KnownCarProblems2006 BMW X3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 143 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 BMW X3, most often about the air bags (53% of complaints, typically around 76,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about X3 model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2006 BMW X3 problems
Air bags
76 complaints · 53%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, sensor.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW X3. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08v384000 (air bags). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 77,000.
"takata recall' my vehicle has the very same issues as the ones being recalled, but it is not on the recall list. My passenger airbag light stays on indication it is not on even when someone is sitting in the seat.it never go off. Rather in motion or stationary.
Seats
42 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
I'm filing this complaint on behalf of my wife. She was driving down the highway utilizing the heated seat function of the vehicle today when she smelled burning and the seat became dangerously hot. She pulled over and turned the heating function off which temporarily resolved the the problem. A little research on the…
Heated seat malfunctioned when turned on the seat got so hot it burned the back of my thigh, strong smell of something burning. Turned it off right away. I had just turned th car on it happened within seconds of turning the heated seat button on.
Electrical
13 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles.
Heating element for front driver seat shorted, causing it to burn through the leather. Fortunately, I caught it in time before fire or injury. Searching the internet reveals that this has occurred for many others as well, sometimes with more damaging results.
Repeated flooding in driver-side back and passenger front. It has been the vapor seal along the door, top part of door near window, seal along the windshield and finally from the sunroof leading to drain leading to interior of car. I have been fortunate that no electrical issues have incurred, but due to the high risk…
Engine
10 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 95,500 miles.
Jan 16 - check engine sensor light came on - car running sluggish. Immediately took to dealership - they detected oil separator failing. Car started smoking at dealership. They replaced the oil separator and several parts due to damage - costs $2400. March 22nd - same sensor light came on - took car back to dealership…
The contact owns a 2006 BMW X3. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat and stalled causing the engine warning light to illuminate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the thermostat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 4%Parts named most often: body.
Experienced a wet floor board in backseat on the driver side along with a puddle in the front driver side. Dealership said it was a seal, they removed the backdoor panel and water test showed the vapor seal had became loose. The next rain, still a puddle in the front - which means that vapor seal went bad as well.…
Turning into a driveway with a boulder on the edge/corner. With the drivers side seat heater on, the seat burned a hole thru the leather and made me turn abruptly and bumped the boulder. Damage to the fr. Bumper, inner fender and wheel. Left side (drivers) seat bolster has a burn-through hole.
Fuel system
5 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 64,500 miles.
Every time I fill up my car, the check gas cap light comes on. As I drive, it goes off but then will illuminate again. I check it and nothing appears to be wrong but as I drive, I do notice that the gas needle will move up and down.
2006 BMW X3 "check gas cap" warning light comes on intermittently after refueling. Check the gas gap and everything seems ok. Happens consistently in temperatures over 40f.
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 3%Repeated flooding in driver-side back and passenger front. It has been the vapor seal along the door, top part of door near window, seal along the windshield and finally from the sunroof leading to drain leading to interior of car. I have been fortunate that no electrical issues have incurred, but due to the high risk…
Faulty clock spring BMW airbag light on horn doesn't work BMW steering wheel buttons don't work, paddle shifter not working, fault code: driver squib circuit open or high resistance, code b1049 and b1054.
Equipment
3 complaints · 2%Parts named most often: appliance.
Tl contact owns a 2006 BMW X3. Whenever the heat or air conditioning is activated, the contact smells burning plastic inside the vehicle. The odor is so strong that it burns her eyes and nose. The vehicle has been to the dealer approximately three times. During the first visit, the mechanic stated that there were…
Air conditioner temperature began to warm just on drivers side but remained cool on drivers side. Based upon my many years or working with cars, I assumed this was a malfunction of some of the "doors" in the air routing system had failed not allowing sufficient cool air on drivers side. Taken to regular BMW dealer (he…
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 X3 recalls
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on november 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact bmw customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Full defect summary
Bmw of north america, llc (bmw) is recalling certain 2006-2010 bmw x3 2.5i, x3 3.0i and x3 xdrive30i sports activity vehicles. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
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.
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/
Bmw airbag light illumination
Summary
In certain my 2005 through my 2006 bmw vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) for the passenger frontal airbag may malfunction and render the passenger airbag inoperative.in june 2006, bmw issued a technical service bulletin (si b 72 02 06) regarding the illumination of the airbag warning light and the passenger airbag status lamp.illumination of these lights warn that an open electrical circuit may be present within the passenger seat mat sensor.when both of the lights are illuminated, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy in a frontal crash.certain bmw vehicles in addition to the subject vehicles contain the same seat mat sensor.these are the my 2004 5-series, 7-series
Questions about the 2006 BMW X3
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW X3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (76 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles); seats (42 complaints, typically around 79,000 miles); electrical (13 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 BMW X3 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 28, 2017 (air bags). 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 X3?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about X3 model year since 2000, with 143 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.