RoadVitals

2006 BMW 3 Series Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
38
Latest Oct 24, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
19%
of 202 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 BMW 3 Series submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming interior

The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words

AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Oct 24, 2017

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. RECEIVED WARNING MESSAGE WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN FRONT SEAT. LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF TIME.

NHTSA ID
11039266
Incident
Nov 16, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Sep 15, 2017

TAKATA RECALL- MY AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 2X(1X UNDER WARRANTY) 1X I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND NOW A 3RD TIME (OUT OF POCKET) IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH TIME THIS HAS BROKEN.

NHTSA ID
11023662
Incident
Sep 4, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Sep 14, 2017

GETTING A HARD WARNING FOR "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". APPARENTLY THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT GOING BAD. THIS CAN CAUSE INJURY OR FATALITY AS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ID
11023483
Incident
Aug 3, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 19, 2017

RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION FOR FRONT PASSENGER CODE 93C3. MY VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL BUT THE PARTICULAR MODEL HAS RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE CODE IS FOR THE AIRBAG WHICH WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IF A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT OR NOT.

NHTSA ID
11016351
Incident
Jun 21, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 9, 2017

FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT FAILED. AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. AIR BAG FAULTS WERE SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD AND INFORMATION CENTER. RECALL CAMPAIGN - 08V384000 WAS ISSUED BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. RECALL CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHER MODELS IN THIS YEAR.

NHTSA ID
10943913
Incident
Nov 9, 2016
Mileage
149,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 18, 2016

FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ALWAYS BREAKS

NHTSA ID
10875036
Incident
Jun 18, 2008
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed 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.

NHTSA ID
10721084
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 7, 2014

PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK. ALL PASSENGERS NEEDED TO EXIT THROUGH THE DRIVERS DOOR. THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IN AN ACCIDENT AND PASSENGERS COULD NOT OPEN DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10631412
Incident
Sep 6, 2014
Mileage
67,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed May 6, 2014

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN JANUARY 2014 (RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V-564: FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT). THE RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT IN THE CURRENT CONDITION, THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR ARE SCHEDULED TO BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2014. IT IS NOW MAY 6, 2014 AND BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS HAS INDICATED THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE ON WHEN THEY WILL BE. IT HAS NOW BEEN NEARLY 5 MONTHS SINCE RECEIVING THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE. DURING THIS TIME I ESSENTIALLY HAVE A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. BMW DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE TAKING THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND PROVIDING A PROMPT RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE PLACED REPEATED CALLS INTO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND CONTINUE TO BE INFORMED THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL THE REQUIRED PARTS ARE MADE AVAILABLE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586838
Incident
Nov 13, 2013
Mileage
55,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Feb 17, 2014

REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD NOT ALLOW REAR DOOR TO OPEN. HAD FIXED AND THEN DRIVERS DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND WOULD NOT OPEN. COULD NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10564660
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
81,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 31, 2014

VEHICLE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS (ACTUATORS) DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. UNABLE TO EXIT DRIVER'S DOOR FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE BY PULLING HANDLE. IF THERE WAS A CRASH AND/OR FIRE, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY TO EXIT QUICKLY. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE ACCORDING TO BMW FORUM IN THE INTERNET (BIMMERPOST). *TR

NHTSA ID
10562410
Incident
Jan 30, 2014
Mileage
76,500 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jun 14, 2013

PASSENGER SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD INDICATING THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000. HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH SAME MODEL AND YEAR, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10519872
Incident
Apr 27, 2013
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsVisibility
Filed Mar 23, 2013

YESTERDAY, THE DOORS ON MY 2006 325I WOULDN'T UNLOCK WITH THE KEY FOB. I USED THE ACTUAL KEY TO ENTER THE CAR AND THE CENTRAL LOCKING/UNLOCKING BUTTON DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE DOOR TO THE GAS TANK IS ALSO LOCKED. THERE IS NO WAY TO UNLOCK ANY OF THE PASSENGER DOORS WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. IN READING THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504242
Incident
Mar 22, 2013
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 30, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10478009
Incident
Sep 29, 2012
Mileage
78,540 mi
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 22, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10466941
Incident
Jul 22, 2012
Mileage
65,100 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 1, 2012

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

NHTSA ID
10460287
Incident
May 27, 2012
Mileage
69,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed May 8, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR USING THE ELECTRONIC KEY FOB BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR WITH THE HANDLE AND WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON ALL OTHER DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS ON ALL DOORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,700. UPDATED 05/31/12 *BF THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ACTUATORS. A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE FAILED AND THE DOOR HANDLES WOULD NOT WORK. THE KEY ONLY WORKED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR.

NHTSA ID
10457750
Incident
May 4, 2012
Mileage
50,700 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Mar 6, 2012

WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND REMAINS LIT, AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THIS IS APPARENTLY DUE TO MICRO-CRACKING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT, HOWEVER BMW ONLY INCLUDES A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF AFFECTED CARS IN THE 2008 RECALL. BMW NA REFUSES TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT FOR ALL 2006 BUILD YEAR 330I MODELS WITH SPORT SEATS. THE SAME SEATS WHICH ARE AFFECTED BY THE IDENTICAL ISSUE FOR 2005 BUILD YEAR. IT SEEMS GIVEN THE NUMBER OF CARS AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT CORRECTED FOR THE 2006 BUILD YEAR. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING IN A COLLISION WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450469
Incident
Feb 1, 2012
Mileage
49,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Mar 5, 2012

THE OC3 MAT (PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT) HAS FAILED. THIS ISSUE, AS DESCRIBED IN MORE DETAIL BELOW (4.), INVOLVES THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT OF CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES, AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA PE07-045 AND EA08-001. IN SHORT, A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE MAT CAN OCCUR AND WOULD CONSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WITH EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM. THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WOULD ILLUMINATE IN SUCH CASE. BMW STATES THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL SINCE IT WAS PRODUCED AFTER 11/2005. YET, THE PROGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450302
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 13, 2012

DOOR ACTUATOR HAS FAILED TO WORK. ALARM ALSO BEING EFFECTED. KNOWN PROBLEM TO MANUFACTURER, BMW. SAFTEY CONCERN IF UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY . *TR

NHTSA ID
10447749
Incident
Feb 13, 2012
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Apr 22, 2011

DOOR LOCKS ON 2006 BMW 330XI SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY MIDWAY THROUGH THE DAY AND WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE EMBEDDED PHYSICAL KEY IN THE FOB BUT WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR AND TRIED OPERATING THE DOORS THEY AGAIN LOCKED BUT WERE UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED NEITHER BY THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE CONSOLE, THE FOB OR THE DOOR HANDLE. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR WAS TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, AND USE THE EMERGENCY MECHANICAL KEY TO UNLOCK IT BY EXTENDING MY HAND OUT THE WINDOW. SINCE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS THE ONLY DOOR WITH A PHYSICAL KEYLOCK, IT WAS THE ONLY DOOR THAT WAS ABLE TO OPEN. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY, ALL 3 PASSENGERS HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THEIR WINDOWS TO EXIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10397135
Incident
Apr 16, 2011
Mileage
55,804 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 17, 2011

DOORS FAILED AND CONTINUE TO FAIL TO UNLOCK. PASSENGERS WERE STUCK IN VEHICLE. DRIVER'S DOOR WAS UNLOCKED BY OPENING WINDOW. FRONT PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OVER CONSOLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376984
Incident
Jan 17, 2011
Mileage
52,000 mi
Interior & seatsSteering
Filed Dec 8, 2010

FAILURE OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK, CAUSING INABILITY TO RESTART AUTOMOBILE INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE READ THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EARLY 2006 330I MODELS, BUT A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILES, SO IT WAS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. BMW OFFERED TO SUPPLY THE PARTS FOR FREE, HOWEVER I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN 100% COVERED BY BMW AS A RECALL AND HANDLED PROACTIVELY BY THE COMPANY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369685
Incident
Nov 28, 2010
Mileage
12,696 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 25, 2010

WENT TO UNLOCK DOORS IN 2006 BMW 330I AND THERE WAS A RAPID CLICKING SOUND IN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. THE POWER LOCKS FAILED TO RESPOND AFTERWARDS AND ALL DOORS REMAINED LOCKED. THE FOB, NOR THE INTERNAL UNLOCK BUTTON WOULD ALLOW THE DOORS TO BE UNLOCKED AND ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE DID NOT WORK EITHER. ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR CAN BE MANUALLY UNLOCKED BY PHYSICAL KEY OR BY PULLING THE HANDLE FROM THE INSIDE. AN INITIAL ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE FUSE #57 WITH A 20A FUSE OVER THE ORIGINAL BLOWN 15A FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367852
Incident
Nov 25, 2010
Mileage
67,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 19, 2010

I HAVE A BMW 320D. A FEW DAYS AGO MY WIFE WAS OUT SOMEWHERE AND SHE LOCKED THE CAR IT WEREN'T LOCKING SO SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND THEN PRESS LOCK, IT LOCKED. WHEN SHE CAME BACK SHE WAS TRYING TO UNLOCK IT BUT IT WEREN'T UNLOCKING. SHE HAD TO USE THE TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE FOB AND OPEN IT MANUALLY, THEN THE ALARM STARTED GOING OFF SO SHE HAD TO TURN THE CAR ON SO IT WOULD STOP. NOW ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE OPENS BUT YOU HAVE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY WITH THE KEY, HE REST WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE BMW GARAGE AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST AROUND 600 TO REPLACE THE LATCHES. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND YOU DON'T EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN TO A 27,000 CAR AFTER ONLY HAVING IT FOR 3 YEARS. ALSO IF THEIR EVER WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE DOOR LATCHES STOPPED WORKING NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT, THEY WOULD ALL HAVE TO RUSH OUT THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10366880
Incident
Nov 15, 2010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .