2006 BMW 330CI

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

2006 BMW 330CI CENTER CONSOLE EXPLOSION POSSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC MATERIAL NEAR GEAR SHIFTER. -Bubble on the console was produced by heat in the car that resulted in it bursting and the spattering of a black petroleum substance that could have distracted the driver or injured a passenger and/or driver. -The possibility of a reoccurrence does exit due to the ongoing heat wave in Minnesota. -The front car seats and console had nothing laying on top of them at the time of occurrence. -Car was inspected by local BMW dealer in Wayzata, Minnesota. -Car was also inspected by a collision repair center, referred by BMW dealer. -BMW corporate is aware of the issue and pictures were provided. -BMW corporate has denied assistance due to the age of the car per Logan @ BMW corporate on 07/19/2021. -I was told there had not been a recall or any other report of a similar incident from BMW.

NHTSA ID

11425538

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, ON NOVEMBER 10, 2018, I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 BMW 330CI CONVERTIBLE, AND WHEN UPON ENTERING AT 40 MILES PER HOUR AN ENTRANCE RAMP FROM TOMBALL PARKWAY ONTO BELTWAY 8, I SUDDENLY NOTICED A METAL POLE THAT WAS RESTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID IT, I BRAKED AND WHEN THE CAR BECAME STATIONARY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS DID 'NOT' FULLY INFLATE WHICH SEEMED TO FUNCTION WITH A 'SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.' MOREOVER, I STRONGLY BELIEVE RECALL 15V318000 AND RECALL 14V348000 THAT WERE INSTALLED AT MOMENTUM BMW ON MARCH 9, 2018 WHICH REPLACED MY TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS WITH ANOTHER SET OF TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS CONTAINED A 'SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT.' AS A CONSEQUENCE, I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND EYE-RELATED BODILY INJURIES FROM THE CRASH. IN ADDITION, ON DECEMBER 10, 2108, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SENT AN ENGINEER TO HOUSTON, TEXAS TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE, BUT THE COMPANY WILL 'NOT' PROVIDE ME THE DATA ANALYSIS OF ITS FINDINGS, AND IT CLAIMS THAT THE COMPANY OWNS THAT PROPRIETARY DATA. MY VEHICLE IS CLEAR OF LIENS AND IS PAID-OFF. MOREOVER, ON JANUARY 10, 2019, THE COMPANY STATED IN A LETTER THAT THE TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS FULLY DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THIS IS A FALSE STATEMENT BECAUSE THE TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS DID 'NOT' FULLY DEPLOY, AND MY PASSENGER AND I WERE SHOCKED OF THIS MALFUNCTION. AS OF TODAY, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA CONFIRMED THAT THE TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER SET OF TAKATA RECALL AIRBAGS. WHY WERE THESE AIRBAGS NOT REPLACED WITH AN ALTERNATIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER? IN CLOSING, CAN FEDERAL SAFETY OFFICIALS INSPECT MY VEHICLE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS BECAUSE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA IS 'HIDING' THE DATA ANALYSIS FROM ME? I AM SUBMITTING A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS OF THE CRASH, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.

NHTSA ID

11172440

Incident

Nov 10, 2018

Mileage

162,000 mi

IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, ON NOVEMBER 10, 2018, AT NIGHT I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 BMW 330CI CONVERTIBLE, AND WHEN UPON ENTERING AN ENTRANCE RAMP FROM TOMBALL PARKWAY ONTO BELTWAY 8, I SUDDENLY NOTICED A METAL POLE THAT WAS RESTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID IT I BRAKED AND WHEN THE CAR BECAME STATIONARY, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING WITH MY FRONT BUMPER. MOREOVER, I STRONGLY BELIEVE RECALL 15V318000 AND RECALL 14V348000 THAT WERE INSTALLED AT MOMENTUM BMW ON MARCH 9, 2018 WERE DEFECTIVE MODULES OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE PROPELLANT IN THE AIRBAG INFLATOR BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE MY CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THE DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE OCCUPANT-DETECTION SENSORS IN MY SPORT SEATS. IT BEGS AN ANSWER TO THE FOLLOWING: WHY DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM ACTIVATE WITHOUT ANY FRONTAL IMPACT TO MY CAR? SEE ALSO ODI 11172440 *DSY

NHTSA ID

11151622

Incident

Nov 10, 2018

Mileage

172,200 mi

THIS ISSUE IS WITH THE PISTON RINGS OF THE BMW M54 ENGINE. IT BURNS OIL AT A CRAZY RATE AND ONLY NOW ARE PEOPLE FINALLY FIGURING OUT THAT THIS IS THE ISSUE. BMW LISTS SEVERAL OTHER FIXES FOR THE OIL BURNING ISSUE, BUT NONE OF THEM SOLVE THE PROBLEM CAUSING THE OWNER TO SEEK REPAIRS THAT DON'T SOLVE THE ISSUE. BMW STATES THAT IT IS "NORMAL" FOR THE M54 ENGINE TO BURN UP TO 1 QUART OF OIL FOR EVERY 1000 MILES. THIS ENGINE IS IN MANY DIFFERENT BMW MODELS AND MANY OWNERS ARE EFFECTED. MY CAR NOW BURNS ABOUT 1 QUART FOR EVERY 500 MILES I DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11066685

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS FAILING WHILE DRIVING. BMW USED POOR INSULATION INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT DEGRADE OVERTIME AND FAIL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11061604

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

123,000 mi

METAL FRAGMENTS FROM AIRBAG

NHTSA ID

11015305

Incident

Aug 15, 2017

Mileage

98,000 mi

PASSENGER-SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT ERROR, RESULTING IN DASH LIGHT AND LED TAILLIGHT NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED.

NHTSA ID

10956935

Incident

Jan 1, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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

10908746

Incident

Sep 22, 2016

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

Whistling noise is heard coming from the front bumper while driving at highway speeds.

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

SERVICE ACTION - HEAD AIR BAG HOLDER RETROFIT: A rattle noise may develop from the head air bag (ITS) gas generator contacting adjacent component. This noise can be heard while driving on an uneven roadway.

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.