BMW 330xi Airbag Problems

Airbag complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  8
• Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
  2
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1
• Sensor › Occupant classification
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  12%
• 25k–50k
  58%
• 50k–75k
  1320%
• 75k–100k
  1726%
• 100k–150k
  2031%
• 150k+
  914%

What owners report

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.

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.

The contact owned a 2005 BMW 330XI. The contact received a recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 ( air bags) which they took the vehicle to a local dealer who performed the recall repair on the vehicle. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed the contact was making a U-turn when another driver t- bone and crashed into the rear passenger side door. The air bags did not deploy. There was no medical treatment at the scene however the next day the contact and her grandson went to the hospital. The contact sustained an injury to their back while her grandson injured his neck and back. A police report was filed. The contact had the vehicle towed to a towed yard where it was later deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

I received a recall notice that the front passenger airbag in my only car is defective. I called the BMW dealership in greenwood indiana to schedule the replacement of this part. I was informed that I would be placed on a waiting list since this part is "back ordered". They promised to call me as soon as the part was available but could not state when that call would occur. I told the gentleman that I must drive a long distance every week for business with my standard poodle sitting in the front seat. My dog provides security on these long drives. The salesman stated that the air bag would deploy only if there was an accident. I further inform him that the we were in the middle of hunting season and the highway I drive on has frequent accidents with deer running out across the highway. He once again stated that the car was safe to drive as long as there are no accidents. …

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 BMW 330xi. While at driving at 5 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle causing it to veer to the left. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the face, head, and back. The front passenger sustained injuries to the upper body, head, back, neck, shoulders, and both hips. The rear passenger sustained injuries to the head, neck, back, and left hand. All three passengers required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V428000 (air bags) and believed the recall was related to the failure. The contact also stated that the part needed to remedy the vehicle was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000.

From the time I bought the car new in early 2003, the air bag sensor light remained on indefinitely. The BMW dealer turned the alert light off several times, and did not fix the underlying problem, indicating that it was only the sensor and that the airbag was working. The light continues to remain on. After several visits to murray BMW in denver the problem was not fixed and the dealership merely turned the alert light off indicating there was nothing wrong, and not repairing the problem. At that time the warranty expired and the repair was never made. Now the air bag light is still on and the dealership will not take care of the issue with the sensor. When the airbag recall was performed, the air bag light still remained on, and the dealership indicated that the replacement of the airbag was not related to the air bag sensor. This is not acceptable when purchasing a brand new vehicle!

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 BMW 330xi. The contact stated that when the front passenger seat was occupied ,the air bag off warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number:14V428000 (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 failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Takato recall - I received recall notice in July 2015 and even with repeated calls to BMW dealer, no repair has been done. I refrain from driving the car and have less than 400 miles in the last year, but still have to pay for insurance, inspection, license. I have been postponing repairs, but I don't want to spend more money on a car that I shouldn't drive.

Related recalls (9)

NHTSA investigations