2004 Bmw X3 Airbags Problems
44 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Airbags Recalls (1)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
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.
Owner Complaints (44)
Your 2004 BMW X3 was involved in a crash at 60 mph with a tow truck, and the front airbags failed to deploy. You suffered a head injury and body soreness requiring medical attention. An airbag specialist found that the airbag was not properly connected to the system. The dealer claimed the airbags didn't deploy due to minimal impact, but your insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss.
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Your airbag warning light is staying on, which indicates a problem with the occupant sensor system. This sensor is supposed to detect whether a passenger is in the seat and control whether the airbags activate in a crash. A faulty sensor could either keep the airbags active all the time or prevent them from deploying when needed. You should have the airbag system inspected and the occupant sensor repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
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Your airbags failed to deploy during a front-end collision when your vehicle crashed into a tow truck. The airbags should have inflated to protect you during the impact, but they did not. The vehicle was declared a total loss. This issue may require diagnostic testing of the airbag control module and sensor system to determine why the airbags didn't activate.
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Your car suddenly accelerated on its own while parked in reverse, causing it to crash into five other vehicles. The airbags failed to deploy during the collision, and you sustained injuries to your neck, back, and chest. The vehicle was totaled, and the crash was reported to police but not to BMW. This happened at approximately 120,000 miles.
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Your BMW has an open recall (08V384) for the front passenger seat occupant detection mat in the airbag system, but BMW says they don't have parts available and aren't ordering them. You've been told to call back in two months with no clear timeline for when the repair will be completed. This recall also includes a warranty coverage extension that hasn't been applied. The fix will require BMW to source and install the replacement occupant detection mat once parts become available.
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THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES.
TAKATA RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:15V318 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V428
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER DATED JULY 2015 CONCERNING THE RECALL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL BMW ON 11/24/15 AND THEY SAID THEY PUT MY NAME ON THE LIST AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN THE REPLACEMENT CAME IN. I CALLED AGAIN ON 4/14/16 AND [XXX] SAID SHE WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE MY NAME IS ON THE LIST AND WOULD CALL ME BACK WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVED. IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THIS IS SO CONCERNING TO ME AS THIS CAR IS MY MAIN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I AM SO AFRAID I WILL HAVE A FRONT END COLLISION RESULTING IN DEATH OR DISMEMBERMENT. IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN I OR MY ESTATE WILL MOST CERTAINLY SUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN JUNE 2015 AND ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2016.OVER A YEAR + I HAVE BEEN CALLING SOUTH BAY BMW IN TORRANCE CA. AND THEY KEEP ON TELLING ME THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS YET. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME..
TAKATA RECALL. THIS COMPLAINT IS DUE TO THE SLOW RESPONSE OF NALLEY BMW IN DECATUR GEORGIA TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG. I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE BMW DEALER ON SEPT 7TH. I WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE ORDERED AND I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN THEY ARRIVED. BY SEPT 16TH I HAD HEARD NOTHING AND CALLED AGAIN. NALLEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD OF MY HAVING ORDERED PARTS. I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WHERE NO ONE ANSWERED THE PHONE. SO I CALLED BMW NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM GET IN TOUCH WITH ME DIRECTLY. NOTHING HAPPENED, SO TODAY VISITED THE DEALER PERSONALLY TO GET THE PARTS ORDERED. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL TWO WEEKS TO RECEIVE PARTS. THIS IS UNACCEPTIBLE. MY RECALL LETTER FROM BMW CLEARLY STATES "WE HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL," "PLEASE CONTACT YOUR AUTHORIZED BMW CENTER IMMEDIATELY TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS IMPORTANT FREE RECALL PERFORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," AND "...METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING THE DRIVER OR OTHER PASSENGERS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH." BMW HAS BUILT CARS WITH SHRAPNEL GRENADES INSTEAD OF AIRBAGS AND NOW THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT FIXING IT. BMW SHOULD NOT E ALLOWED TO SELL ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE US UNTIL THEY HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THESE CRITICAL RECALLS.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL - NOTIFIED JULY 2015 - A YEAR AGO - ABOUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, STILL NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND I LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST HUMID STATES IN THE SOUTH. IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND RIDICULOUS THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT OVER A YEAR FOR PART REPLACEMENTS THAT IF RUPTURED, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. BMW NORTH AMERICA WEBSITE STATES: REMEDY AVAILABLE BUT GLOBAL IMPORTS ATLANTA IS REPORTING THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS.
TAKATA RECALL: IN JULY, 2015 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW (RECALL NOTICE 15V-318) STATING THAT MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SHOULD BE REPLACED, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN ONE IS. I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF SERVICE APPOINTMENTS AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (PERILLO BMW IN CHICAGO) AND EACH TIME ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY UPDATE ON RESOLUTION AND EACH TIME I WAS EITHER REFERRED TO BMW'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR POLITELY TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO UPDATE. I HAVE ALSO CALLED THE 1-800-525-7417 BMW SERVICE CENTER MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR, MOST RECENTLY TODAY (7/1/16), AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AT THIS POINT, I AM FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF RESOLUTION AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE HELPING ME WITH THIS RECALL NOTICE. THANK YOU. *TR
AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHEN HITTING POT HOLE AT AROUND 30MPH. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANY E46'S THAT THE AIRBAG IS TOO SENSITIVE.
TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED AS OF 04-25-16
IN JULY 2015 I RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-381: DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE. IT SAID IF DEPLOYED METAL FRAGMENTS COULD STRIKE THE DRIVER OR OTHER PASSENGERS CAUSING DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. IT SAID I'D GET A 2ND LETTER WHEN THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I'VE NEVER GOTTEN THE SECOND LETTER, AND WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR THEY SAID THAT THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE! THAT'S ALMOST A YEAR LATER. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN UPDATED 02/16/16*JB
THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME CAME TO A STOP WITH A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT, SO WE WERE IN TRAFFIC SO I WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 5 MPH, SO APPLIED THE BRAKES. UNFORTUNATELY I STILL BUMPED THE BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO MY ARM AND FACE LOOSENING 6 TEETH WHICH HAS SINCE HAD TO BE PULLED OUT. THERE WAS NOTHING WITH THE ACCIDENT THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO BE COMPLETELY SMASHED, BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THE EMT KEPT ASKING ME IF I HIT MY HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND I REPEATEDLY SAID "NO". I CAN ONLY EAT SOFT FOOD OR SMOOTHIES NOW SINCE LOSING MY TEETH. I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ONCE THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LEADING THE EMT PERSONNEL TO FEEL I LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE AIR BAG CAUSED TO MY VEHICLE ALONG WITH ACCELERATING ONCE THE AIR BAG HIT ME IN THE FACE CASUED MY VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR USAA.
I DROVE MY CAR OVER A VERY MINUSCULE CRACK IN THE ROAD AT AN EXTREMELY LOW SPEED AS I WAS MAKING A TURN AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE A PASSENGER AT THE TIME BUT THE EXPLOSION OF THE AIRBAG SIMULTANEOUSLY BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN, PUT ME INTO A STATE OF SHOCK AND CUT ALL POWER FROM MY CAR. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR WHILE THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS ALSO FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE CRASHED INTO ANYTHING WHILE MY LIFE WAS PUT IN SUCH SEVERE DANGER FROM THE STATE OF CHAOS THIS AIRBAG CAUSED. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY HAD STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MATCHING MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER, THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL ONLY COVERS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND NOT THE SIDE AIRBAG! *TR
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE DATED SEPTEMBER 2014 FROM BMW REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN FT MYERS FL ON 10/28/14 TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THE REPAIR DONE. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK AND ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN IT BECAME AVAILABLE. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR FROM THE DEALER I DECIDED TO FOLLOW UP AND CALLED THEM ON JANUARY 8, 2015. I WAS TOLD THE PART WAS OUT OF STOCK. THE WOMAN SAID THEY ONLY RECEIVE SMALL QUANTITIES AT A TIME. AGAIN, I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE MY NAME AND PHONE NUMBER AND WOULD BE CALLED WHEN THE PART WAS RESTOCKED. HOW CAN BMW SEND OUT A RECALL NOTICE ASKING YOU TO CALL IMMEDIATELY TO HAVE THE NECESSARY REPAIR PERFORMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHEN THEY DON'T SUPPLY THE DEALER WITH THE PART? I EXPECTED MORE FROM BMW. I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY DO SOMETHING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND EXPEDITE THE REPAIR! *TR
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MONTHS AGO AND BMW HAS YET TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE AIRBAG!! I DRIVE ACROSS COUNTRY TWICE A YEAR AND HAVE ALREADY MADE THE TRIP ONCE SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET BMW TO TAKE ACTION?? I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY STILL HAVE "NO PARTS AND A LONG BACKLOG OF PEOPLE WAITING" AFTER ALL THIS TIME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (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. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 01/13/15*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TWO YEARS LATER, THE CONTACT BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER IT HAD EXPIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS) IN THE MAIL AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
NO IN PASSENGER SEAT WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WAS OFF. WENT ABOUT 15 FEET AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TURNS ON AND OFF WITH OR WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE SEAT. BMW REPRESENTATIVE STATED RECALL ID# 81074 DID NOT RELATE TO MY VIN. *TR
"PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" OVERHEAD CONSOLE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN 140 LB PASSENGER OCCUPIES THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES WHEN PASSENGER MOVES AROUND IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT WILL GO AWAY. TALKED TO SERVICE ADVISOR AT BMW OF STERLING, VIRGINIA ON 4/5/12. THEY ACKNOWLEDGED FOUR FACTS (1) IT IS A PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT FAILURE, AND (2) IF THE LIGHT IS ON IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY NO MATTER HOW SEVERE THE ACCIDENT IS, AND (3) THE MAT IN QUESTION WAS REPLACED ON 02-16-2007 AT 40,788 MILES FOR AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM UNDER MANUFACTURER DEFECT CODE 6577081500, AND (4) THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE ISSUE, BUT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PREVIOUS REPAIR AND WILL CHARGE ME $1,290 FOR IT. RESEARCH ON THIS WEB-SITE SHOWS NHTSA ACTIVE EA08001 PERTAINS TO AN IDENTICAL ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED ON CERTAIN CARS AND THEY SHOULD COVER MY CAR FOR THE SAME DEFECT AS WELL. *TR
WITHOUT CAUSE OR INCIDENT, THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT OF OUR AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND DISABLED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR OUR VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR OF MANUFACTURE, BUT OUR VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE EXTRAORDINARY AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. FURTHERMORE, THE MANUFACTURER IS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND HOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WORKS. THE VEHICLE HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. *TT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000. UPDATED 01/06/11*LJ UPDATED 01/24/11*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ASSUMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY AIR BAG SENSORS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,400. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,200.
I AM A MILITARY MEMBER STATIONED IN RAMSTEIN GERMANY FROM JAN 2001 - JUNE 2005. IN MAY 2005, I PURCHASE A US-SPEC 2004 BMW X-3 FROM AN AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER ON BASE. I SHIPPED MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE STATES IN JULY 2006. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT MY AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AND PASSENGER ON-OFF LAMP ARE ILLUMINATED--PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL SUMMARY 08V384000 IN THIS WEBSITE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED BMW, THEY SAID THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL LISTS. CAN YOU HELP ME GET MY VEHICLE FIXED UNDER THIS RECALL PROGRAM? MY VIN # IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/INVESTIGATION/2004/BMW/X3/AIRBAG BMW HAS ONLY RECALLED A PARTIAL LIST OF VEHICLES FOR THE ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT FUNCTIONING. THIS NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO THE ENTIRE VEHICLE LINE. I HAVE A 2004 BMW X3 AND IT IS EXPERIENCING SAME ISSUE DOCUMENTED IN RECALL LIST AND ITS NOT BEEN ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE. IT APPEARS BMW HAS LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES COVERED BY THE RECALL NOTICE TO SAVE ON DOLLARS. THIS IS SERIOUS, IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION. *TR
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN SOMEONE OF THE APPROPRIATE WEIGHT WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SO, WHEN A PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THE LIGHT SHOWING PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT ACTIVATED LIGHT WOULD STILL BE ILLUMINATED. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON AND OFF, NOT CONSTANT. THEN ONE DAY IT REMAINED ON CONSTANT AND ON THE DASH A RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BOTH OF THESE LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE PROBLEM BEGAN HAPPENING. I CONTACTED BMW BASED ON THE RECALL THAT IS LISTED, THEY STATE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE ERROR THAT OCCURRED AND PROBLEM MATCHES THE RECALL, MY VIN IS NOT EFFECTED. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE A REVIEW TO SEE IF MY VIN NUMBER SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL OR IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO MORE VEHICLES THAT ARE EFFECTED. (NHTSA EA08001) I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE DEFECT AT NO COST TO ME. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MAIN OFFICE AND DEALERS. THEY CONTINUE TO STATE THAT MY VIN WAS NOT EFFECTED AND I WILL NEED TO PAY TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 BMW X3. THERE IS A RECALL ON MY YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR FAULTY AIRBAG SENSORS THAT CAUSE THE AIRBAGS NOT TO FUNCTION IN A CRASH. MY CAR IS DISPLAYING THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. BMW IS NOT INCLUDING MY PARTICULAR CAR IN THE RECALL. THIS DEFECT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO MY WIFE AND I. IT IS MY WISH THAT BMW WILL EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS DEFECTIVE CONDITION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. SHE STATES THAT SHE NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. AS A CONSEQUENCE 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. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT BECAUSE HER VIN NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE VIN RANGE FOR RECALL #08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. BL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHENEVER A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE IS BEING EXCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND MY HUSBAND IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CALLED LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND 800 NUMBER- AS AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT IS A RECALL. THEY SAID IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. THE RECALL STATES FOR MODEL YEARS 2004 - 2006 BMW X3. I HAVE A 2004 BMW X3 AND AM WONDERING HOW IT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME FAILURE REPAIRED TWO YEARS AGO. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,347. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08.*JB
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WITH SEATBELT BOTH ON OR OFF. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 BMW X3 2.5L SAV IN WHERE THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED WHILE MY WIFE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP (JMK BMW IN SPRINGFIELD, NJ) ABOUT 4 TIMES AND UNFORTUNATELY EACH TIME THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE IN CONTACT WITH MY DEALER AND EVEN REQUESTED TO HAVE MY TRUCK BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT ON MORE TIME (BY THIS TIME IT WOULD BE THE 4TH TRIP BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM). AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME STATING THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. BUT IT HAS NOT. I REPORTED THE ISSUE AGAIN TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER THEY TOLD ME THAT THE HAVE USED EVERY POSSIBLE SOLUTION ON MY TRUCK AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THAT??S RIGHT! BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TOLD ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD ENGINEERS FROM GERMANY LOOK INTO THE ISSUE, THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS TECHNICIANS SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO SEE IF THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATES (MIND YOU THEY PROBABLY WEIGH AT LEAST 75LBS MORE THEN MY WIFE), THEY MOVED THE SENSORS ON THE SEAT, REPLACED THE SENSORS, AND MORE. YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE MANAGER AT THE PARTS AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM WAITING WORD BACK TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS IN REGARDS TO MY PROBLEM BECAUSE I WILL NO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEIR PRODUCT IS HAVING. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION HELPS YOU AS I HOPE IT WILL HELP ME IN GETTING MY PROBLEM FIXED AND HOPEFULLY GET THIS INFORMATION OUT THERE TO OTHER DRIVERS OF THE X3 TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW OF THIS ISSUE AND TRY AND GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY. *JB
AIR BAG WARNINGS IN 2004 BMW. BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE TWICE AND WAS INGORNED. THEN, HAD ACCIDENT AND COMPLAINED AGAIN TO BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE. RESULT-THEY COULD CARE LESS. SENT AT LEAST THREE EMAILS-NO ACTION, LITTLE RESPONSE . *AK
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON VERY OCCASIONALLY (3-4 TIMES IN 13 MONTHS) WHEN A PASSENGER IS PROPERLY SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AND TYPICALLY GOES OUT AND THEN COMES BACK ON AGAIN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL NOT OCCUR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SIMPLY SAY THEY CANNOT FIX A PROBLEM THAT THEY CAN'T FIND. THE HAVE OPENED A "CASE" TO COLLECT INFORMATION BUT HAVE NOT RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT BMW IS COLLECTING INFORMATION. THEY CANNOT DEFINITIVELY TELL ME HOW THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL PERFORM IF THE LIGHT HAPPENS TO BE ON WHEN A VEHICLE CRASH OCCURS. THEY DO INSIST THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT SAYS THE AIRBAG IS OFF BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE SIDE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY. MY PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS THAT THEY SEEM TO TREAT THIS ISSUE VERY LIGHTLY, BOTH AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND AT THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICES. *JB
2004 BMW - FRONT AIR BAG DISABLE ENABLED BY IT'S SELF. HAS BEEN REPAIR TWICE ALREADY. NOW HAPPENING FOR A THIRD TIME
DT: 2004 BMW 300 SERIES. THE CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY. SHE WAS DRIVING 10-15 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. THE SENSOR STRIP BENEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOWS AN AREA OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN IMPACT; THE CONSUMER HAS ALWAYS HAD THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS OCCURRED ON A FLAT RESIDENTIAL ROAD. SHE WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN SHE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK