2006 BMW 325I Electrical Problems

While driving the vehicle, the blower (A/C) began to cycle on and off. Then I began to smell electrical smoke. Then I began to see smoke coming from vents and where the windshield meets the dashboard, closer to the passenger side. I pulled over and shut off the car as the smoke was getting worse inside the car. I popped the hood and saw smoke coming from the passenger side. I then called 911. Smoke was beginning to billow from engine compartment. As I was talking to the 911 dispatcher, I saw flames beginning in the engine bay close to the firewall on passenger side. The car was a total loss and is in a tow yard. It can be inspected upon request. The 911 operated told me to be aware of smoke and explosions so I backed away about 30ft. Many cars were passing by, close to the car. There are 2 safety recalls on this vehicle that are related to possible fire. I have an open case with BMW USA. They have not inspected the car. I have liability only for insurance so they will not cover. There were no warning lamps or indicators before fire.

NHTSA ID

11730424

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

The Valvetronic Actuator malfunctions. The malfunction may have been caused by a Battery Positive Cable that has corroded over time. The result is that the vehicle stops unexpectedly during acceleration. Driver safety and that of others is put at risk due to the vehicle suddenly losing power and stoping while being driven. The vehicle was evaluated by the dealer. Warning lamps were intermittent and inconsistent. To my knowledge there is no Valvetronic Actuator or Battery Cable specific warning lamps or messages. There was a 2017 recall for the Battery Positive Cable, but my specific VIN was not covered (by a few months). My VIN (1986 325I) should have been included in the 2017 recall.

NHTSA ID

11687394

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the A/C became inoperable and made an abnormally loud sound. The contact then noticed an abnormal burning wiring odor, and there was smoke coming out of the A/C vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that she attempted to pull to the side of the road, but could not safely do so. The contact continued driving and came to a complete stop at the traffic light, where the cabin became engulfed in smoke. The contact then pulled into a business parking lot and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated upon opening the hood, the contact noticed a reflection of the flame inside the hood. The contact ran into the business and asked for assistance. The contact stated that upon returning to the vehicle, the contact noticed that the fire had started from the middle of the hood to the cabin of the vehicle. The contact and the business employee attempted to extinguish the fire with two fire extinguishers but were unable to do so. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the vehicle burned to the ground from the middle of the hood to the trunk, where the gas tank was located, and the hood was fractured in half. The contact stated that there were burned particles around the parking lot, but there was no property damage. The fire department report was filed. A police report was filed, but the contact did not have the information available. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

NHTSA ID

11634581

Incident

Sep 30, 2024

Mileage

140,000 mi

The contact's husband owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact stated moments after her son had started, parked and exited the vehicle, there was smoke coming from under the hood. The under hood caught on fire and the hood failed to open. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact stated that the under hood, the front of the vehicle and the front tires burned significantly. A fire department report was filed. A police report was not filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was awaiting to be destroyed. The dealer was contacted. The contact contacted the manufacturer and sent pictures of the incident to the manufacturer; however, the manufacturer informed the contact that the fire was not related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000(Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11614154

Incident

Jul 23, 2024

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

Vehicle Steering Lock Malfunction - Car does not start and stuck in Park. Cannot move steering wheel which is locked. This is a design defect that needs to be addressed. Vehicle is rendered inoperative! Cannot move or start it! approx. mileage 105k. This is a new problem besides the current recall which has not been available yet. I've also been locked out of this vehicle and had to climb out of the window, thank God it was not a fire or flood! I was able to fix that problem myself. note: Steering Lock Malfunction is a widespread problem! Dealers want to replace the entire steering column in these cases at a very high cost. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11475609

Incident

Jul 12, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V676000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. 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 contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11465137

Incident

May 18, 2022

Over heating and smell of burning plastic

NHTSA ID

11456892

Incident

Mar 15, 2022

OIL FILTER HOUSING GASKET LEAKED ON TO ALTERNATOR CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO OVER HEAT AND MELT INTERNAL COMPONENTS WHICH CAUSING LACK OF POWER AND MULTIPLE FALSE CHECK ENGINE CODES TO COME ON AND SMOKE CLOUDED MY VIEW WHILE DRIVING SO VERY COMMON PROBLEM IS THE HEATER CORE LEAKING TOO

NHTSA ID

11407804

Incident

Feb 3, 2021

Mileage

180,000 mi

I WAS TRAVELING TO A LOCAL STORE. MY CAR SUDDENLY JERKED,RADIO TURNED OFF WHILE LIGHTS ON DASH FLICKERED ON AND OFF. I LOST POWER TEMPORARILY AND I BEGAN SMELLING WIRES. I ALSO NOTICE A 'POP' AS I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER AND NOTICE NO BRAKE OPERATIONS SO I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN THE BACKSEAT. I STARTED MY FLASHERS AND TURN OFF CAR TO SEARCH FOR SMELL. IT SEEMS LIKE DASH BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY SMOKE. I GET BACK IN CAR AND ATTEMPT TO START IT AND NOTHING! I STILL HAVE POWER SO I WAS CONFUSED, I CHECK TRUNK ULTIMATELY AND REMOVE BATTERY COVER AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND VERY DANGEROUS. I GOT THE CAR TOWED HOME AND WON'T DRIVE UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED OBVIOUSLY. I AM UPSET BUT EVEN HAPPIER ME AND MY KID MADE IT HOME SAFELY, SOMETHING KEEPS TELLING ME TODAY WAS A BLESSING WE MADE IT.

NHTSA ID

11340277

Incident

Jul 19, 2020

Mileage

154,000 mi

HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NON-SAFE SITUATIONS. THE CAR JUST ONE DAY SUDDENLY DOESN?T COME OUT OF PARK. IT FINALLY GOT OUT OF PARK AND WHEN I TRY TO DRIVE AND IT REVERSES AND MAKE ALOT OF NOISE AND WHEN I SOMETIMES TRY TO REVERSE. IT DRIVES. THIS IS NOT SAFE. I?VE NEARLY GOTTEN MYSELF KILLED DUE TO THIS FAULTY BAD CAR. I TRIED TO CALL FOR A TRADE OR A REFUND AND THE COMPANY WAS RUDE TO ME. THIS CAR TAKES MY GIRLFRIEND AND I TO WORK AND THIS IS THE ONLY CARE WE HAVE. IT HASN'T BEEN A YEAR AND THE CAR HAS SO MANY ISSUES DOWN TO CAR NOT READING GEARS, BAD SPARK PLUGS , HOLE UNDERNEATH, FAULTY AIRBAGS, WINDOWS NOT WORKING, TIRE PRESSURES UNSAFE AND MUCH MORE THAT NO ONE WOULD WANT TO EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331454

Incident

Jun 19, 2020

Mileage

163,300 mi

AC STOP WORKING AND A BURN WIRING SMELL CAME OUT

NHTSA ID

11322448

Incident

Apr 27, 2020

2006 BMW 325I THE BIODEGRADABLE WIRING HAS DETERIORATED CAUSING THE DIRECTIONAL AND HEADLAMPS TO FAIL RESULTING IN EXPENSIVE REPAIRS AND JEOPARDIZES THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN USE.

NHTSA ID

11310930

Incident

Feb 8, 2020

Mileage

10,000 mi

I HAVE A RECALL ON THE HEATER DEVICES, NOT QUIT SURE WHAT THAT IS BUT IT CAN CAUSE MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FIRE. I'VE ALREADY REPLACED THE COOLANT SYSTEM BECAUSE OF OVER HEATING I'M VERY SCARED OF DRIVING THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED A SOON AS POSSIBLE, ITS NICE CAR AND I'VE PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN IT ALREADY, TRYING TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD,ITS MY WORK TRANSPORTATION.

NHTSA ID

11254039

Incident

May 24, 2019

Mileage

127,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO MILES TO RUN AN ERRAND, THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED BURNING PLASTIC. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK BY THE FIREWALL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECORDED THE EVENT AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S HAND WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. BMW OF LOUISVILLE (4 AUTOCENTER DR, LOUISVILLE, KY 40299, (502) 287-1501) TOWED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN OIL LEAK AND POWER STEERING FLUID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD AN INVESTIGATOR INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHO CONFIRMED WHAT THE DEALER STATED. IT TOOK THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER FIVE WEEKS TO COME UP WITH THEIR FINDINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,262.

NHTSA ID

11174428

Incident

Dec 22, 2018

Mileage

140,262 mi

WHEN I PUSH THE BRAKE FOR A COMPLETE STOP, IT WILL STOP BUT MILISECONDS AFTER THAT I WILL GET JUMPY. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR SOMEONE THAT IS NOT USED TO THE VEHICLE, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS ABOUT TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. IT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN I AM GOING TO PARK MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11151995

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), WHICH INDICATED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DETECTED AN ODOR OF BURNING WIRES INSIDE THE VEHICLE PERIODICALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11151829

Incident

Jul 12, 2014

I HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION, FUEL PUMP, SPARK PLUGS, BATTERY, AND ALTERNATOR AND MY CAR STILL WON'T RUN. ITS BEEN PARKED FOR A YEAR NOW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 15 DAYS.

NHTSA ID

11150720

Incident

Nov 23, 2017

Mileage

190,000 mi

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V676 BMW STILL HAS NOT ISSUED A RESPONSE OR A FIX TO THIS RECALL, WHICH WAS SENT OUT IN OCTOBER 2017. BLOWER MOTOR WIRING: THIS RECALL INVOLVES THE WIRING FOR THE SYSTEM, KNOWN AS THE BLOWER-MOTOR, THAT CONTROLS AIR FLOW FOR THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. OVER TIME, THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WIRING AND THIS SYSTEM COULD DETERIORATE AND, IN RARE CASES, COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID

11112256

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

ACTUATORS IN ALL DOORS FAILED. ONLY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS ACCESSIBLE, BUT SOLELY FROM OUTSIDE AND WITH THE MANUAL LOCK. CANNOT ACCESS THE FUSE BOX TO DEAL WITH OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AS IT IS LOCATED IN THE GLOVE BOX ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. IF YOU LOCK THE CAR WHILE IN IT, YOU HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, AND USE THE KEY INSIDE THE FOB TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO GET OUT. THEY FAILED WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11112254

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

84,000 mi

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 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO I.G. BURTON IMPORTS (509 BAY RD, MILFORD, DE 19963, (800) 796-9702) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11111768

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER (BMW OF MT. LAUREL, 1220 NJ-73, MT LAUREL, NJ 08054, (856) 840-1400) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.

NHTSA ID

11110164

Incident

Jul 6, 2018

Mileage

158,000 mi

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. LONG BEACH BMW (1660 E SPRING ST, LONG BEACH, CA) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT UPDATED 10/12/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11104571

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BAY BMW (18800 HAWTHORNE BLVD, TORRANCE, CA 90504) AND THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. AFTER THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, IT OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE PART MAY BE AVAILABLE, AND THEY WOULD PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11099506

Incident

Jun 2, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

I AM TRYING TO TRADE IN MY BMW 325I 2006. WAS TOLD THERE IS A OPEN RECALL WITH NO REMEDY AT THIS TIME. THE RECALL DATE WAS OCTOBER 25, 2017. I WAS TOLD THEY CANT GET THE PART. SO IN THE MEAN TIME I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CANT TRADE IN AND THAT IS A DANGER TO ANYONE THAT DRIVE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER BMW BECAUSE OF THIS.

NHTSA ID

11084033

Incident

Apr 7, 2018