Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 BMW 330i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the front center of the vehicle crashed into the front center of another vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact stated that her and her husband both sustained injuries and sought medical attention; the contact stated that a piece of her nose detached, there was a gash on her knee and that she broke her hips, ribs, and one of her arms. The contact also stated that her husband bruised his face, heart, broke his hips, sustained laceration to his lungs and liver and fractured his right foot; The other party also sustained several unknown injuries. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. …
I side swiped a curb at a weird angle and it caused my drive side and passenger side side air bags to go off. The driver airbag exploded with such force that it broken my collar bone severely enough that I had to have surgery and metal plates put it to hold it back to together.
Air bag deployed without apparent cause. Disoriented drive ended up swerving to curb before coming to a rest. The passenger suffered from a broken nose and bruises to the face and was taken by ambulance . Both passenger and driver were wearing seat belt. Driver probably was spared any injury as she is near six foot and car seat is set back further. There was no alcohol involved in the incident, police arrived to the seen as issued no tickets or citation as they were driving within the speed limit and were not driving reckless. Road was a 4 lane divided road straight.
Takata recall-I found out in sept 2015 that my car was part of the airbag recall. I contacted hendrick BMW in charlotte, nc to have them replaced. They told me both the passenger and driver bags were recalled but they only had the passenger available to replace. I'm not in charlotte full time and do not drive it when I'm away. They said I would be called when it was ready. Dec I contacted them again, same story no driver. Feb called BMW USA, the air bag service light had come on and the car is a sport model with low profile tires that drives like a tank and some else had just been killed in an air bag accident. They first said they would arrange for a loaner, then backtracked and offered a "interim replacement" until the "real" replacement drivers side was available which almost 6 months since my first call, no one has any clue when they will be available. …
Takata recall first I should say that this is not a complaint about an incident. This is a complaint about the failure of BMW to provide a timely replacement for the thirteen (13) year old driver's side airbag in my 2004 BMW 330i, which has spent all of its life in a high absolute humidity location (houston, texas). I first contacted BMW on April, 26, 2016 regarding the Takata airbag recall on my 2004 BMW 330i. They first offered to perform an interim repair or an alternate provided vehicle. However, the insurance company informed me that the replacement vehicle would not be covered under my current policy. I followed up again on July 15, 2016, and BMW informed me that interim repairs were no longer being offered because final repair parts would be available shortly. …
Takata recall-I've been going round and round with BMW USA and hendrick motors in charlotte, nc since dec. 2015 trying to get info on when they are going to fix my death trap. I just learned today on this site that my car is priority 1 in high humidity area which charlotte certainly is. Plus the air bag lights have been on since dec and reported to them and this is the low profile sport model car that is a bumpy ride. I was told in jan by BMW that an interim bag was sent to nj specifically for my car, but hendrick clams they no nothing about it., they have my info and every time I call to see when they will have parts for the recall I get the same insppid blow off, we don't know anything but we'll call you as soon as we do.I just received a letter from BMW saying the parts are ready to call and make appt to replace and hendrick says they don't have yet they are on order should be 2 …
Tuesday September 9, 2014 I was driving down the hwy 92 when all of a sudden I here a loud thunderous explosion. As I checked my surroundings I thought I was in the middle of a car accident, so I took my foot off the gas and coasted to the side. As I looked around my side airbag curtains on both side were deployed as well as my driver side door air bag. I get out of my car and inspect the car and nothing visibly was damaged. I look down the road and nothing was there, cars were flowing as normal and not a pot hole in sight. Called BMW and found that BMW had has a recall on certain models including mine.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330i. 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 notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. ... Updated 08/23/16 updated 09/08/16.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330i. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15V318000 (air bags) was received in June of 2015. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be given. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 BMW 330i. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V318000 (air bags), 14V428000 (air bags), and 11V438000 (air bags). The parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a 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
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…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge.
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…
Airbag complaints in other 330i years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 BMW 330i?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 BMW 330i, 18% of the model year's 113 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2004 BMW 330i airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-018 (inflator module, Jan 15, 2020); NHTSA recall 14V-428 (air bags, Jun 11, 2018); NHTSA recall 15V-318 (inflator module, May 28, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 BMW 330i airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 144,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.