2006 BMW 3 Series Complaint Log

RECALL SUBJECT: FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS I WENT TO THE LOCAL BMW SHOP TO HAVE THEM CHECK WHY MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THEY CHECKED A LIST OF SOME SORT IN THEIR SYSTEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR (A 2006 BMW 325I) SHOULD BE RECALLED AND BROUGHT IN TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA REGARDING A POSSIBLE RECALL FOR MY BMW. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC AND THEY ASKED ME IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND I INFORMED THEM THAT I WAS THE SECOND OWNER AND HAD NOT BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THAT IS WHY I HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY CAR. THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO HELP OBTAIN A RECALL NOTICE. INFORMATION FROM A PUBLISHED SOURCE STATES THAT A CONSEQUENCE OF THE DEFECT IS, SHOULD THE SYSTEM FAIL, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WOULD BE DEACTIVATED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. I NEED AND ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW. THANK YOU,

SITTING IN PARKING LOT, ENGINE OFF, KEY IN IGN (LISTENING TO RADIO). AIR-BAG WARNING LAMP LIGHTS AND HAS BEEN ON STEADY EVER SINCE. PASSENGER AIR BAG DISABLED INDICATOR ALSO ON. CALLED DEALER TO MAKE APPOINTMENT. I INQUIRED ABOUT THE RECALL AND SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON MY CAR. SEEMS THAT THIS IS THE EXACT FAULT IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000. THIS CAR HAS THE "SPORT SEATS" WHICH ARE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR EVEN WHEN THERE WAS NOT AN OCCUPANT PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY NOR WERE THERE ANY RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,476.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BOLT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE SEAT SENSOR MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY MAT SENSOR IS FAULTY. *TR

I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF MY 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. I'VE DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND ONE DAY I GO TO START MY CAR TO GO TO WORK AND I NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON AND IT SAYS PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY OR WHAT CAUSED THIS!? I DON'T MESS WITH MY CAR, IT JUST RANDOMLY DID IT ONCE I TRIED TO START IT. *I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I SEEN AN ARTICLE FROM NBC NEWS THAT SAYS "BMW AG SAID WEDNESDAY IT WAS RECALLING 200,000 VEHICLES OVER CONCERNS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH." NOW THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME! I NEED TO GET THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING WILL ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING, WITH OR WITHOUT THE PASSENGER SEAT BEING OCCUPIED. BOTH THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WILL GO AWAY AND MAY OR MAY NOT ILLUMINATE AGAIN. WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN OCTOBER OF 2012, THE INDICATOR WOULD APPEAR AND GO AWAY AND WOULD NOT COME BACK FOR MAYBE TWO OR THREE MONTH OF DRIVING. NOW, APPROXIMATE A YEAR LATER THE SYSTEM WILL ILLUMINATE, WHEN NO ONE IS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER SEAT, OR ON START OF THE VEHICLE, OR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN APPROXIMATE A 1/4 MILE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LATENT SAFETY DEFECT FOR THE AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM IN THIS CAR. *TR

I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM MARCHING BAND PRACTICE ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON. WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HER HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT OUT, I WENT TO LOCK THE DOORS. I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS DOORS WERE LOCKED, THE PASSENGERS DOORS WERE UNLOCKED. THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT WORK ANYMORE ON ANY OF THE DOORS BUT WOULD WORK ON THE TRUNK. I GOT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR AND CRAWLED OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND TRIED THE DOOR AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE CENTRAL LOCK BUTTON ALSO WOULD NOT WORK. I CRAWLED OUT AND TRIED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WITH THE KEY. IT DID UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. NONE OF THE OTHER DOORS WOULD RESPOND FROM THE INSIDE. AFTER I GOT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR TO UNLOCK WITH THE KEY, MY KEY FOB WOULD WORK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ONLY. BECAUSE MY KIDS DECIDED TO "HELP MOM" BY PUSHING THE LOCKS DOWN MANUALLY - NOW ALL OF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED AND WON'T BUDGE EXCEPT THE DRIVERS SIDE. I EFFECTIVELY CAN'T USE THE CAR FOR ANYONE EXCEPT MYSELF BECAUSE NO ONE CAN ENTER - AND MORE IMPORTANTLY EXIT FROM THE CAR EXCEPT FOR CRAWLING OVER SEATS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE WAY TO OPEN THE DOORS MANUALLY. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS - BMW IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT CHOOSES NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY CAR STARTED HAVING A MASSIVE OIL LEAK AT AROUND 79,000 MILES. THE MOTOR SEALS STARTED TO FAIL ONCE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT THE MOTOR SEALS ARE VERY COMMON TO PREMATURELY FAIL. THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE MOTOR TOGETHER STARTED TO BREAK AT AROUND 80,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,700.

I WAS BACKING UP AT 4 MPH AND PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP. THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. IT CONTINUED TO STAY ON AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF SINCE. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR OTHER THAN MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE MECHANIC TWICE NOW TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE LIGHTS AND WARNINGS STILL COME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET MY CAR VIN ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST? *TR

A WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. AT FIRST IT WAS OCCASIONAL. NOW THE WARNING IS ON EVERY TIME I GET IN THE CAR WITH OR WITHOUT A PASSENGER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CAR INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V384000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED UNTIL THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S AIR BAG RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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

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

CAR LOST POWER ABRUPTLY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH IN TRAFFIC. UPON LOOKING INTO THE REARVIEW MIRROR, SMOKE WAS APPEARING FROM THE TRUNK. WE OPENED THE TRUNK AND SAW PART OF THE CARPET, WHICH COVERED THE CAR BATTERY, WAS BURNED. THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE SOMEHOW SHORTED AND CAUSED A SMALL FIRE, CAUSING THE CARPET AND ACTUAL BATTERY TO BURN. AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED, THE BATTERY CABLE HAD A SMALL SLIT IN IT AND THE COPPER CABLING HAD TURNED TO AN OXIDIZED WHITE COLOR. LUCKILY NOONE WAS HURT, BUT WE SPENT OUR OWN MONEY TO HAVE IT TOWED AND REPAIRED. WE COMPLAINED TO BMW NORTH AMERICA BUT THEY SIMPLY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. WE HAD TO BUY OUR OWN EXPENSIVE CABLE FROM A LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND HAVE IT INSTALLED. IT TURNS OUT BMW JUST RECENTLY STARTED A POSITIVE BATTERY RECALL PROGRAM ON VARIOUS CARS, BUT THE 2006 325I IS NOT IN THAT LIST. THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO US LAST YEAR IS SIMILAR, IF NOT WORSE, THAN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THEIR DETAILS OF THE CURRENT BATTERY CABLE RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING THE ENGINE MELTED AND WERE SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,300...UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/5/2013 *JS

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

I NOW HAVE THE "STEERING LOCK" YELLOW CAUTION LIGHT ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, OVER TIME THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 12/31/12 *BF UPDATED 1/4/2013 *JS

MY CAR STARTED DISPLAYING A WARNING THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS A LOW VOLTAGE ISSUE WITH MY BATTERY AND FIXED IT. 2 WEEKS LATER THE WARNING REAPPEARED. THIS TIME, WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE SENSOR MODULE IN THE SEATS AND THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. EVEN THOUGH THE NHTSA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS SPECIFIC MALFUNCTION (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000), THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE MODULE UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS QUOTED TO BE $1400 AND IS OUT OF MY BUDGET, AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A NOTED SAFETY DEFECT THAT BMW IS AWARE OF, THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL CLAIMING THAT MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT AMONG THOSE COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

FOR THE LISTED 2006 BMW E90 330I, THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED IN THE IDRIVE INTERFACE. "PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM: FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION!" THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NOTHING OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE SEATBELT, AIRBAG, AND PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED WITH AND WITHOUT A PERSON OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER SEAT AND CANNOT BE CLEARED. BMW WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR A RECALL OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THIS DEFECT CAUSES A SEVERE SAFETY RISK DUE TO POSSIBLE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURES RESULTING IN POTENTIAL FATALITY. SINCE THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, AND EQUIPMENT MATCH THE RECALL SPECIFICATIONS; THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIRED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THE MILEAGE AT WHICH THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND CURRENT MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATELY 86,000. *TR

REQUESTING RESEARCH FOR RECALL INTO KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW SERVICE BULLETIN ON DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS: I WAS PARKED, AND USED MY KEY REMOTE TO OPEN THE DOORS AS I ALWAYS DO, BUT THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE ONLY ONE THAT STAYS UNLOCKED (THE LOCK DOES NOT GO DOWN WHEN I CLICK THE ALARM) IS THE RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK. I, THEREFORE, HAVE TO USE THE HARD PLASTIC EMERGENCY KEY (FROM THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT) TO MANUALLY UNLOCK MY DRIVER DOOR EACH TIME. I FIND THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I SOMETIMES WORK UNTIL LATE AT NIGHT AND HAVE TO FUMBLE TO GET THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, AND THERE WAS NOT, BUT WHAT I DID FIND, WERE QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON A VARIETY OF BMW MODELS, OLDER AND NEWER. SOME BMW OWNERS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE STUCK IN THEIR CARS, BECAUSE THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE, SO PASSENGERS (SUCH AS MY MOTHER HAD TO DO SEVERAL TIMES) HAVE TO CLIMB AROUND IN THE CAR TO CLIMB OUT OF THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENS. I ALSO DISCOVERED THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN NOTICE ON THIS ISSUE. THE OWNERS WHOSE FACTORY WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT ARE STILL HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. MANY ARE ATTEMPTING TO LEARN FROM DO-IT-YOURSELF WEBSITES TO AVOID THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE CAN YOU RESEARCH AND MAKE THIS A RECALL, IT IS HIGHLY UNCOMFORTABLE TO HAVE PASSENGERS CLIMBING IN BY ADJUSTING SEATS AND CLIMBING OUT BECAUSE OF THIS DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR KNOWN ISSUE, THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR YEARS IN BMW CARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. NO WAY TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR EVEN WITH INTERNAL HANDLE. PASSENGER TRAPPED AND HAD TO CRAWL OVER TO DRIVER'S SEAT. WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

STEERING WAS LOCKED AND I CAN'T START THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AFTER I TRYING SO MANY METHODS GOT FROM ONLINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,585.

DASHBOARD READS "PASSENGER SEAT RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION" AND SHOWS AN IMAGE OF A DUMMY WITH AN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WHEN I CALLED BMW THEY STATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT ON THE LIST FOR THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR FITS UNDER THIS RECALL COMPLETELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. .UPDATED 11/05/12 *BF UPDATED 11/07/2012 *JS

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

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

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR FAULT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 BMW 330I. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON DUE TO A CRACK IN THE MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. IT WILL COST ME OVER $1000.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED! MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE RECALL! THIS MEANS MY AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN! I HAVE FOUR TEENAGERS AND TWO OF THEM DRIVE THIS VEHICLE! I THINK MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE! TEEN DRIVERS ARE AT A HIGHER RISK OF ACCIDENTS. ALL OF THE 2006 330I NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL! I FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS! *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT/ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE COVERED BY A RECENT BMW RECALL I FOUND ON YOUR WEBSITE. THIS ALERT STARTED TO COME UP IN MY CAR INTERMITTENTLY ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO, BUT IT NOW STAYS ON. I HEARD ABOUT A RECALL AND WAS WAITING FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM BMW BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY. I WENT TO THE BMW CENTER IN ALEXANDRIA, VA THIS WEEK (8/15/14) TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED BY THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT. I ALSO CALLED THEIR 1-800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. HOWEVER, I JUST FOUND A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS ISSUE (SEE LINK BELOW) ON THIS WEBSITE WHERE IT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDES MY MODEL YEAR CAR (BMW 2006 325XI). MY CAR IS NOW NOT PASSING VA INSPECTION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THIS REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $2,000, WHICH I DON'T HAVE AT THIS MOMENT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO HOW I CAN BEST EXPEDITE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS UNDER THIS RECALL, TO DEAL WITH THIS SECURITY ISSUE AND SO THAT I CAN RENEW MY INSPECTION STICKER AS REQUIRED BY VA LAW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP NOTED ALUMINUM HEAD BOLTS BROKEN WHICH COULD CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. BROKEN BOLTS CAUSED OIL LEAK AND HEADS OF BOLTS COULD HAVE GONE INTO THE TIMING BELT DESTROYING THE ENGINE. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DIRECTED US TO THE DEALERSHIP STATING THEY HAD NOTED THIS ISSUES ON ALMOST ALL OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL. REPAIR COST WAS VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE SENSOR ERROR AND AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE DETAILS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT 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 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR, WHICH WAS IN THE SEAT, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

AFTER ~50,00 MILES THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION NOTIFICATION STARTED TO APPEAR ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE MESSAGE CONTINUED TO APPEAR RANDOMLY, AND NOW AT ~70,000 MILES, THE MESSAGE IS PERMANENTLY ON. THE MESSAGE SEEMS TO CONVEY THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. BMW HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD TO REPAIR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT THE EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT WOULD NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 8/8/12* CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE DISCOVERED RECALL # 08V384000. HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 08/14/12

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.

DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED AND DRIVER BECAME LOCKED IN CAR. DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED INSIDE THE CAR WITH KEYS, INTERNAL BUTTONS, OR DOOR HANDLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED AND LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAG FRONTAL). THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

5/23/12 - VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, NEEDED TO BE JUMPED. TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT FUNCTION. DEALER CHARGED BATTERY - NO FAULT CODES FOUND, ALL FUSES OK, CHECKED FOR POWER AND GROUND - ALL OK. DASH CLUSTER NOW OPERABLE. 6/6/13 - DIFFICULTY STARTING CAR - MILEAGE 10151. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INOPERABLE, FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL ECONOMY GAUGE, TRIP GAUGE REVERTED TO ALMOST ZERO. DEALER DIAGNOSED, REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, REPLACED BATTERY, FULL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED - OIL CHANGE, BRAKE FLUID, FILTERS. CAR NOW PERFORMS WELL - DEALER DID EXCELLENT TURN AROUND. MILEAGE RESET AT LESS THAT 10151. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAGS SENSORS COME ON AND OFF, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON WITH PASSENGER IN CAR. *TR

DOOR LOCKS BECAME UNRESPONSIVE, EITHER WHEN ACTIVATED VIA THE KEY FOB OR THE INTERNAL DOOR UNLOCK BUTTON. DOORS ARE UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THE INSIDE. PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT. ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPENS. *TR