2005 Bmw X3 Airbags Problems

Your airbag warning light has turned on twice, and you've already had the passenger seat sensor replaced once. You believe your vehicle should be covered under a recall that applies to other 2005 BMW X3 models. The fix would likely involve diagnostic testing of the airbag system and potentially replacing the seat occupancy sensor or airbag control module.

Your passenger-side airbag displays an 'off' warning even when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. This means the airbag may not deploy in a crash when it should. The airbag sensor or wiring that detects passenger occupancy likely needs inspection or repair.

Your airbag inflators are Takata brand parts, which have been subject to recalls. Despite waiting over a year, your BMW dealership has not provided a solution or timeline for repair. This is a safety-critical component that should be addressed as soon as possible.

Your car has a safety recall affecting both the driver and passenger airbags. Your dealership canceled your repair appointment because the required Takata airbag parts aren't in stock and they don't have an estimated delivery date. It's been 30 days without any updates from the dealership about when the parts will arrive. Getting the airbag components replaced will require waiting for parts availability and then scheduling a new service appointment.

You received a recall notice in July 2015 for a Takata airbag issue, but haven't been notified when you can get it fixed—more than a year later. You're concerned about the long delay and want this documented for your record. The fix will involve your dealer replacing the faulty airbag inflator with a safe one.

You received a recall notice in July 2015 about a faulty driver-side front airbag that needs replacement, but after 13 months, your BMW dealer hasn't contacted you to perform the repair. Your airbag may not deploy properly in a crash, leaving you and your family unprotected. The dealer will need to install a replacement driver-side airbag module.

TAKATA RECALL - DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OVER 12 MONTHS - TODAY I RECEIVED THE SECOND NOTIFICATION FROM BMW. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE BMW MAKE THE REPAIR IN OVER A YEAR DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY. WHAT IS "WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME" THAT THIS COMPLAINT SHOULD BE MADE?

TAKATA RECALL: IN JULY 2015 RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL DUE TO DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEFICIT. HAVE CALLED 2 DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES IN ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR. HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN TOLD THAT I'M ON A WAIT LIST AND THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT OR FAILURE, ONE YEAR SEEMS AN EXCESSIVELY LONG TIME TO WAIT GIVEN THE SAFETY RISK. COMPLAINT ISSUED BY PHONE BUT VIN NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 3 SERIES. 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 REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. WHILE DRIVING ON LOOSE GRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 350CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF

TAKATA RECALL IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THE RECALL ON MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS ISSUED AND THEY HAVE STILL NOT REPLACED IT.

ACCORDING TO YOUR BULLETIN THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ( WHICH I AM HAVING) BUT THERE IS NO RECALL BY BMW. AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/20/16*LJ UPDATED 11/21/2017*JS

TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALER, LIFE QUALITY MOTOR SALES INC OF BROOKLYN NEW YORK AND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LLC REFUSE TO COMPLETE THIS TAKATA PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE

MY WIFE HAS A 2005 BMW X3 WITH AN AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE PROBLEM/SYMPTOM IS THAT THERE IS A LITTLE RED LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT LOOKS LIKE AN AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED ALONG WITH A YELLOW LIGHT ABOVE YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF". SO IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THERE IS A SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS BASICALLY THERE SO THAT IF A PERSON THAT DOES NOT WEIGH A CERTAIN AMOUNT, LIKE A CHILD FOR EXAMPLE, IS SITTING THERE THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR SMALLER INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, SINCE THE SENSOR BECOMES DEFECTIVE, THE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO AIRBAG OFF MODE AND THEREFORE YOU NEVER HAVE AN AIRBAG REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR US BECAUSE THE VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL, BUT BMWUSA IS THE ONE THAT INDICATED THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED REGARDLESS OF THE VIN MATCHING THE RECALL. RIVERSIDE BMW HAS REFUSED TO HELP US WITH THIS MATTER BUT STATED THAT IF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AUTHORIZED THE FIX, THEY WOULD REPAIR THE SEAT SENSOR MAT. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WITH BMW. THANK YOU, MARK SULLIVAN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 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 NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

PER MY LETTER FROM BMW, I AM TO NOTIFY NHTSA THAT BMW IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE AIRBAG RECALL SITUATION WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER IN JULY 2015 AND CALLED BMW TODAY 11-16-15 TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL RECEIVE PARTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG.

THE ISSUE BEGAN WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT TURNING OFF AND ON RANDOMLY. THE ISSUE HAS ESCALATED INTO THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT ON PERMANENTLY. THE DEALER AND BMW OF NA CLAIMED THERE WERE NO SERVICE BULLETINS FOR 2005 BMW X3 E83S. I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO FIND IT, HOWEVER THEY CLAIM THE VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP. BMW OF NA AND DEALERS REFUSE TO REPAIR UNDER THE SB. BMW TSB B72 200 05 BMW TSB B72 207 04 BMW TSB SI B65 19 08

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I OWN A 2005 BMW X3, PURCHASED NEW 5-5-05. ON 12-19-11, WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, TECH ADVISED THAT DURING SHORT TEST, HE NOTED FAULTED PASS SEAT MAT SENSOR. DEALER REPLACED PASS SEAT MAT SENSOR AND ENABLED. AT NO TIME WERE PRIOR RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE MENTIONED NOR WAS I PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION CONCERNING ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY. ON 5-14-15 (NOTE THE DATE) THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND REMAINED LIT WHILE THE PASS SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. TOOK CAR TO DEALER 5-19-15. THEY CONFIRMED THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR THEY REPLACED ON 12-19-11 WAS AGAIN FAULTY. HOWEVER, THIS TIME THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE AS IT WAS BEYOND THE HERETOFORE "EXTENDED WARRANTY" BY 14 DAYS. TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL SHOP WHO REPLACED SEAT MAT SENSOR. FAULTY SEAT MAT SENSOR RETAINED FOR POSSIBLE TESTING. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT BMW IS IGNORING. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED? DO PEOPLE NEED TO BE INJURED (OR WORSE) BEFORE BMW IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE? WITH SEAT BAG RECALLS BEING IN THE NEWS DAILY, HOW MUCH BAD PUBLICITY DOES BMW WANT BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY DO WHAT IS RIGHT?

BMW RECALLED THIS CAR FOR THE AIRBAG MANY MOTHS AGO. BMW ADVISED US THE AIR BAG REPLACEMENT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF DECEMBER 2014. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY ADVISED ME THEY HAVE NO DATES WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. MY LOCAL DEALER STATES I AM ON A LIST AND 40 PEOPLE ARE IN FRONT OF ME AND IT CAN TAKE IN EXCESS OF THREE MONTHS TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR IF THEY GET THE PARTS. BMW HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE AND CAN NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. *TR

RECEIVED FRONT AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE IN MID-SEPTEMBER 2014 AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED ABOUT REPLACEMENT. IT HAS NOW BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE NOTICE AND THE CAR STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT USE OF CAR FOR 4 MONTHS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

AFTER 4 WEEKS OF RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE AND MANY CALLS TO BMW NORTH AMERICA THEY TELL ME THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT BE AVAILABLE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A "VOLUNTARY RECALL" AND IMPLIED THAT THEY ARE IN NO HURRY TO SATISFY CUSTOMERS! THEY HAVE ALSO WARNED ME SEVERAL TIMES NOT TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. ..UPDATED 10/21/14 *BF

I TOOK MY VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND OTHER MINOR SERVICES AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED "SRS LIGHT ON FOR PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR". THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON-OFF LAMP AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP HAVE BOTH BEEN ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CURRENT FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT RECALL. *TR

MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT OVERHEAD, EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SEATED AND BUCKLED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH MY CAR MODEL AND YEAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SUMMARY (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V384000), ACCORDING TO THEM IT WAS NOT AFFECTED AND WILL NOT BE PAID FOR--EVEN THOUGH I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS IS DETAILED IN THE SUMMARY. READING THROUGH OTHER FORUMS AND THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MORE VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED THAN WHAT WAS INITIALLY COVERED IN THE RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON SEPULVEDA BLVD IN LOS ANGELES ON JULY 29TH,2013 AROUND 10:00 PM WITH MY BROTHER, SUDDENLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AND BRUISED MY BROTHER'S RIGHT ARM MY CAR STOPPED OPERATING AND WE CALLED PAYLESS TOW TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO RUSNAK BMW IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE WERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE DEPT IN REGARDS TO MY CAR AIRBAG INCIDENT, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY STATE FARM TO SEE IF THEY PROVIDE COVERAGE, THEY TOLD SINCE THIS WAS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY POLICY. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED BY BMW CORPORATION. THEY HAVE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AND PAY FOR MY BROTHER INJURY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTION I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS REGARD THANK YOU, SINCERELY MS.SHAHRZAD BABAEIAN

THERE IS A RECALL ON THE BMW 2005 X3 PASSENGER AIRBAG. MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT, HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE CARS WITH THE RECALL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON, IT GOES OFF, IT GOES ON, IT GOES OFF AND THEN FINALLY IT STAYS ON SO THE AIRBAG DOESN'T WORK. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED IT IS THE SENSOR MAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500.

I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. FROM THAT TIME ON BOTH LIGHTS ARE ON AND I'M CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PASSENGER AIRBAG. I'M GUESSING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT SENSOR THAT TELLS IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONTINUOUSLY. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE SYSTEM. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM FOR THE 2004 MODEL, BUT NOT THE 2005 MODEL. *TR

I ORIGINALLY ASKED SEATTLE BMW TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM OF THE SEAT BELT WARNING SYSTEM BUZZER SOUNDING WHEN THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (2007) AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. UPON DRIVING HOME TO OLYMPIA, WA THE BUZZER BEGAN SOUNDING AGAIN AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. RECENTLY, I WAS HAVING A FAILURE OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REPAIRED AT THE NORTHWEST BMW DEALERSHIP IN TACOMA. I WAS TOLD THE COST WOULD BE APPROX. $1600. ANOTHER CUSTOMER THERE WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT MY SITUATION AND TOLD ME HIS FRIEND HAS THE SAME YEAR (2005) X3 AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. DESPITE THE BMW RECALL 08V384000, THE DEALER AS WELL AS BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAY THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE THE "CORPORATE" RESPONSE TO ALL OWNERS. FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS ARE IN DANGER SHOULD THESE VEHICLES BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. DOT NEEDS TO GET ON THIS ISSUE TO PROTECT CONSUMERS! *TR *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3 2.5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE MAT SENSOR FOR THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000(AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. BMW DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS FAILURE OF PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR. NOW PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP WILL NOT TURN OFF.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW X3. HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 COMPONENT: AIR BAGS FRONTAL WERE RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED $1100 BY THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64989.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN; I AM A CANADIAN CITIZEN, HOWEVER THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES A VEHICLE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN THE USA. I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW X3, WHICH IS EXHIBITING THE ISSUE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000, AS FOLLOWS.... RECALL: 2004-2006 BMW X3 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV MANUFACTURER BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC RECALL DATE: JUL 18, 2008 POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 DESCRIPTION AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 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. CONSEQUENCE 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. REMEDY 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING LATE SEPTEMBER 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. AFTER CONTACTING BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, THEY INFORMED ME MY VIN / VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS, AND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED IN MY VEHICLE. THERE MAY BE MANY MORE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT THEN THOSE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL AND THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

AIR BAGS IN BMW X3 MANUFACTURE DATE SEP 2005. MY VEHICLE IS FULLY LOADED AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ACCORDING TO BMW TESTS RAN ON THE TRUCK. THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000, HOWEVER BMW WILL NOT REWORK THE SENSOR ISSUE. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY OVER 1100 EURO, AS I AM STATION IN GERMANY AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THROUGH MILITARY CAR SALES. SINCE IT IS THE EXACT ISSUE FOUND IN THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AND REPAIRED. YET BMW STATES THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT I=ONE OF THE OVER 200000 WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOW AM I TO DETERMINE IF MY VIN NUMBER WAS AFFECTED. MY VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME AND IT WAS SPECIAL ORDERED. PLEASE ASSIST IF POSSIBLE. *TR

I OWN A BMW X3 THAT HAS THE FRONT AIR BAG MAT SENSOR PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN NOTED WORLDWIDE BMW RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT NOTED THE X3 WITH SPORT SEATS BEING PART OF THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH ALL OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME SEAT HAS BEEN NOTED. I JUST HAD MY X3 SERVICED, AND ALSO ASK THEM TO REPAIR THE SEAT MAT THAT HAS FAILED, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS SEAT WAS NOT LISTED, BUT DID HAVE THE COMMON FAILURE THAT HAS BROUGHT FORWARD THE RECALL. I AM ASKING THAT NHTSA NOTIFY BMW AND INSIST THAT THEY HAVE LEFT OUT THE X3 WITH SPORT SEATS. *TR

SAFETY RESTRAINT AIR BAG PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY LIGHT INTERMITTENT SIGNAL REMAINS ON, WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN SEAT WEIGHING OVER 40 POUNDS. DRIVER DASH BOARD INDICATES THE SAFETY RESTRAINT AIR BAG IS NOT ON WHEN PASSENGER OVER 40 POUND IS SEATED IN PASSENGER SEAT. THE SAFETY AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG ACTIVATION INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED NO INSPECTIONS OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

BRAND NEW 2005 BMW X3 3.0 PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON {MEANING IT IS DEACTIVATED} WHEN OCCUPIED WITH 110 LB OCCUPANT IS SITTING IN IT. *JB