2006 BMW 325I Airbags Problems

The passenger seat occupancy sensor (OC3 mat) on my 2006 BMW 3 Series (VIN: [XXX] ) has failed. As a result, the front passenger airbag is disabled, which poses a serious safety risk. BMW issued a 15-year warranty extension for this issue, acknowledging it as a common failure, but my vehicle is now slightly outside the coverage period. This part is vital for detecting front-seat occupants and enabling the airbag during a crash. I believe BMW should still be required to fix this safety-critical defect, especially in vehicles where the issue was never repaired while under the extended coverage window. This should be reclassified as a full safety recall, not just an expired service campaign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11669664

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325I. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V513000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer offered an inspection but declined to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11634322

Incident

Jan 6, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

There is a recall 17v-428 for the seat mat, and i went to my local BMW dealer and said this car was not on the list, but they acknowledge it’s the same issue but because this VIN was not included they can’t fix it at no charge . They want $2100 to repair. Can you help me ? Thanks

NHTSA ID

11616440

Incident

Sep 25, 2024

Put a box of moderate weight into the passenger seat (hard drives) - probably 40 lbs. After driving for a few minutes and over a few bumps, the seat belt warning light came on because the seat sensor was tripped by the weight. Put the seat belt on to silence the warning. Shortly thereafter, both the seatbelt and passenger airbag warning lights showed on the dash, regardless of occupancy. Hooked up to scanning tool and cleared the codes but they always return. This is not a rare event from reading the online forums - it is likely due to the sensor mat in the seat for occupancy being defective, or a combination of that and the seat belt pre-tensioner being defective, for the passenger side only. The vehicle operates normally other than the warning lights. Obviously have not tested the airbag, but that is highly unlikely to be the actual problem from my investigation of the symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11530296

Incident

May 18, 2023

Existing vehicle recall excludes this particular VIN among the same MY and model even though this VIN is affected. Report Receipt Date: NOV 12, 2013 NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 76,565 Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, [shortened]. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure. CONSEQUENCE: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.

NHTSA ID

11504177

Incident

Jan 28, 2023

After recall done pvc valve and blower heat a/c now not working the car engine light come up abs /brake and more

NHTSA ID

11503057

Incident

Jan 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the dealer had previously replaced the passenger's side front seat air bag sensor and steering wheel air bag sensor; however, the failure recurred while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, with the air bag warning light being illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11482599

Incident

Sep 2, 2022

Mileage

130,000 mi

Component failed: passenger seat occupancy sensor (BMW error code: 0x93C3) Implication: passenger airbag will not deploy in case of accident if the occupancy sensor is defective. Similar problems: similar recalls were issued by BMW for the same model and year but with only sports seat; regular seats were not recalled. Previous inspections: this issue has not been previously inspected, but personal inspection leads to faulty seat occupancy sensor. Prior warnings: dashboard shows seatbelt and airbag lights; roof indicator lamp shows passenger airbag off.

NHTSA ID

11480697

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated that the front air bag and seat belt passenger sensor functionality were defective. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and no cause for the failure was determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 (Air Bags). The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11475308

Incident

May 20, 2022

Mileage

150,000 mi

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the seat mat sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11442860

Incident

Dec 6, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

The passenger seat mat sensor stopped working and that disabled the airbag. I called BMW and they told me this part has already been replaced once in 2016 on my car during a recall, which happened before I purchased the car. I asked them to replace it again since this is a safety issue and they told me BMW would only replace this part for cars with less than 15 years, which in my case expired on January 2021. This is a very costly repair and in my view is caused by a poorly designed part, considering that there has already been 3 recalls on it and it keeps breaking after a some use. So for now, until this case is settled, I will be driving a car with the passenger airbag deactivated by the board computer, what is a very serious safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11433678

Incident

Aug 29, 2021

AC STOP WORKING AND A BURN WIRING SMELL CAME OUT

NHTSA ID

11322448

Incident

Apr 27, 2020

RECEIVING AN ERROR CODE ON THE DASH THAT DISPLAYS A 'RED' MANNEQUIN WITH SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG. IN REVIEWING THE BMW HANDBOOK, IT INDICATES THE ERROR IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVER'S AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

11307923

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

225,900 mi

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. NO CODE IS BEING GIVEN BY THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL. I SEE THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, INVOLVING SEVERAL MODELS. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T GET ANY COOPERATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST SAY THAT IT'S NOT ANYTHING COVERED UNDER A RECALL. I FEEL WITH THE WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A CRITICAL SAFETY DEVICE SUCH AS AN AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED SOON. I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. SINCERELY [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

NHTSA ID

11256835

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. (FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, BELT FORCE LIMITER) WHILST DRIVING. AIR BAG RECALLED JUST TWO MONTHS AGO! AND NOW NEW ISSUE. WORRIED FOR SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11253563

Incident

Sep 6, 2019

Mileage

133,000 mi

TAMARA AIRBAGS. MY CAR HAS BOTH AIRBAG LIGHTS ON AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT AT ALL AND IT HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AT ALL. I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION BUT WITH CONDITIONS. CONDITIONS WERE IF IT'S NOT THE PARTICULAR FAULT THEY WILL CHARGE ME $200 JUST FOR A SCAN. AND THEN SOME MORE TO ACTUALLY FIX THE ISSUE. I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE IT IN DUE TO THAT ISSUE. I DON'T HAVE $200 TO GIVE UP LIKE THAT.

NHTSA ID

11180530

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PLACED A BRIEFCASE WITH A LAPTOP ON THE SEAT AND THE SYSTEM WARNED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE WARNING INDICATOR FIRST ILLUMINATED IN FEBRUARY OF 2018 AND FLASHED ON AND OFF. CURRENTLY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED RECEIVING TSB NUMBER: SIB-01-09-14 (PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR 063) LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11155730

Incident

Dec 2, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE THE DETAILS OF THE FAILURES HE EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

11139999

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

92,000 mi

I AM FRIGHTENED TO DEATH THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED RECALL OF ALMOST THE ENTIRE SRS CONTROLS WAS NOT PROPERLY FIXED. DUPLICATED WARNINGS FOR BOTH HAVE BEEN A DAILY PROBLEM AND AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE SYMPTOMS PRIOR. NO ACCIDENT TO REPORT, YET A COMPLETELY VALID POTENTIAL CAUSE FOR BODILY HARM! MY OTHER CAR IS 16 YEARS OLD AND JUST WAS IN FOR A NEW AND ACTIVE RECALL AS THE BAGS WERE DEPLOYING SHRAPNEL AND PLASTIC....AND SHE'S 16 YEARS OLD! I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND CONSIDERATION! LOOKING FORWARD TO A PROMPT RESPONSE! I'LL BE DRIVING IT TO MY NEPHEW'S WEDDING AT FORT CAMPBELL ARMY BASE.

NHTSA ID

11099451

Incident

May 9, 2018

DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR MAT. EVEN WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON, AS IF THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS: HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=E90+REPLACE+AIR+BAG+SENSOR+MAT&OQ=E90+REPLACE+AIR+BAG+SENSOR+MAT&AQS=CHROME..69I57.12429J1J7&SOURCEID=CHROME&IE=UTF-8

NHTSA ID

11083486

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CITY AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATES A POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ID

11078628

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE ICON AIRBAG WAS SHOWING WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR IN FLORIDA IN 2012...SO WHEN I CAME BACK HOME IN QUEBEC MY GARAGE CHANGE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG...THIS YEAR (AROUND JUNE 2017) THE ICON AIRBAG OFF APPEAR AGAIN EACH TIME I HAVE A PASSENGER SEATTING IN MY CAR...SO I THINK THAT SOMETING IS DEFECT WITH THE SENSOR OR THE AIRBAG

NHTSA ID

11072232

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

I BELIEVE THE SEAT SENSOR IN MY 2006 BMW 325I FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY. THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, THE LIGHT COMES ON THAT SHOWS THAT MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT ON AND ALSO THAT THE PASSENGER IS NOT BUCKLED, WHETHER THEY ARE BUCKLED, OR THERE ISN'T A PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT AT ALL. WHETHER I AM STATIONARY OR DRIVING/MOVING AT ANY SPEED, THOSE WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, AND WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, THEN THEY COME BACK ON AGAIN. I AM IN A CARPOOL SO I FREQUENTLY AM THE DRIVER AND I HAVE SOMEONE IN THAT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURIES IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NEWER MODELS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE THIS SEAT SENSOR ON RECALL, SO THE 2006 SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11066114

Incident

Jan 29, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE OTHER VEHICLE FLED THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (SOUTH MOTORS BMW, 16215 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33157) DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA ID

11063547

Incident

Nov 12, 2017

Mileage

155,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHTS ON WITHOUT CRASH ALSO SEAT BELT LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ID

11063045

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi