2013 BMW 328I Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The drivetrain and passenger’s side air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 25 MPH and the vehicle was shaking erratically. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 174,775.

NHTSA ID

11753235

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

Mileage

174,775 mi

Passenger Restraint system malfunction for the front passenger seat. This may not trigger the airbag for a passenger sitting in the front if a collision occurs and can seriously injure someone. This problem appears to be very common with BMW models within this timeframe. All over car forums and youtube videos, some videos with over 100k views per video. I am not sure how BMW has not recalled this safety issue as it seems to linger throughout many of their models for many years. As soon as the malfuction occured\, the warning sign and lamp lights did flash on.

NHTSA ID

11686437

Incident

Sep 10, 2025

I along with many others are getting a passenger restraint sensor error which prevents the airbag from deploying. This is very dangerous and the repair cost is $2000. This sensor determines if there is an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat and if they meet the weight limit for the airbag to deploy. When it malfunctions, the airbag will not deploy even though a passenger may be seated there.

NHTSA ID

11610062

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

Timing chain broken, sas light on, drivetrain malfunction…

NHTSA ID

11593217

Incident

May 9, 2024

Passenger-restraint system This light has turned on and I see that certain BMW’s had recalls on this exact issue. Not sure why my 2013 328i was not included in the recall.

NHTSA ID

11579079

Incident

Mar 23, 2024

Something from the passenger front wheel side must have messed up since after I went over a small bump in the road I lost control of my vehicle that resulted in my crashing into a bobbed wire fence and a pole that was holding up the fence. My car was completely totaled and no airbags deployed from anywhere in the car. The steering wheel hit me so hard in the abdomen that it caused my T11 and T12 vertebrae in my spine to break from the doctors reports it was stated that the airbags have failed witch resulted in a direct impact to my abdomen by the steering wheel and instantly I knew I broke my lower back. My 4yr old son who was restrained in his car seat was passenger in the backseat during the accident but didn’t sustain injuries besides some whiplash and having nightmares. The car was towed by CHP to a local tow yard since I was taken to the hospital by first responders after I was discharged I regained possession of my vehicle that sits in my driveway considered to be un toweable by the tow company storeing my car and needed to pay extra to have them tow it to my house. Please investigate any defects of my vehicle since my son and I could have lost our lives due to the airbag malfunction in the entire vehicle

NHTSA ID

11527691

Incident

Jun 11, 2023

I stated on another form about my other safety issue. My son was in an accident in 2013 328I xdrive this website states this vehicle does not have an open recall or any recalls on it. I say bull crap not only did my son lose break, accessibility and crash into a tree doing 54 miles an hour. He also had the airbags deploy and burned him. Air bag dust literally ate right through his pants. I still have the severely burned up his hands We purchased this vehicle for Son last year, because BMWs are known to be safe. My 16-year-old son was almost killed in his car because of BMWs negligence.

NHTSA ID

11520872

Incident

May 5, 2023

I was preparing to yurn road had a lip when I attempted to turn breaks locked up would not engage resulting in my accident

NHTSA ID

11520719

Incident

May 5, 2023

I was making a right hand turn my car started to lose breaking a ability and my car went in to a ditch and the air bags deployed the dust from the air bags practically disolved a hole in my jeans

NHTSA ID

11520709

Incident

May 5, 2023

Received display notification of "Passenter-restraint system: Fault in airbag, belt tensioner or belt fore limiter. Continue wearing safety belt. Consult nearest service center." Upon taking to service center, they mentioned there was no recall for airbag. Peace of mind placed at risk.

NHTSA ID

11509111

Incident

Feb 3, 2021

We were in a small fender bender and the air bag in this BMW F30 deployed - with some kind of powder and material coming out and BURNING the driver. Burns all over legs and on sensitive areas, burned all the way through his pants. The driver was lucky to have escaped with their life. These were confirmed to be Takata air bags and we found out today 9/21/21 about a recall on the same air bags. The vehicle was unsafe during sale and serviced not even a a week before the fender bender - we serviced it AT BMW and they did not recall or fully check the vehicle. These faulty air bags were ignored negligently. BMW does NOT want to repair the fault air bags because there is no official recall. We ask you add more models or assist us to this recall. A driver was injured and this continues to put drivers at risk.

NHTSA ID

11433916

Incident

Aug 2, 2021

930A1B Permanent Front passenger seat occupancy detection malfunction 930A1C Permanent Front passenger seat occupancy detection malfunction 930AC9 Intermittent Front passenger seat occupancy detection malfunction Theres a recall out for it but my vehicles vin wasn't included. Its been killing people Yes problem was diagnosed by vehicle tech at an auto repair shop No it has not but I am trying to make an appointment since I'm not sure what to do. No, no warnings, just one day a message popped up saying there was an issue with the passenger restraint system and it started to ding. it did that for about 50000 miles then it stopped dinging, but still dings when seat is empty so you have to plug the seat belt in. Its very expensive to fix and have heard of it breaking again after being fixed. Therefore I haven't fixed it but I recently had a recall on my Toyota and ended up seeing the recall on the model of my car for that exact issue.

NHTSA ID

11431719

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

The contact's mother owned a 2013 BMW 328i. The contact stated while driving 5 mph and approaching a traffic light when another vehicle impacted the rear driver side door.The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated she sustained a mild concussion, has neck, back, and shoulder pains, and stated she had numbness on the left leg and left arm. The contact was taken by an ambulance to the emergency room to seek medical attention. The contact stated that the other vehicle had a 10 and 4-year-old and were also transported by ambulance to the emergency room to seek medical attention for their unknown inquires. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The insurance company deemed the vehicle total loss. The vehicle was towed to towing lot first and then to unknown location chosen by the insurance company. The contact called the local dealer and was made them aware of the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 63,373.

NHTSA ID

11430593

Incident

Aug 20, 2021

Mileage

63,373 mi

When driving, get this error message on the screen when no passenger is sitting in the passenger seat - Passenger restraint system: Malfunction. Continue wearing safety belt. Seems like a big safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11425061

Incident

Jul 9, 2021

THE CAR IS A 2013 BMW 328I SEDAN. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I HAD A PASSENGER GET IN THE CAR AND A WARNING APPEARS SAYING "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE ISSUE WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT SENSOR. THERE ARE KNOWN RECALLS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR MULTIPLE MODELS OF BMW FOR A WIDE RANGE OF YEARS. HOWEVER, THEY SAID MY VIN WASN'T COVERED.

NHTSA ID

11408427

Incident

Apr 2, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM SENSOR DINGS REALLY LOUD WHEN A PASSAGE OR OBJECT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT THAT TELL THE AIR BAG TO BE ON OR OFF IS MESSED UP.

NHTSA ID

11289523

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION SENSOR KEEPS POPPING UP. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE APART OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE SENOR IN THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONING

NHTSA ID

11233993

Incident

Jul 21, 2019

CAR INVOLVED IN REAR END COLLISION AND CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED UP. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS IN SLOW MOTION APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WHEN HIT IN REAR . ROAD CONDITIONS SUNNY AND DRY. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO CAR IN FRONT CAUSING MORE DAMAGE. ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN ILLINOIS 159 IN GLEN CARBON,ILL.

NHTSA ID

11194490

Incident

Apr 6, 2019

Mileage

48,000 mi

AN AIRBAG FAULT APPEARS AS 'PASSENGER RESTRAINING MALFUNCTION. KEEP WEARING SEATBELT AND CONTACT NEAREST DEALER. ' THIS CODE CAME UP OVER A YEAR AGO AND THE DEALER CLEARED THE CODE. NOW IT'S BACK AFTER BEING ON AND OFF FOR OVER 6MONTHS. THIS TIME IT'S CONSTANT AND THE DEALER TODAY SAID THAT THE SENSOR PAD UNDER THE SEAT / SENSOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE COAST IS $1400. THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND FAIR. IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT MY PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED. 1000S ONLINE COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE AND BMW ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

11193014

Incident

Dec 11, 2018

Mileage

67,000 mi

PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT ERROR OCCURS SECONDARY TO A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE.

NHTSA ID

11143336

Incident

Oct 27, 2018

Mileage

46,000 mi

GETTING AN INTERMITTENT PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. IT STATES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL BE DEACTIVATED. THE ERROR IS OCCURRING WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND ALSO NOW WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY. AFTER SEARCHING THIS ERROR MESSAGE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS OF BMW.

NHTSA ID

11111123

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. ADDITIONALLY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, A HEAD CONCUSSION, RUPTURED BLOOD VESSELS, AND A FACE CONTUSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WAS NO UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11090090

Incident

Apr 22, 2018

Mileage

79,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - CONTACTED DEALERSHIP A WHILE AGO BUT NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN YET TO REMEDY THE POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11058401

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

TAKATA RECALL ; MY CAR IS ON THE RECALL LIST BUT KNOW ONE AT THE DEULER KNOW ANYTHING OF A RECALL FOR BMW

NHTSA ID

11045523

Incident

Nov 8, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR 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 CONTACT CALLED BMW OF GWINNETT PLACE (3264 COMMERCE AVE, DULUTH, GA 30096 (678) 608-0800) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11024591

Incident

Feb 5, 2016