Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 BMW X3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
ALL OTHER 2005 BMW X3 HAVE A RECALL EXCEPT FOR MINE. I HAVE HAD MY AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON TWICE. I HAVE HAD MY SEAT SENSOR ON MY PASSENGER SIDE REPLACED ONCE. I FEEL LIKE THE RECALL SHOULD COVER MY VEHICLE.
THE CAR IS HAVING A TRIAD OF LIGHTS WITH NO PROBLEM FOUND. KEEP GETTING 4X4, ABS, BRAKE, AND NOW MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS. AND RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT SMILIAR YEAR MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR.
PASSENGER AIR SAYS OFF WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN SEAT ## VIN PASSED ## BMW X3 2005 ##
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING ON LOOSE GRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
ACCORDING TO YOUR BULLETIN THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ( WHICH I AM HAVING) BUT THERE IS NO RECALL BY BMW. AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/20/16*LJ UPDATED 11/21/2017*JS
MY WIFE HAS A 2005 BMW X3 WITH AN AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE PROBLEM/SYMPTOM IS THAT THERE IS A LITTLE RED LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT LOOKS LIKE AN AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED ALONG WITH A YELLOW LIGHT ABOVE YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF". SO IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE IS A SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS BASICALLY THERE SO THAT IF A PERSON THAT DOES NOT WEIGH A CERTAIN AMOUNT, LIKE A CHILD FOR EXAMPLE, IS SITTING THERE THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR SMALLER INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE SENSOR BECOMES DEFECTIVE, THE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO AIRBAG OFF MODE AND THEREFORE YOU NEVER HAVE AN AIRBAG REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR US BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL, BUT BMWUSA IS THE ONE THAT INDICATED THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED REGARDLESS OF THE VIN MATCHING THE RECALL. RIVERSIDE BMW HAS REFUSED TO HELP US WITH THIS MATTER BUT STATED THAT IF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AUTHORIZED THE FIX, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE SEAT SENSOR MAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH BMW. THANK YOU, MARK SULLIVAN
THE ISSUE BEGAN WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. THE ISSUE HAS ESCALATED INTO THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT ON PERMANENTLY. THE DEALER AND BMW OF NA CLAIMED THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS FOR 2005 BMW X3 E83S. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO FIND IT, HOWEVER THEY CLAIM THE VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP. BMW OF NA AND DEALERS REFUSE TO REPAIR UNDER THE SB. BMW TSB B72 200 05 BMW TSB B72 207 04 BMW TSB SI B65 19 08
AIR BAGS STARTED BLINKING LAST WEEK AND NOW IT JUST STAYS ON. BMW WEBSITE STATES MY CAR IS NOT COVER IN RECENT TAKATA AIR BAGS RECALL. ALSO, YESTERDAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN RAIN CAR'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED GETTING JERKY, STICKY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY CREATING A DANGEROUS DRIVING. THE CABIN LIGHTS ALSO STARTED TO GO ON & OFF DURING MY DRIVE HOME... WHEN I REACH HOME THE RADIO STAYED ON WHEN THE CAR IGNITION WAS OFF AND ONLY TURNED OFF WHEN I TURN-OFF THE RADIO. CHECK FUSE AND AIR BAG WIRING BUT SO SIGNS OF LOOSE WIRES AND BAD FUSE. CAUSE OF PROBLEMS UNKNOWN. PROBLEMS REMAINS UNCHANGED TODAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
I OWN A 2005 BMW X3, PURCHASED NEW 5-5-05. ON 12-19-11, WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, TECH ADVISED THAT DURING SHORT TEST, HE NOTED FAULTED PASS SEAT MAT SENSOR. DEALER REPLACED PASS SEAT MAT SENSOR AND ENABLED. AT NO TIME WERE PRIOR RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE MENTIONED NOR WAS I PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION CONCERNING ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON 5-14-15 (NOTE THE DATE) THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND REMAINED LIT WHILE THE PASS SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 5-19-15. THEY CONFIRMED THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR THEY REPLACED ON 12-19-11 WAS AGAIN FAULTY. HOWEVER, THIS TIME THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE AS IT WAS BEYOND THE HERETOFORE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" BY 14 DAYS. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL SHOP WHO REPLACED SEAT MAT SENSOR. FAULTY SEAT MAT SENSOR RETAINED FOR POSSIBLE TESTING. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW IS IGNORING. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED? DO PEOPLE NEED TO BE INJURED (OR WORSE) BEFORE BMW IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE? WITH SEAT BAG RECALLS BEING IN THE NEWS DAILY, HOW MUCH BAD PUBLICITY DOES BMW WANT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. ..UPDATED 10/21/14 *BF
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF (LIGHT NOTIFICATION), WHEN NO ONE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT AND NO ITEMS ARE ON SEAT THE WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND BUZZER WILL NOT STOP, AS IF SOME WEIGHT IS ON SEAT. BMW HAS ISSUED RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (76536 & 72651), BUT NOT FOR THIS VIN. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF BY CAR AND CAN NOT BE TURNED ON BY DRIVER OR PASSENGER. ALSO, HAVE TO HAVE SEAT BELT ACTIVATED ALL THE TIME. HAVE NOTICED THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE MADE THIS SAME COMPLAINT ONLINE AND BMW HAS NOT CORRECTED ISSUE.
I TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND OTHER MINOR SERVICES AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED "SRS LIGHT ON FOR PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR". THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON-OFF LAMP AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP HAVE BOTH BEEN ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CURRENT FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT RECALL. *TR
MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT OVERHEAD, EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED AND BUCKLED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH MY CAR MODEL AND YEAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SUMMARY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V384000), ACCORDING TO THEM IT WAS NOT AFFECTED AND WILL NOT BE PAID FOR--EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS IS DETAILED IN THE SUMMARY. READING THROUGH OTHER FORUMS AND THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MORE VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED THAN WHAT WAS INITIALLY COVERED IN THE RECALL. *TR
THERE IS A RECALL ON THE BMW 2005 X3 PASSENGER AIRBAG. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT, HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE CARS WITH THE RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON, IT GOES OFF, IT GOES ON, IT GOES OFF AND THEN FINALLY IT STAYS ON SO THE AIRBAG DOESN'T WORK. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED IT IS THE SENSOR MAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.
I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. FROM THAT TIME ON BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PASSENGER AIRBAG. I'M GUESSING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT SENSOR THAT TELLS IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM FOR THE 2004 MODEL, BUT NOT THE 2005 MODEL. *TR
I ORIGINALLY ASKED SEATTLE BMW TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM OF THE SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM BUZZER SOUNDING WHEN THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (2007) AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. UPON DRIVING HOME TO OLYMPIA, WA THE BUZZER BEGAN SOUNDING AGAIN AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. RECENTLY, I WAS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED AT THE NORTHWEST BMW DEALERSHIP IN TACOMA. I WAS TOLD THE COST WOULD BE APPROX. $1600. ANOTHER CUSTOMER THERE WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT MY SITUATION AND TOLD ME HIS FRIEND HAS THE SAME YEAR (2005) X3 AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DESPITE THE BMW RECALL 08V384000, THE DEALER AS WELL AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAY THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE "CORPORATE" RESPONSE TO ALL OWNERS. FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS ARE IN DANGER SHOULD THESE VEHICLES BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DOT NEEDS TO GET ON THIS ISSUE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS! *TR *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3 2.5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000(AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. BMW DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR. NOW PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP WILL NOT TURN OFF.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS FRONTAL WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED $1100 BY THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64989.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; I AM A CANADIAN CITIZEN, HOWEVER THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES A VEHICLE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN THE USA. I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW X3, WHICH IS EXHIBITING THE ISSUE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000, AS FOLLOWS.... RECALL: 2004-2006 BMW X3 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV MANUFACTURER BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC RECALL DATE: JUL 18, 2008 POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 DESCRIPTION AIR BAGS:FRONTAL SUMMARY BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCE IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING LATE SEPTEMBER 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. AFTER CONTACTING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, THEY INFORMED ME MY VIN / VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS, AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED IN MY VEHICLE. THERE MAY BE MANY MORE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT THEN THOSE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .