2004 BMW 3 Series Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (Air Bags) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list as she no longer own the vehicle. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
The TAKATA airbags were replaced April 8, 2021, by Reeds Import, Tampa FL. Please save a tree and stop sending recall notices. Thank you. Mark
i was driving about 35mph and hit a pot hole in the road. that caused my passenger front, passenger side door, and passenger aide door top to deploy.
The contact owned a 2004 BMW 325XI. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the passenger’s side causing the passenger’s side mirror to detach from the vehicle. The contact loss control of the vehicle and crashed into the median. The vehicle rolled and then came to a complete stop. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. Additionally, the dashboard collapsed and the rear-view mirror detached from the windshield. The vehicle was towed from the scene of the crash. The contact received injuries to the chest, ribs, neck, and breast for which medical assistance was sought. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the driver's frontal air bag was previously replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V318000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED TWO BMW DEALERS, INCLUDING THE BMW OF MONTEREY DEALER, LOCATED AT (1 GEARY PLZ, SEASIDE, CA 93955) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
I WAS DRIVING BY MYSELF ON THE FREEWAY AND A RUBBLE THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL WAS ROLLING TOWARDS MY PATH. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT FELL FROM A CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE OR IT ALREADY HIT ANOTHER CAR AND THAT THE RUBBLE JUST RICOCHET TOWARDS ME. ANYWAY I WAS GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THERE WERE CARS ON BOTH SIDES AND A CAR NOT TOO FAR OFF BEHIND. I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO AVOID THE RUBBLE SO I JUST BRACED MYSELF AND HOPE THAT THE RUBBLE WOULD GET PAST ME. UNFORTUNATELY, IT HIT MY LEFT SIDE AND ELEVATED MY CAR AROUND 2 TO 3 FEET FROM THE GROUND AND FLATTENED MY TWO LEFT TIRES. THE AIRBAG ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED, THE ONE ON THE DOOR AND THE ONE ON THE UPPER ROOF PANEL. NONE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I JUST HAD A LITTLE WHIPLASH FROM THE IMPACT BUT I WAS FINE. I CONTACTED MY INSURANCE AND UPON INSPECTION THEY CONSIDERED MY VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGES. I ALSO CONTACTED BMW AND HAVE YET TO NOTIFY ME OF WHY THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON WHERE THE IMPACT OCCURRED. THEY DID A RECALL SERVICE ON MY VEHICLE AROUND MARCH 2020 FOR THE AIRBAG. AFTER THE SERVICE THERE WERE NO AIRBAG LIGHTS OR ANY WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD. IN THE EVENT OF THE ACCIDENT, MY VEHICLE WENT TO AN SOS MODE WHICH SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE AND AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY AND HAD IT TOWED. HOPEFULLY THE CAR MANUFACTURER COULD SEND NOTICE TO OWNERS OF THIS CAR MODEL THAT COULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH AIRBAGS ON THE SIDE OF IMPACT NOT DEPLOYING.
2004 BMW 325CI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS
I CALLED MY DEALER LAST YEAR TO SCHEDULE TO FIX MY RECALL ON MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT WENT TO MY APPOINTMENT. NOW ONE OF THE BAGS EXPLODED, AND I CALLED THE DELEGAR AGAIN TO DO MY RECALL, BUT TO MY SURPRISE THE HAVE MY CAR IN RECORDS AS REPAIR!! AND I TOLD THE THAT NEVER HAPPENED. THEY PROMISED TO CHECK AND CALL ME BACK AND HAS NOT HAPPENED EITHER. THIS IS THE BMW SAN ANTONIO TEXAS DELEGAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS FRAUD! I WANT TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO AWAY WITH IT. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION TO UPLOAD ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST. NEVERTHELESS I DO HAVE A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE AIRBAG THAT EXPLODED IS FROM 2003, AS THE REST OF THEM. I FEEL SO ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED. MY NAME IS [XXX], OWNER OF THE 2004 BMW 325CI INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
OK. THIS CAR WAS BROUGHT IN ON 2/12/19 TO THE BMW DEALER IN APPLETON, WI. AFTER THAT BMW HAS CALLED ME 3 TIMES CLAIMING HE WASN'T FIXED. THEY WERE GOING TO CALL THE DEALER. NOW I HAVE REC'D A LETTER FROM THE DMV STATING IT WASN'T FIXED. I FAXED THE INVOICE DATES 2/12/19 TO BMW TODAY. I GIVE UP. THE CONTACT IS PETE KEMPEN 1-877-983-7473. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER DOOR SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA (4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 228-8373) TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG WAS STILL HANGING OUT FROM THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,700.
AIR BAG TROUBLE COD LIGHT ON THE DASH DRIVING CAR ON STREET AND HIGHWAY
MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL" I'VE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION MY VEHICLE IS ONE OF THE VEHICLE APART OF THE TAKATA RECALL. I'M A SINGLE FATHER OF A 13 YR OLD SON. KNOWING THE DANGER MY SON HAS BEEN IN ALL OF THIS TIME HAS SHAKEN MY CORE COMFORT ZONE TO DUST. I'M NOW IN THE PROCESS TO CORRECT THIS BAD AIRBAG CURRENTLY IN MY VEHICLE. MY SON'S FUTURE HAS BEEN PLACED IN RUSK AND THAT WILL NOT BE LEFT UNCHECKED BY MEANS AVAILABLE. I WAS HIT WITH MY SON IN THE CAR AND THE BAD AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, THANK GOD!
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 AND 15V31800 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL. RECALL 15V-318 AND 14V-428 ARE RECALLS THAT I CANNOT GET REPAIRED. I HAVE CALLED CUSTOMER RELATIONS TWICE WITHOUT A RESPONSE. I HAVE CALLED WICHITA LUXURY COLLECTIONS 1-316-719-8300 SINCE MAY 2015 AND JULY 2015 AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS. I EXPECT BETTER SERVICE.IF THEY TAKE THIS RECALL SERIOUSLY.
MY DAUGHTER GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT FENDER AND BUMPER HIT THE SIDE SECTION OF ANOTHER CAR GOING APPROX 20 MPH ON A CITY STREET AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT.
TAKATA RECALL FIRST I SHOULD SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT AN INCIDENT. THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FAILURE OF BMW TO PROVIDE A TIMELY REPLACEMENT FOR THE THIRTEEN (13) YEAR OLD DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG IN MY 2004 BMW 330I, WHICH HAS SPENT ALL OF ITS LIFE IN A HIGH ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY LOCATION (HOUSTON, TEXAS). I FIRST CONTACTED BMW ON APRIL, 26, 2016 REGARDING THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL ON MY 2004 BMW 330I. THEY FIRST OFFERED TO PERFORM AN INTERIM REPAIR OR AN ALTERNATE PROVIDED VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED ME THAT THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY CURRENT POLICY. I FOLLOWED UP AGAIN ON JULY 15, 2016, AND BMW INFORMED ME THAT INTERIM REPAIRS WERE NO LONGER BEING OFFERED BECAUSE FINAL REPAIR PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY. THEY SAID I WOULD RECEIVE A NOTICE IN THE MAIL LETTING ME KNOW WHEN I COULD TAKE MY VEHICLE IN TO MY LOCAL BMW CENTER FOR REPAIR. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT MY ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFO IS CORRECT WITH BOTH BMW AND THE REPAIR CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. HOUSTON, TEXAS IS A HIGH ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY AREA AND THIS CAR IS 13 YEARS OLD WITH THE ORIGINAL AIRBAG STILL INSTALLED. I DRIVE THIS CAR EVERY DAY TO AND FROM WORK IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I BELIEVE BMW HAS HAD AMPLE TIME TO PROCURE A REPLACEMENT AIRBAG, AND I HAVE CALLED THEM AND WASTED SEVERAL HOURS OF MY PERSONAL TIME ON THIS STILL UNRESOLVED ISSUE. IN SHORT I BELIEVE BMW IS STALLING WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF OLDER MODEL YEAR AIRBAG REPLACEMENTS, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES ARE "END OF LIFE" AND THERE IS LITTLE INCENTIVE FOR BMW TO FIX THEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE FOR ITS AGE: EIGHTY THOUSAND (80,000) MILES, AND THE LACK OF AN AIRBAG REPLACEMENT WILL DIMINISH THE RESALE VALUE OR MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO SELL.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO THE FACT THERE HAD BEEN NO INCIDENT REPORTS REGARDING THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG, THEY WERE NOT PLACING THE SAME RUSH ON THE REPAIR AS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL
TAKATA RECALL
TAKATA RECALL FIRST THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS RECALLED, AFTER WAITING OVER ONE YEAR, IT WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. NOW THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAS BEEN RECALLED. WE RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER TWO YEARS! NO CONTACT, NO REPLACEMENT. WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PERIL OF THE LETHAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG AND BMW JUST SAYS WAIT?
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS), 14V428000 (AIR BAGS), AND 11V438000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL. THE DEALER (BRAMAN BMW) ITS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE TIME TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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Quick Summary
The 2004 BMW 3 Series has 190 Air Bags complaints on file. 10 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.