2006 BMW 330XI Owner Complaints

“The PCV valve heater (positive crankcase ventilation heater) on my 2006 BMW 330xi failed and caused an engine bay electrical fire. This component is under an active BMW safety recall for fire risk. The failure happened suddenly while driving, with no prior warning lights or symptoms. Smoke began coming from the engine area, followed by visible flames. My safety was put at risk, and I immediately exited the vehicle. The vehicle became inoperable and was towed by the City of Chicago. The car has since been declared a total loss due to the fire. The vehicle is currently in the city impound and available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been inspected by a dealer yet because the vehicle was destroyed before I received the recall repair.”

NHTSA ID

11703146

Incident

Nov 30, 2025

Takata Airbag Safety Recall Vin:[XXX] I live in Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which according to BMW and NHTSA is Zone B. My vehicle has a built date of 10/19/2005 330xi e90 model. The time in which the degradation to the propellant poses an unreasonable risk to safety is stated as a 10-15 year time frame. My car is almost 18 years old but BMW has NOT prioritized my vehicle's airbag. My vin number might not have made the list for zone A but its in zone B. I should have to wait until someone gets killed or injured. My name is [XXX] and can be reached at [XXX] My BMW dealer is Otto's BMW West Chester, PA 610399-8067 Please demand that BMW comply with the recall information listed on clearly on your NHTSA site and BMW of America's site. (Site Last updated 01/14/2019) Thank you. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11506457

Incident

Feb 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. 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

11497465

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. 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 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 remedy not yet available.

NHTSA ID

11472320

Incident

Jun 6, 2019

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated that the air bags warning and seat belts warning lights illuminated intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V428000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123,100.

NHTSA ID

11472318

Incident

Mar 5, 2022

Mileage

123,100 mi

The contact's brother owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated while his mother was driving approximately 30-40 MPH, she smelled a burning plastic odor and the vehicle started to overheat. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The coolant temperature warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11467167

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

75,000 mi

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 330XI. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle began to overheat. The check engine warning light, the coolant temperature warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and waited. The contact then continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly while driving and smoke would come out from underneath the hood and through the vent inside of the vehicle while driving, and the vehicle would occasionally stall. Additionally, the contact also stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to restart twice. The vehicle was then towed twice to the contact's residence. The contact's father, who is an independent mechanic, could not determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained at the residence undrivable. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine And Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11463487

Incident

Jan 5, 2021

Mileage

300,000 mi

We took our recently purchased BMW 2006 330xi in for recalls and a few fixes. However, the BMW service center wasn't able to fix one of the issues through the recall process since it doesn't show up for our vehicle. However, everything that I read suggests that it was a recall for this make and model. We are not sure if it was supposedly addressed before we purchased the vehicle and it is now a reoccurring issue or it is a first-time issue. The airbag/seatbelt warning light is present for passenger seat occupancy detector faults. The BMW service center said it was the sensor in the front passenger seat and offered to fix it for $1000 plus. We opted to not fix it until we checked further into the situation. The light for the passenger airbag saying that it is off is currently lit, and the airbag/seatbelt light remains on at this time. Looking for more information on this issue.

NHTSA ID

11441776

Incident

Mar 21, 2021

GOING THROUGH MY NEWLY PURCHASED, USED 2006 330XI, I FOUND SEVERAL WARNINGS FOR FRONT HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONS WERE DISABLED AND THE LEFT LOW BEAM WAS STUCK POINTING LEFT. WHILE THE BULBS THEMSELVES WERE STILL FUNCTIONING, THE LIGHT WAS POINTED DIRECTLY AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND DID NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. OPENING THE ACCESS PANEL AT THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOWED MULTIPLE BARE WIRES INSIDE OF THE SEALED HOUSING, THE INSULATION HAD SIMPLY STARTED TO FLAKE OFF OF THE WIRES RENDERING ALL CENTERING AND LEVELING FUNCTIONS OF THE LIGHT INOPERABLE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BMW HEADLIGHTS, FOR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTED DATA AND CASES PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING FORUM THREAD : HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/THREADS/

NHTSA ID

11406217

Incident

Apr 2, 2021

Mileage

160,640 mi

I DIDN'T GET ANY PICTURES. MY SISTER HAS A 330 XI DRIVE TO DENVER AT ONE POINT OF THE DRIVE HURDLE A POP IN THE CAR. WHERE DRIVING FAST NO POT HOLES HIT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH A MECHANIC FRIEND OF MINE. WE GOT UNDER THE CAR THE CAR AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE AXEL WAS RESTING ON THE FRAME OF THE CAR. THERE WHERE 3 MOTOR MOUNT BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKETS AN 1 LAYING ON THE SCID PLATE UNDER THE CAR. I HAVE READ SOME OTHER TESTIMONY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A DEFINITE PROBLEM SO I HOPE YOU LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11378421

Incident

Nov 30, 2020

DRIVER SIDE STAGE 1 AIRBAG MALFUNCTION OCCURRING IN MY VEHICLE WITH A DASH LIGHT. WHEN I SEARCH MY VIN FOR THIS RECALL, IT DOES NOT SHOW UP. BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2006 BMW 330XI'S AND OTHER 3 SERIES. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FOR EVERY 2006-2011 BMW 3 SERIES BECAUSE IT AFFECTED ALL OF THE CARS. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND WHY IS IT NOT A RECALL FOR MY CAR AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT ARE COMPLAINING? THIS IS A VERY BAD SAFETY FEATURE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU, A PERSON WHO DRIVES A 2006 BMW 330XI, AND DESERVES THEIR CAR RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11282707

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

SUNROOF EXPLODED-WHILE DRIVING WITH MY SUNSHADE WAS OPEN 6" AND GLASS CLOSED, AT 2 PM ON 8/14/19, 70 DEGREE WEATHER, AT 65 MPH I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GUNSHOT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER I WAS SHOWERED WITH GLASS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE GLASS HIT MY FACE AND BODY AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT BLINDED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY, RT 16 NH, AND THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES OR BRIDGES, NOR WAS THERE A VEHICLE IN FRONT OR BACK OF ME OR TREES. (SUNROOF IN 1 PICTURE IS TILTED WHEN I RETURNED HOME OPEN FOR PHOTO PURPOSES) I CONTACTED BMW OF STRATHAM NH AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND REPAIRS WOULD BE $2,222.00. THROUGH RECENT RESEARCH ON THE BMW FORUMS (HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=120494) I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED SINCE MY WIFE ALSO DRIVES A BMW VEHICLE, X5 WITH A PANORAMIC SUNROOF THAT HAS HAD REPORTS THAT BMW IS IGNORING OF THE SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THE GLASS SUNROOF REPORTED. PLEASE HELP!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE FATALLY INJURED IF THIS IS NOT RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11244083

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

Mileage

290,000 mi

ON 6-3-2016 MY 2006 BMW 330XI STARTED ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. AS I PULLED MY CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PARKED THE CAR, SHUT IT OFF AND I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SMALL FLAMES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT MYSELF. I NOTICED THAT SOME ENGINE COMPONENTS WERE BURNED AND MELTED. AT THE END OF THE WORKDAY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AVA RESTORATION IN DUBLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY COMPLETED THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. THE OWNER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE PCV VALVE HEATER(ALSO REFERRED TO AS AN ANGLE CONNECTOR) AND IT HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND WIRING HARNESS. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY CAR. I CONTACTED BMW IN JANUARY 2018 AFTER LEARNING THAT THEY RECALLED 2007 MODELS FOR THE SAME COMPONENT FAILURE. I EXPLAINED MY SITUATION TO THEM AND TOLD THEM THEY SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO COVER 2006 MODELS ALSO. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO A REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT GETTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR MY REPAIR COSTS. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET MY CAR EXAMINED AT A LOCAL BMW DEALER AND THAT SOMEONE FROM THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY WOULD CALL ME ABOUT THE MATTER. THE REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEALERSHIP WERE LESS THAN HELPFUL AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE LEFT ME A MESSAGE AT 8:45 PM ONE NIGHT AND THEN NEVER CALLED ME BACK AFTER I TRIED TO REACH HER SEVERAL TIMES AND GOT ONLY VOICE MAIL. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW RECENTLY SAYING THAT MY CAR NOW HAS A RECALL ON THE PCV VALVE HEATER, RECALL 19V-273. I BELIEVE THAT BMW KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND DID NOT ADDRESS IT, WILLINGLY PUTTING VEHICLE OWNERS AT RISK. IN ADDITION, THE OWNER OF AVA RESTORATION TOLD ME HE REPAIRED A NUMBER OF BMWS THAT HAD FIRE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE SAME MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID

11217415

Incident

Jun 3, 2016

Mileage

128,909 mi

I GOT SEVERAL RECALLS REGARDING MY BMW 330XI 2006 AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG RECALL MENTIONED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILING TO WORK. CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, THE DEALERS SAID THE PART HAS NOT YET BEEN AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11155250

Incident

May 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED BEFORE EVENTUALLY TURNING OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD BOLTS HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11144143

Incident

Oct 25, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNS OFF AND ON AT NO PRESCRIBED INTERVAL. THE WARNING LIGHT FLICKERS OFTEN WHICH IS A CONCERN SINCE THE AIRBAG CAN TURN OFF WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STATIONARY OR DRIVING - NO PRESCRIBED INTERVAL HAS BEEN NOTED AND WAS FIRST NOTICED EARLY THIS SPRING, MARCH OR APRIL 2018 WITH ABOUT 110,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11110412

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

RECALL WAS ORDERED IN OCT 2017 AND HAS STILL NOT BEEN REMEDIED. SAFETY RECALL 17V-676. I BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN PATIENT. WE CANNOT SELL THE CAR AS IS BECAUSE IT CAN CATCH FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11099091

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRING OVERHEATS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN OUT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD A FIX FOR IT YET. I DON'T NEED MY CAR CATCHING ON FIRE, I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD, IT IS NOT EASY TO GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11096672

Incident

May 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. 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. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (BMW OF MURRAY, 4735 S STATE ST, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84107) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11092257

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF RICHFIELD (746 DANBURY RD, RIDGEFIELD, CT 06877, (203) 438-0471) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANCY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

NHTSA ID

11083488

Incident

Feb 22, 2017

Mileage

123,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); 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 CONTACT CALLED WIDE WORLD OF CARS BMW AT 845-425-2600 (125 NY-59, SPRING VALLEY, NY 10977) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11081860

Incident

Oct 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR MONTHS BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER SENT NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER (NEWBOLD BMW, 1283 CENTRAL PARK DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 628-7300) REPLACED THE WIRING AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ID

11075453

Incident

Aug 17, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF BLOOMFIELD (425 BLOOMFIELD AVE, BLOOMFIELD, NJ 07003) AND REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COOLANT AND EXPANSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED BMW OF BLOOMFIELD AT (973) 233-5147 WHERE THE DEALER HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

NHTSA ID

11072362

Incident

Feb 9, 2018

Mileage

195,000 mi

THE CENTER CONSOLE IS CONTINUING TO OVERHEAT. IT SPREADS TO THE CUP HOLDERS AND OUTWARD AS WELL. GETS VERY HOT! HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS ON OR WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11055029

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 330XI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SUN MOTOR CARS BMW, 6691 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG, PA 17050; (717) 697-2300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL AND THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11023521

Incident

Aug 20, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi