RoadVitals

2012 BMW 328I Airbags Problems

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

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
26
Latest Aug 23, 2024
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.
20%
of 130 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 BMW 328I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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 airbag

The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words

AirbagsDriver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2024

My car lost power. It would come and go. Now it's gone. The codes that come up pertain to the wheel speed sensor and timing.

NHTSA ID
11610358
Incident
Jul 10, 2024
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Oct 13, 2023

Passenger restraint system malfunction. My vehicle as well as thousands of others have the chronic and unsafe issue of the passenger occupancy sensor malfunctioning. In order to remove warning on dash it’s either a $2,000 repair, or a $40 bypass which basically places the seat as constantly occupied, sticking the passenger airbag in the ‘on’ position. Vehicle is available for inspection. With this malfunction, any person that sits in the passenger front seat is at risk of injury or death in the event of a collision. Malfunction has been confirmed by both a dealer and an independent service center. Vehicle was inspected by the dealer, but no police or insurance company. Vehicle was purchased with the malfunction and the warning lights have been on for several years. With the massive number of vehicles of this make with a range of different mileage, with this issue, a recall is not only needed but warranted and should be mandated with this being a major safety issue.

NHTSA ID
11549720
Incident
Mar 7, 2022
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 17, 2022

My BMW 2012 E92 model vehicle currently has a malfunctioning Front Seat Occupancy AirBag sensor mat is very similar to the recall for E60 to E91 models. BMW refuses to fix it under the other recall and I'm wondering what can be done to add it to the recall? I also read of an extended warranty for this part but I do not qualify since my model is e92.( SI B01 01 18) . Please advise.

NHTSA ID
11489665
Incident
Feb 2, 2022
Airbags
Filed Feb 5, 2021

THE CAR IS GIVING ME A CODE STATING THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BMWS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE NOT COVERING MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXAM SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11394807
Incident
Jan 2, 2020
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 20, 2019

PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ERROR CODE COMES OFF AND ON WHILE IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
11290334
Incident
Sep 2, 2019
Airbags
Filed Dec 4, 2019

PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG CONTROL IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE WARNING IS SHOWING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT A SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED TO BE WORN. DEALER PRICE TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS APPROXIMATELY $1200.

NHTSA ID
11286803
Incident
Dec 3, 2019
Mileage
85,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 24, 2019

VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES STARTED EXHIBITING AN INTERMITTENT WARNING FOR PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. BMW OF ONTARIO, CA DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAULTY SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR, BUT DECLINED WARRANTY COVERAGE DUE TO VEHICLE AGE AND EXCLUSION FROM 3RD PARTY WARRANTY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY WIDESPREAD ISSUE BASED ON: 1) MANY OF THE ONLINE OWNER FORUMS COVER THIS PROBLEM. 2) THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SEVERAL MANUFACTURERS MAKING AND SELLING BYPASS\EMULATOR DEVICES TO CIRCUMVENT THE FAILED SENSOR. A CRITICAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SHOULD NOT BE FAILING SO EARLY OR FREQUENTLY.

NHTSA ID
11222111
Incident
Aug 21, 2018
Mileage
36,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 29, 2019

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE RENDERS PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SYSTEMS INACTIVE WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. VEHICLE IS 2012 MODEL YEAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11204311
Incident
Apr 26, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2019

DRIVE TRAIN MALFUNCTION, REAR RIGHT BREAK LIGHT WARNING LIGHT IS ON WILL NOT GO OFF, HAD THE BULB CHANGED AND STILL NOT WORKING. DRIVE TRAIN GO ON WHEN TRYING TO GO INTO SPEED ON ALL FUNCTIONS SUCH AS ECO MODE, NORMAL MODE AND SPORT MODE. INDICATOR LIGHT GOES BACK TO NORMAL AFTER CAR IS COMPLETELY OFF AND UPON START UP LIGHT GOES OFF. RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHEN BEING DRIVEN SOUNDS LIKE A FLAT BUT WHEN CHECKED ON THE EXTERIOR, SEEM TO BE NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRE.

NHTSA ID
11195700
Incident
Feb 5, 2019
Mileage
69,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Dec 28, 2018

EVERY SO OFTEN I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT SAYS 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION'. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON ERROR MESSAGE FOR BMW VEHICLES & THEIR OWNERS. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BEEN TOLD THAT IT COULD BE REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSES...WHY?! WHEN SO MANY VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND IT'S NOT USER ERROR...TIME FOR A RECALL! COME ON!

NHTSA ID
11163894
Incident
Jun 12, 2017
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 5, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). 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 (STEPHENS CREEK BMW, 4343 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051, 800-298-1501) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT 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.

NHTSA ID
11052614
Incident
Dec 5, 2017
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 25, 2017

N/A

NHTSA ID
11025322
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 19, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART DO TO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11024251
Incident
Apr 4, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 1, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); 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. BMW OF GAINSVILLE (LOCATED AT 2853 N MAIN ST, GAINSVILLE, FL) 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11021079
Incident
Mar 5, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 18, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). 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 MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE NOTIFIED PER THE DEALER ONCE THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10986387
Incident
Apr 29, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10966467
Incident
Mar 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10950044
Incident
Feb 22, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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
10947965
Incident
Mar 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 15, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN FEBRUARY OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10935400
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 21, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10917881
Incident
Mar 4, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 30, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10910738
Incident
Mar 15, 2016
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jul 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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
10882573
Incident
Feb 4, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 8, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 163V07100 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN APRIL OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10854430
Incident
Apr 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10689571
Incident
Oct 1, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 17, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

DRIVER OF A 2012 BMW 328I, WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT WHEN HER VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (ROUGHLY THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE) BY A CHEVROLET BLAZER THAT WAS TRAVELLING AT A RATE OF AT LEAST 40 MPH. NONE OF THE BMW'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE, THE DRIVER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, RESULTING IN PHYSICAL AND NEUROLOGICAL INJURIES. BMW STATES THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS/WAS WORKING PROPERLY (I.E. - BMW ASSERTS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS SITUATION). DRIVER'S COMPLAINT IS THAT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WOULD HAVE PROTECTED HER AND PREVENTED SAID INJURIES. THUS, EITHER THE AIRBAG MALFUNTIONED AND FAILED TO DEPLOY, OR IT IS DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. IF THERE WERE EVER A SITUATION THAT WARRANTED A SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY, THIS ACCIDENT PRESENTS THOSE FACTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508539
Incident
Nov 28, 2012

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .