KnownCarProblems2006 BMW 3 Series Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 BMW 3 Series, most often about the air bags (50% of complaints, typically around 69,000 miles). It is the most complained-about 3 Series model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2006 BMW 3 Series problems
Air bags
101 complaints · 50%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I am the 2nd owner of my 2006 BMW 3 Series. I've driven it for about 4 months and one day I go to start my car to go to work and I noticed that the air bag indicator came on and it says passenger restraint malfunction. I have no idea why or what caused this!? I don't mess with my car, it just randomly did it once I…
Tl contact owns a 2006 BMW 3 Series. On july 24, 2009, the contact started the vehicle and noticed that the frontal air bag light was illuminated. The manufacturer stated that her VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 08v384000 (air bags: frontal); therefore, she will be responsible for the repair cost. The…
Electrical
32 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 69,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Door locks malfunctioned and driver became locked in car. Door locks could not be disengaged inside the car with keys, internal buttons, or door handles.
Car has automatic door locks, uses a fob. Parked the car, locked the doors with the fob. When I tried to unlock the doors with the fob, it only clicks - did not unlock. Used the key to unlock the drivers door, but found that once locked, no doors will unlock, not even manually from inside the car. The only door that…
Doors and locks
26 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
Went to unlock doors in 2006 BMW 330i and there was a rapid clicking sound in the front passenger door. The power locks failed to respond afterwards and all doors remained locked. The fob, nor the internal unlock button would allow the doors to be unlocked and attempting to open the doors from the inside did not work…
Passenger doors would not unlock. All passengers needed to exit through the drivers door. This would be a safety issue if in an accident and passengers could not open door to exit vehicle.
Steering
24 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles. Parts named most often: column.
I am getting a new message on my car indicating the wheel being locked. This problem is well documented and it seems there should be a recall. Please check out all the comments on this website. Http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=410153. My hope is that a recall happens. This 2006 BMW has been a…
On 2/3/2011 my vehicle had the steering wheel lock with the amber light. 2006 325i was towed to the dealer. It took re-programming and the steering column being replaced to fix the vehicle. There are numerous 3 Series with this issue in US and world. This is common for the e90s. Below is a list of those that have been…
Engine
15 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 86,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
White smoke coming though AC ducts. When taken to shop they said it was coolant leak in heater core. Replacement would cost me $3000-$4000.
When starting from idle to running state at a stop light the whole car started shaking. Took the shop and they say it a faulty coil/spark plug. Costs me $600-$1000. Looks like this is a common problem in BMW 325i 2006. They should fix this.
Wheels and tires
13 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 8,000 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
Excessive tire wear on 2006 BMW 330i. Firestone says that the cupping of the tires (starting at about 8k miles) causes less traction on the road and will get worse. The tires started to make load noise at about 8k miles and they now have 13k miles on them and the noise level is very bad. I have contacted BMW several…
Excessive premature tire wear on a 2006 BMW 330i. I have made numerous complaints to the dealer and they say they are working on a fix or a tire replacement but that I should continue to drive. This has been going on for 2,000 miles and it has progressively gotten worse. I drive my 3 year old son to day care and I…
Seats
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
Passenger sat in the front passenger seat. Warning light appeared on dashboard indicating the airbag has been turned off. This issue is similar to NHTSA campaign id number: 08v384000. However, although same model and year, my vehicle is not covered under this campaign.
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…
Seat belts
12 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 95,000 miles.
Car started showing "passenger restraint system malfunction". I researched the matter, and found that there is a recall. When I called BMW and gave them my VIN, they claimed that there is no recall. Almost every other BMW from that series/model was recalled and got the issue rectified under the recall. Please advise.…
The passenger seat belt/air bag light went on intermittently for months, finally the dealership was able to get the error code. It was confirmed that there is an issue with this and BMW has known about it since 2008. Per their website they were going to send out recall notices to owners, we never recieved anything.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 BMW 3 Series recalls
Engine: crankcase (pcv)
Risk: An electrical short can cause the pcv valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.
Fix: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17v-683 and 19v-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the pcv valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17v-683 and 19v-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on april 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on july 22,
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 series coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 series coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xdrive); 2007-2010 x3 sav (x3 3.0si, x3 xdrive30i); 2008-2013 1 series convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 series sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xdrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 series wagon (328i, 328i xdrive); 2007-2013 3 series convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 series sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 series wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 x5 sav (x5 3.0si, x5 xdrive30i); 2006-2008 z4 coupe (z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 z4 roadster (z4 3.0i, z4 3.0si, z4 sdrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) valve may short circuit.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 began on november 6, 2008. Bmw will also extend the warranty on these vehicles to 10 years from first registration without any mileage limit. Owners may contact bmw at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect 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.
Suspension: control arm
Risk: The bolted connection could break which could impair vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the bolted connection and, if necessary, adjust the connection. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace the suspension control arm and the swivel bearing. The recall began on november 21, 2006. Owners may contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles, one of the suspension control arm and swivel bearing connection bolts was not tightened correctly. The bolted connection could loosen.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Bmw airbag light illumination
Summary
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. In addition, bmw will extend the warranty coverage of the passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat to 10-year/unlimited mileage on approximately 120,000 remaining my04-06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05. The specific vehicles included in the extended warranty are my 06/ 6 series, my 06/ 3-series with standard seats, my04-05/ z4, my04-06/
Questions about the 2006 BMW 3 Series
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW 3 Series?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (101 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles); electrical (32 complaints, typically around 69,000 miles); doors and locks (26 complaints, typically around 67,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 BMW 3 Series have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from March 2, 2022 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the BMW 3 Series?
- It is the most complained-about 3 Series model year since 2000, with 202 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.