Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 BMW 325ci owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
BMW 325ci 2006 front left adaptive headlight wiring deteriorates over time. This cause the wiring to crack and fail. The front left headlight failed while driving, creating a dangerous situation for the driver and others on the road. When the wiring fails the driver cannot display turn signals, use high beams or any headlight functions. BMW does not provide a solution or help to fix the issue. The vehicle was in motion at night when the headlight failed. The part is the front headlight igniter wiring harness. The failure happened inside a sealed compartment and is not exposed to any outside elements. This is a common issue, a google search will bring up multiple other cases of failure in other cars with pictures. BMW 335ci 2006 rear tail lights short out frequently while driving and do not display turn signals. A fault is shown on the dashboard. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 325 I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the passenger side air bag warning light illuminated on and off. The passenger's seat was not occupied. The contact also stated that the passenger side air bag warning light illuminated sporadically when the seat was occupied as well. After several months, the passenger side air bag warning light illuminated permanently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a technician advised the contact that the failure could have been caused by the front passenger seat sensor mat but a diagnostic testing would have to be performed to determine the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 08V384000 (air bags:frontal). The approximate failure mileage was 29,000 and the current failure mileage was 50,500. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V318000 (air bags); 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. Hilton head BMW (1230 fording island rd, bluffton, sc 29910) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
Upon receiving a safety recall for both airbags back in November 2016, I have requested repeatedly to my local dealer (BMW of atlantic city) to remedy this for over a year now. At first I called the service department and was told I would be contacted once the parts arrived. Then, and after months of waiting I called back and got the same response. I called their main office at that point and got the same line from them. Finally I email them early January and month has passed with no reply.... Please advise on how to replace my faulty airbags....thank you...john
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V018000 (air bags) 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. BMW of louisville (2200 blankenbaker pkwy, louisville, ky 40299, [phone]) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V428000 (air bags) and 15V318000 (air bags), however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 02/12/16
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci. 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. Updated 12/13/16 the consumer stated the air bags were replaced. Updated 12/15/16.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V318000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. 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 parts not available.....updated 08/29/16 updated 08/30/16.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci. 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 not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. ....updated 07/05/16 updated 07/21/16.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 BMW 325ci. The contact received a notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15V318000 (air bags), however, the parts needed were not available. The contact believed that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the parts to become available. The dealer and manufacturer were contacted regarding the delay. The contact had not experienced the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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…
BMW airbag light illumination
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.
Airbag complaints in other 325ci years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 BMW 325ci?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 BMW 325ci, 64% of the model year's 36 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 BMW 325ci airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-018 (inflator module, Jan 15, 2020); NHTSA recall 15V-318 (inflator module, May 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 BMW 325ci airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.