There are 50 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2009 BMW 3 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
2009 BMW 3 Series with factory optioned Sport Steering wheel has no recalls, but still has a 2017 production Takata PSDI-5 airbag with the yellow sticker. This airbag was replaced during the interim period, before the revised design was released. It was manufactured in 2017, but used the same design as the original. This airbag is now 9 years old, and I fear it has the same shrapnel risk as the original unit replaced in 2017. East Bay BMW did not take my concern seriously when I made an appointment, citing the fact that there were no recalls for my VIN. There was no inspection performed. The only option I have is buying a used airbag with a 2018+ production date and white sticker. I would like reassurance that my airbag won't kill me, or some help from the manufacturer.
Seat occupancy sensor -- seat belt is inoperable on passenger side. Seat belt stuck in passengers seat back. "Active fault for seat occupancy sensor." Belt tensioner - "Drive belt starting to walk off tensioner pulley"
The contact owns a 2009 BMW 335I. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V017000 (AIR BAGS); however, shortly after the vehicle was retrieved, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 102,000.
My mat sensor in my passenger seat is not working properly. Nobody ever really sits in the passenger seat and the light came on stating that someone is sitting in the passenger seat when there is actually nobody sitting in the seat! Which means the airbag will not deploy this seems to be an issue with many 09 bmw 328i vehicle’s! I noticed through research that vehicles prior to said year had same issues and was part of a recall. I feel this should also be part of a new recall with this vehicle year
My car randomly started throwing an error for a failure with the passenger restraint system. From what I have read it has something to do with the OC3 Mat in the seat that detects if there is an occupant, and if the weight of the occupant is considered to be that of an adult, so the airbag does not deploy in the wrong circumstances, which is potentially dangerous to anyone that may ride in the passenger seat. There has been an extended warranty, and recall for previous years of E90 BMWs, but 2009 may not be included, even though the seats should be the same. I plan on contacting the dealership for further investigation, but I know I cannot afford to have this safety feature fixed out of my pocket at this time. Thank you for your time.
I have the seatbelt and airbag light illuminated on my car for the passenger. I have researched this issue and it seems to be a common problem on BMWs. It was part of a recall for the 2006 model but nothing past that year. Apparently, it is the sensor that is in the passenger seat that has broken. So the airbag can't sense whether or not a person is occupying that seat.
I turned my car on an out of nowhere a seatbelt and airbag light came on. I did not get into a bump up or disconnect any sensors it just popped up one day.
Code is coming up for passenger seat occupancy sensor which possibly affects airbag deployment in the event of a collision. It has been noted that the passenger seat occupancy sensor has been a part of prior BMW for 2008 and earlier.
I'M HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IN HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2014/MC-10148018-9999.PDF BUT IN MY 2009 BMW, WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE ACCELERATION. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE UP AN INCLINE. THEN I HEARD A RATTLING. THE NEXT EXIT WAS A REST STOP AND AS I WAS EXITING MY VEHICLE FAILED AND SHUT DOWN. I HAD NO POWER AT ALL. I COASTED TO A PARKING STALL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER PARKING IT SAFELY. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HOT OR SMOKING SO I TRIED TO START IT. THE CAR STARTED BUT WITH A VERY LOUD KNOCKING AND RATTLING SO I SHUT IT OFF AGAIN AND PHONED THE DEALERSHIP. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 30 DAYS AGO AND HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THEM NOT 1X. I HAVE CALLED WEEKLY TO NO AVAIL.
SENSOR WARNING STATES PASSENGER AIRBAG AND PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT ON. *TR
IT STARTED HAPPENING HERE AND THERE, WHILE NO ONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, IT IS SAYING SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE ON AND AN AIRBAG LIGHT, AFTER A LITTLE WHILE OF DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT SOMETIMES GOES OFF BUT SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL STAY ON. EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT WITH THEIR SEAT BELT ON - BOTH OF THOSE LIGHTS ARE ON SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG. I'M SCARED IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WONT DEPLOY. I'M ALSO SEEING I'M NOT THE ONLY BMW WITH THIS ISSUE. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL WHEN THIS CAN COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. NO CARS AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD JUST GO.
THE SEAT MAT SENSOR IS ALSO DEFECTIVE IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. BMW HAS INCLUDED ONLY 2007 AND 2008. WE CANNOT PUT A CHILD OR ELDERLY IN THE FRONT SEAT AS THE AIRBAG WILL GO OFF.
WHEN A PASSENGER IS BELTED - WITH CAR RUNNING/DRIVING - AN ALARM COMES ON - BASICALLY NOT RECOGNIZING WHEN BELTED. ALSO THE INACTIVE AIRBAG LIGHT IS NOT ON. WHEN NO PASSENGER, THE CAR USED TO LIGHT UP THE 'AIRBAG NOT ACTIVE' - IT NO LONGER SHOWS THAT (LIGHT IS ALWAYS OFF) WHETHER PASSENGER THERE OR NOT.
AIRBAG SYSTEM FAULT DUE TO OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR P/N 65779153119. THIS SENSOR IS USED ON BMW E90, E91, E92, E93 MODELS FROM 2006-2012. BMW RECALLED ONLY 2006 AND 2007 MODELS IN 2014( RECALL NOTICE 17V428) THEN REVISED IN 2017 TO INCLUDE MORE VEHICLES. IN ADDITION, THEY ISSUED A SB -10056703-9690 IN 2017 TO EXTEND WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS FOR THIS SENSOR. SINCE THE EXACT SENSOR IS FITTED ON VEHICLES FROM 2006-2012, AND NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS HAVE REPORTED THE FAULT, I BELIEVE MY E93 SHOULD BE COVERED IN THE RECALL OR THE 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. BASED ON RESEARCH, MANY PEOPLE HAVE RESORTED TO A BYPASS DEVICE. THIS EXTINGUISHES THE FAULT BUT PRESENTS AN ISSUE IF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS AN INFANT/ OR UNDER 40 POUNDS. AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT AND DEATH/ SERIOUS INJURY IS POSSIBLE.
PASSENGER SEAT RESTRAINTS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTEAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT-TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER.
RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULTY WARNING CAME ON
AFTER A PERSONAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE, BMW SEEMS TO STILL DENY THAT MY MODEL HAS THE SAME ISSUES DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. "RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION!" APPEARS ON THE CAR EVERY 20 SECONDS FRIGHTING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS THE AIRBAGS AND SEATBELTS MIGHT NOT WORK. THIS IS AN AMERICAN CAR CURENTLY IN CANADA.
THE SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT HAS FAILED THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.THE 2006 TO 2008 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT NOT THE 2009.THOS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WITH A FAULTY SENSOR.CONTACTED BMW WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS YOU PAY FULL PRICE.THIS IS A JOKE BECAUSE THE REPAIR IS 1500 DOLLARS OR MORE, THE CAR ONLY HAS 77000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BECAUSE THIS A SERIOUS AND COMMON PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AND IS A HORRIBLE DESIGN.
TAKATA RECALL FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT DURING MINOR ACCIDENT CAUSING NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. IMPACT OCCURED FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER VEHICLE WAS AT COMPLETE STOP AFTER ACCIDENT CAUSING NOSE DAMAGE AND BURN AND BRUISE ON LEFT ARM. IRREGULAR DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS BECAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO ONE WAS SEATED ON PASSENGER SIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE VEHICLE SIDE AIRBAG WHERE I WAS SEATED DID NOT DEPLOY.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026