2006 BMW 325XI Owner Complaints

My vehicle was parked in the driveway in front of my house and had not been driven for several days. I walked outside and noticed the engine fan was running so I opened the driver‘s door and noticed white smoke coming from the glove box compartment. I opened the glove box and noted a small fire which within a matter of approximately five minutes had turned into a full-blown fire throughout the vehicle I was able to call 911 and have a fire department here before my house caught on fire although it did damage the siding on the front of the house and the tail light and rear passenger fender area of the Polaris razor

NHTSA ID

11710135

Incident

Jan 8, 2026

[XXX] . I have a 2006 BMW e91, but mine is not listed for recall above in the link. Currently have a fault for occupant detection malfunction. I also have sports seats listed in the above document. The sensor will say active when no one is sitting in the seat which is a safety concern. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11635374

Incident

Jan 10, 2025

The contact owned a 2006 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V513000 (Air Bags) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID

11612289

Incident

Sep 3, 2024

Intermittently on startup/ignition, car electrical shuts completely down. No power to anything and key fob becomes locked in the ignition. After a few minutes the electrical comes back on on its own. This usually only happens in park on startup, however on one occasion, the electrical shut off for about 5 seconds as I was driving 70 MPH on the highway. Car went totally dark and I was fortunately able to control the wheel until power came back.

NHTSA ID

11487102

Incident

May 1, 2020

I purchased a used car that now has a passenger restraint sensor warning. Please fulfill a recall as this is a recurring issue with bmw

NHTSA ID

11476632

Incident

Jul 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11469362

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

WHEN THE IBS IS PLUGGED IN IT DRAINS THE BATTERY FAST , THEN IT WON'T START UNLESS I UNPLUG THE B+ BLUE PLUG , THEN PLUG THE B+ CABLE BACK IN AFTER STARTED SO THE VALVETRONIC ECCENTRIC SHAFT MOTOR HAS POWER , OTHERWISE IT GOES INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT IT PLUGGED IN , I THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT IT STARTS ON THE 2007 E90 I GUESS MINE IS A 2006 .

NHTSA ID

11300209

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V017000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11300083

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A MAJOR RECALL FOR MOST 2006 326XI MODELS THAT NEEDS TO BE ALSO EXTENDES TO MY VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE ON OTHER MODELS, AND THE MANUFSCTURER NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS BEFORE PEOPLE ARE HARMED SINCE BY DEFAULT THE MODULE ASSUMES NOONE IS SITTING THERE AND WILL NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

11243133

Incident

Sep 12, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING, AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO UNION PARK BMW (1900 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (302) 658-7245) SEVERAL TIMES PERTAINING TO THE FAILURES. A TECHNICIAN WAS SENT TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO POTENTIALLY STALL AND/OR CATCH ON FIRE. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE MICRO-FILTER NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, BUT THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11162222

Incident

Dec 3, 2018

TAKATA AIR BAGS MY AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, MY CAR IS EFFECTED BY THE RECALL BUT WHEN I RUN THE VIN # IT'S NOT SHOWING UP. IT'S A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I'M AFRAID THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11153367

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. 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. SALE BMW (1053 US-258, KINSTON, NC 28504, (252) 520-2380) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11103468

Incident

Jan 3, 2017

LEFT BLINKER REPEATEDLY KEEPS NOT WORKING, HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT KEEPS NOT WORKING?

NHTSA ID

11083740

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

DOOR ACTUATOR FAILURE. DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE UNLESS YOU USE THE PHYSICAL KEY, WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE ONCE IT LOCKS AND YOU MUST CLIMB OVER SEAT TO EXIT BACK OR PASSENGER DOORS. SOMETIMES DOOR WILL UNLOCK IF YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND USE THE KEY ON THE OUTSIDE LOCK BUT USUALLY THAT DOES NOT WORK. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, YOU COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY. DOORS LOCK AUTOMATICALLY AT 5 MPH OR SO AND YOU ARE LOCKED INSIDE WITH A HANDLE THAT DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

11066578

Incident

Dec 5, 2017

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). 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 DEALER (NIELLO BMW, 2020 FULTON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, (916) 486-1011) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11057361

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE HEATER BLOWER FAILED TO DISBURSE AIR AND THE PANEL INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (ERHARD BMW OF BLOOMFIELD, 1845 S TELEGRAPH RD, BLOOMINGFIELD HILLS, MI 48302) AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

11057111

Incident

Dec 18, 2017

Mileage

100,002 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED A POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER (HOFFMAN BMW IN WATERTOWN, CT) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

11048048

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT JUST CAME ON. FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON INTERNET AND NHTSA RECALLS FOR "FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT DEFECT". I CONTACTED BMW AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VIN, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IDENTICAL TO THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

11044278

Incident

Nov 6, 2017

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IN MY 2006 BMW IS DEFECTIVE WHETHER THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY BUT ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON. MAKING THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS TURNED OFF DURING THE EVENT OF A CRASH, MANY OTHER 2006 BMWS LIKE MINE ARE AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE. A RECALL HAS BEEN DONE FOR BMWS FOR MODELS 2007 AND NEWER BUT NOT FOR THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THIS YEAR MAKE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AND PASSENGERS RIDING IN THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11043124

Incident

Jul 20, 2017

WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL INTERMITTENTLY AND BRIEFLY EXPERIENCE FULL ELECTRONIC OUTAGE CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VEHICLE LIGHTS, AND ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK TO ENGAGE. AS SOON AS THE ELECTRONIC POWER RETURNS SERVICE LIGHTS DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL I STOP, FULLY POWER OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE IGNITION BUTTON AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED AT DRIVING SPEEDS RANGING BETWEEN 15 AND 70 MPH, FORTUNATELY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT. IF I OR ANYONE ELSE WOULD HAPPEN TO BE IN A TURN AND THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WHEEL LOCK ENGAGE THE RESULTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE LIFE THREATENING. THIS VEHICLE IS A PRIOR DEALER LEASE THEN SOLD TO A RENTAL COMPANY THEN PURCHASED BY ME. THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNMODIFIED AND HAS BEEB MAINTAINED AND SERVICED WITH ALL OEM OR EQUIVALENT PARTS.

NHTSA ID

11014804

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

210,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF LYNCHBURG (LOCATED AT 2643 LAKESIDE DR LYNCHBURG, VA 24501) WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11004367

Incident

May 15, 2017

BOTH OF THE AIR BAGS, DRIVERS AND PASSENGER TURNED OFF AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR. I CHECKED ONLINE AND MY CAR HAS A RECALL FOR THEM.HOWEVER MY SPECIFIC VIN FOR MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS

NHTSA ID

10991347

Incident

May 10, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, THE GLASS WENT OFF TRACK AND FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND THREE TIMES ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID

10985898

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

I AM LODGING A COMPLAINT AGAINST BMW USA. I HAVE BEEN CALLING AND WRITING BMW FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS PLEADING FOR THEM TO REPLACE MY RECALLED AIRBAG. BMW FIRST SENT ME A NOTICE REGARDING MY RECALLED TAKATA AIRBAG 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. BMW HAS STILL NOT REPLACED MY AIRBAG, STATING LACK OR AVAILABLE PARTS AS THE REASON THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY AIRBAG. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DEFECT. THEY HA BE HAD 2 1/2 YEARS TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR, AND STILL REFUSE TO DO SO. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

10985530

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 06/07/17*LJ *AS

NHTSA ID

10969504

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi