Problems · by component

2006 BMW M3 air bags problems

110 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 BMW M3 cite air bags, 51% of all 216 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 4 recalls on this component.

Complaints
110
51% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 3 SERIES. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM ONE SOURCE MOTORS (10633 NORTHLAND DR NE, ROCKFORD, MI 49341, (616) 951-7068), HE WAS NOT INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000 (AIR BAGS) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). SHARPE BMW (1010 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49508, (616) 452-5101) SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG REPAIR HAD BEEN COMPLETED, BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE REPAIR FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND HAD NOT PROVIDED A TIME FRAME TO PROVIDE THE PART TO THE DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. SHARPE BMW DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOORMAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER BOTH STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY AIR BAG RECALLS TO COVER THE FLOORMAT SENSOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V676000 AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V071000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2018Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11091326
“YESTERDAY (01/06/17) - WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION, 2 SIDE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED, THROWING LOOSE PLASTIC MATERIAL INTO THE CABIN AND INTO MY FACE. CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF ENGINE FOR SMOKE TO DISAPPEAR. I AM GOING TO TAKE MY CAR TO BMW DEALER TOMORROW MORNING FOR EVALUATION”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2018Air bagsODI 11060996
“TAKATA RECALL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IN MY 2006 BMW IS DEFECTIVE MAKING THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS TURNED OFF DURING THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHEN CAR IS ON OR RUNNING AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT TURN ON. MANY OTHER 2006 BMWS LIKE MINE ARE AFFECTED WITH THIS ISSUE. A RECALL HAS BEEN DONE FOR BMWS FOR MODELS 2007 AND NEWER BUT NOT FOR THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THIS YEAR MAKE TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AND PASSENGERS RIDING IN THIS CAR. I USE THIS CAR AS A DAILY DRIVER WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. PLEASE UPDATE NEW INFO ASAP”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2017Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11044000
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 AND 15V318000 (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 THE LOCAL DEALER (ADVANCED VALENCIA BMW, 23435 VALENCIA BOULEVARD, VALENCIA, CA 91355) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2017Air bagsODI 11035873
“BMW CONTINUES TO DRAG ITS FEET ON FIXING RECALL. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE FOR OVER 6 MONTHS NOW. CALLED DEALER IN CHARLOTTE NC (HENDRICK BMW ON E. INDEPENDENCE BOULEVARD) MULTIPLE TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY EITHER DO NOT HAVE THE PART OR NEED TO ORDER IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2017Air bagsODI 11024828
“TAKATA RECALL- MY AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 2X(1X UNDER WARRANTY) 1X I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND NOW A 3RD TIME (OUT OF POCKET) IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH TIME THIS HAS BROKEN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2017Air bags, SeatsODI 11023662

Showing 6 of 110 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

4 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 16, 2020NHTSA 20V018000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 15, 2020NHTSA 20V017000

Air bags

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Air bagsReported Jun 11, 2018NHTSA 14V428000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported May 28, 2015NHTSA 15V318000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.