOR BMW'S THAT HAVE FILED FIRE COMPLAINTS. *TR
Steering, Apr 27, 2015
I WAS UNABLE TO START VEHICLE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, THERE WAS AN AMBER STEERING WHEEL SYMBOL BEING DISPLAYED. AFTER SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM MANY DRIVERS HAVE HAD. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS IT IS NOT EASILY DETECTABLE AND CAN HAPPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Apr 26, 2015
PASSENGER SEAT PAD SENSOR FAILED AND SAYS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS MODEL, YR AND MODE OF FAILURE, THE DEALER REPORTS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MADE 1 WEEK BEFORE THE RECALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. IS THIS TRUE AND COULD THERE HAVE BEEN AN EXCEPTION FOR 1 WEEK? REPAIR SHOP INDICATES THIS IS AN IDENTICAL FAILURE MODE TO RECALLED VEHICLES AND SEAT PAD WILL NEED REPLACEMENT. SEEMS TO BE TOO BIG OF A COINCIDENCE TO NOT ALSO BE RELATED? *TR
Air bags, Apr 25, 2015
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON WHEN THERE IS NO ONE IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE FOUR YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND BMW SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL OR CAN FIX IT. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL AND HAVE HAD THE SENSOR LOOKED AT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS ATTENTION. *TR
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 19, 2015
FRONT TWO VALVE COVER BOLTS SHEERED OFF CAUSING OIL TO LEAK DIRECTLY ON THE EXHAUST. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Apr 18, 2015
AIRBAG WARNING CAME ON AND AFTER RESEARCH FOUND A RECALL. I CONTACTED BMW AND THEY CLAIM MY VIN IS NOT ONE OF THE AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, WHICH APPEARS TO BE A TREND. PLEASE ASSIST IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO THIS EXTREMELY CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. *TR
Air bags, Apr 11, 2015
THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ALERT MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE VEHICLE DISPLAY. THE MESSAGE READS "FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING THE AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT". I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY THE BMW AIRBAG RECALL. THE DEALER GENERICALLY QUOTED THAT A REPAIR TO THE MRS CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDED REPAIRED/ REPLACED AND WOULD COST $975.00. THIS ALERT MESSAGE DOES NOT STAY ON ALL OF THE TIME, IT IS INTERMITTENT. *TR
Air bags, Apr 8, 2015
PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON. IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Apr 1, 2015
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A BMW DEALER TO HAVE THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000). THE BMW DEALER IN SCOTTSDALE SAID IT ISN'T LISTED AS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY WANT $180 JUST TO PERFORM A CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS THERE SHOULD BE NO FEE AT ALL TO FIX SUCH AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ITEM (AIRBAG). *TR
Steering, Mar 19, 2015
MY VEHICLE IS IN STORAGE FOR THE WINTER I START IT ONCE A WEEK THEN RECENTLY IT JUST STOP WORKING AND A STEERING WHEEL LOCK APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD I RESEARCH IT AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE A BMW 325I HAD THE SAME ISSUE . I FEEL BMW SHOULD REPAIR THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
Air bags, Mar 19, 2015
MY AIR BAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON SINCE THE ABOVE DATE, BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE COMPANY THAT NO RECALLS WAS ISSUED FOR MY CAR. WHAT SHOULD I DO?, *TR
Air bags, Mar 16, 2015
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A BMW DEALER TO HAVE THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000). THE BMW DEALER IN LONG BEACH SAID IT ISN'T LISTED AS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY WANT $180 JUST TO PERFORM A CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
Air bags, Mar 6, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Air bags, Mar 2, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG INFLATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAG). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 1, 2015
WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT RECALL FOR MY CAR. WHEN I CALLED I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PART TO SERVICE MY PROBLEM AND ADDED TO WAITING LIST. I AM STILL BEING TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO SERVICE RECALL AND IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MONTHS! *TR
Steering, Feb 24, 2015
I HAD BEEN USING THE CAR REGULARLY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. RANDOMLY THE YELLOW LIGHT POPS UP OF THE STEERING LOCK SIGN THEN A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND THE LIGHT TURNS RED. THE CAR THEN WOULD NOT START. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY WORK AND WAS FORCED TO GET IT TOWED TO BMW. *JS