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.
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2018
HEADLIGHTS FAILING WHILE DRIVING. BMW USED POOR INSULATION INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT DEGRADE OVERTIME AND FAIL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.
Air bags, Jan 2, 2018
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2017. BMW OF WEST HOUSTON (20822 CHANEY FREEWAY, CHANEY, TX 77449) STATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Dec 29, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (NIELLO BMW, 2020 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, (916) 486-1011) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Dec 28, 2017
THE VEHICLE WON'T START, AND STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR INITIALLY, BUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I TESTED THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY, BUT STILL NOT ABLE TO START OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS TO BE THE AN ISSUE WITH THE ELV LOCKING SYSTEM.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 28, 2017
TAKATA RECALL: I JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE TODAY 28 DEC 17 THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THE FOLLOWING ISSUES THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG AND THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING SYSTEM.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE HEATER BLOWER FAILED TO DISBURSE AIR AND THE PANEL INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (ERHARD BMW OF BLOOMFIELD, 1845 S TELEGRAPH RD, BLOOMINGFIELD HILLS, MI 48302) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF *TR
Air bags, Dec 26, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - I'VE CALLED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND STOPPED BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET MY NAME ON THE LIST ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I CAN NOT GET AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE MY AIR BAG.
Air bags, Dec 21, 2017
ABOUT THE AIRBAG TAKATA
Other or unspecified, Dec 20, 2017
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION. WILL NOT UNLOCK AND UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTION WILL NOT UNLOCK AND UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. WE HAVE THREE CHILDREN UNDER 7 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. OUR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THROUGH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE MALFUNCTION WAS NOT A RESULT OF ANY DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR AND IT HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Electrical system, Dec 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TOM BUSH BMW JACKSONVILLE IN JACKSONVILLE, FL WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Dec 17, 2017
DRIVER'S AIRBAG MODULE RECALL REPLACEMENT KEEPS GETTING POSTPONED FOR A FUTURE DATE FROM BMW OF HENDERSON DEAL
Electrical system, Dec 16, 2017
THE CENTER CONSOLE IS CONTINUING TO OVERHEAT. IT SPREADS TO THE CUP HOLDERS AND OUTWARD AS WELL. GETS VERY HOT! HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS ON OR WHEN DRIVING
Electrical system, Dec 9, 2017
ELECTRICAL RECALL: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WE HAVE PURCHASED, AND FIXED THE BMW REGULATOR ON OUR 2006 BMW 325I . AS OF LATE THE PASSENGER WINDOW ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS BECOME JAMMED AND STUCK AND STARTED ROLLING DOWN ON ITS OWN. IN ADDITION , THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS HAVE ALSO INCURRED THE SAME ISSUE. ALONG WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR THAT WILL NO LONGER OPEN , WITHOUT HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK, AND LOCK ONCE EXITING THE VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID SOMETHING ELSE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL OCCUR. SAFETY IS EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY WITH A SECOND BABY ON THE WAY. SO HERE WE HAVE A WINDOW THAT IS NOT ROLLING UP AT ALL. I'M UNSURE IF I SHOWED ALLOW MORE WORK TO BE DONE , DUE TO THE FEAR OF HAVING THE SAME ISSUE OCCUR REPEATEDLY. THANKS IN ADVANCE ! I LOOK FORWARD TO A RESPONSE .
Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 26, 2017
THE VALVE COVER GASKET KEEPS LEAKING OIL. I HAVE FIXED THIS TWICE IN THE LAST 30K MILES. NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN. VALVE COVER GASKET SHOULD NOT GO BAD EVERY 10K TO 15K MILES. IF NEGLECTED IT WILL CAUSE ENGINE FIRE DUE TO OIL.
Air bags, Nov 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED A POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER (HOFFMAN BMW IN WATERTOWN, CT) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Air bags, Nov 17, 2017, crash
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BMW OF SPRINGFIELD, 391 US-22, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, NJ 07081) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *JS
Air bags, Nov 14, 2017, crash
"MY TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAG WAS RECALL. I WAS A IN CAR ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T OPEN.
Other or unspecified, Nov 13, 2017
DOORS GET LOCKED AND CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. ONCE THE DOORS ARE LOCKED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WITH REMOTE KEY BUTTONS. IF YOU ARE INSIDE THE CAR ONLY WAY TO GET OUT IS BREAK THE WINDOW OR LOWER THE WINDOW AND THEN GET OUT. EXACTLY SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY FRIEND IN HIS FORD LINCOLN WHEN THEY WERE TRAPPED INSIDE AFTER AN ACCIDENT ,CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND HE, HIS WIFE AND 12 YEAR OLD SON WERE ALL BURNT ALIVE. WE RAISED THE OTHER SON WHO WAS NOT IN THAT DEADLY CAR. THIS BMW 315I CAR IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO THEM BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL TO FIX THIS FAULTY, UNSAFE CAR. I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. I HAD TO TAKE OUT THE HARD KEY FROM THE REMOTE UNIT AND OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT COULD NOT OPEN OTHER THREE DOORS FROM INSIDE OR FROM REMOTE UNIT. NOW THE CAR IS WITH BMW OF FREMONT DEALERSHIP IN 44175 AUTO MALL CIR ,FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 510-659-7902
Engine, Nov 13, 2017, fire
OUR VEHICLE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE 2007 MODEL WITH THE SAME INLINE SIX ENGINE. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT IN OUR GARAGE DUE TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WHICH REMAINS ACTIVE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN 12 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT AND HAD BEEN SEEN BY TWO BMW DEALERSHIPS THE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING.
Electrical system, Nov 13, 2017, fire
MY CAR WAS PARKED FOR A BRIEF TIME AND THEN, JUST BEFORE I WAS ABOUT TO START MY CAR, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE GLOVE BOX AND WHEN I BLEW ON IT, A FIREBALL CAME OUT AND THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE, I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR-CONDITIONING AND HAD PRIOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT I HAD CHECKED OUT AT A BMW REPAIR SHOP.
Air bags, Engine, Nov 11, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM TK HOLDINGS INC. INFORMING ME OF A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO AIRBAGRECALL.COM AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS ALSO A RECALL FOR THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING. I CALLED A BMW DEALERSHIP IN IRVINE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN'T HELP ME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THEIR SYSTEM.
Other or unspecified, Nov 9, 2017
BLOWER MOTOR RECALL, CALLED BMW STEVEN CREEK DEALER, SAN JOSE, CA, NO PARTS AND NO SCHEDULE TO FIX, CALLED CUSTOMERRELATIONS@BMWUSA.COM OR AT 1-800-525-7417. THE ANSWER IS THEY DON'T KNOW THE SCHEDULE AND NO REMEDY TO REPAIR. BMW IS VERY PASSIVE ON THIS RECALL. DO NOT WANT TO GIVE THE BMW OWNER A SCHEDULE WHEN CAN THEY SERVICE THE RECALL REPAIR.
Air bags, Nov 8, 2017
TAKATA RECALL RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Nov 7, 2017
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT JUST CAME ON. FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON INTERNET AND NHTSA RECALLS FOR "FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT DEFECT". I CONTACTED BMW AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VIN, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IDENTICAL TO THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS.
Electrical system, Nov 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (A&L BMW, 3780 WILLIAM PENN HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA 15146) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-525-7417 AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.