2006 BMW 330CI Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 BMW 330CI, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags2676.5%
- Exterior lighting25.9%
- Suspension25.9%
- Body & structure12.9%
- Steering12.9%
- Tires & wheels12.9%
- Engine12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEADLIGHTS FAILING WHILE DRIVING. BMW USED POOR INSULATION INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES THAT DEGRADE OVERTIME AND FAIL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD.
PASSENGER-SIDE REAR TAILLIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT ERROR, RESULTING IN DASH LIGHT AND LED TAILLIGHT NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHENEVER GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR TIRE ROTATION. WHILE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A LOT OF PLAY IN THE FRONT WHEELS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE BALL JOINT THAT CONNECTS THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS EXTREMELY WORN OUT CAUSING APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE RIGHT WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT IT TOO WAS BECOMING VERY WORN. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY TECHNICIAN AT OWNERS COST. OWNER CONTACTED BMW ABOUT A RECALL CONCERNING THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON 3 SERIES BMWS, AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330 CI. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE AND THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROD HAD SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS RAIN OR SNOW, WATER ENTERS THROUGH THE DOOR SILLS AND CAUSES THE DOORS TO FREEZE SHUT. HE STATED THAT ICE ALSO ACCUMULATES IN THE DOOR SILLS, MAKING IT VERY EASY TO SLIP AND FALL. THE FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. HE HAS ALSO CONTACTED BMW'S CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHENEVER GOING OVER SMALL BUMPS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR TIRE ROTATION. WHILE TIRES WERE BEING ROTATED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A LOT OF PLAY IN THE FRONT WHEELS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE BALL JOINT THAT CONNECTS THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS EXTREMELY WORN OUT CAUSING APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE RIGHT WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT IT TOO WAS BECOMING VERY WORN. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IF THIS WOULD HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY REPLACED BY TECHNICIAN AT OWNERS COST. OWNER CONTACTED BMW ABOUT A RECALL CONCERNING THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON 3 SERIES BMWS, AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330CI. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL42, SIZE P235/45R17 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT AS IF HE WAS DRIVING A 4X4 TRUCK BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE BECOMING WORN. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON ALL FOUR TIRES. HE CALLED BRIDGESTONE AND THEY ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,500.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .