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
TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED LETTER FROM BMW DATED SEPTEMBER 2016 STATING "FINAL REMEDY AVAILABLE" FOR RECALL 15V-318. CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE IMMEDIATE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PART NEEDED HAS NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED AT DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIR CAN NOT BE MADE YET. THEY SAID THEY WILL PUT MY NAME ON A LIST TO BE CALLED WHEN THE PART IS RECEIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
2004 BMW 325I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG MODULE RECALL 15V-318. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR, SINCE THE RECALL FIRST WENT OUT. *JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSUMER RE: A COPY OF LETTER TO PRESIDENT & CEO OF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA LUDWIG WILLISCH REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG IN HIS VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE DECEMBER 9, 2014 FOR AN AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. *JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED AS OF 04-25-16
TAKATA RECALL DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG RECALLED. TOLD THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE (JULY 30, 2015) AT DEALERSHIP AND WILL NOTIFY WHEN AVAILABLE. STILL WAITING FOR THE PARTS AND CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
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* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 AND 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 RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NOTIFIED MANY MONTHS AGO DRIVER AIR BAG COULD KILL AND IT WAS BEING REPLACED UNDER A RECALL. I CALL EVERY MONTH TO NO HELP BY BMW. MONTHS LATER, BMW SAYS "TACATA AIR BAG COMPANY GOING BANKRUPT SO GOOD LUCK" EVER GETTING THE PART. WHY ISN'T BMW BEING FORCED TO RESOLVE THIS? SO, IF I OR ANYONE DRIVING A RECALLED CAR DIES, BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PRIOR PROBLEM AND IS AN ACCOMPLICE FOR AIDING AND ABETTING IN NOTHING BEING DONE FOR THE MANY BMW CUSTOMERS.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). 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 MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ UPDATED 06/16/16.*JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME THAT THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE AIR BAGS IN JULY OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
"TAKATA RECALL" I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL BY MAIL ON 8/24/16 STATING THAT I NEEDED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS REPLACED. I THEN PROCEEDED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ON AUGUST 29TH WITH GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW LOCATED AT 500 INTERSTATE N PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30339. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. HOWEVER THE RECALL NOTICE DID STATE THAT THE PARTS WERE IN STOCK AND READY TO BE INSTALLED. I WAITED 2 WEEKS AND NEVER RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL ON THE STATUS OF THE AIR BAGS. I THEN CALLED GLOBAL BMW AGAIN, AND THEY HAD NO RECORD OF ME CALLING, AND CLAIMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE AIRBAGS. THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE RE-OCCURRED ON MY FOLLOW UP PHONE CALLS ON SEPTEMBER 12TH AND 23RD. THEN FINALLY ON OCTOBER 3RD I PLACED ANOTHER FOLLOW UP PHONE CALL WHERE ONCE AGAIN THEY DID NOT HAVE MY INFORMATION, BUT DID HAVE A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IN STOCK. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT SHE WOULD BE CHECKING ON THE STATUS OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND GIVE ME A CALL. I CALLED BACK THE NEXT DAY TO CHECK, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHEN THEY COULD OBTAIN A PASSENGER AIRBAG. OVER A MONTH OF PHONE CALLS AND STILL NOTHING DONE. I AM LESS THAN PLEASED AND VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS THAT BMW DOESN'T CARE ABOUT FIXING THE ISSUE.
TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL - ON MAY 27TH, 2015 A RECALL TO FIX MY MAKE AND MODEL OF BMW WAS ISSUED. TO DATE THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED THE REPAIR PARTS NECESSARY. IT HAS BEEN 9 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WHY HASN'T MORE PRESSURE BEEN PUT ON TAKATA AND BMW TO COMPLETE THESE REPAIRS?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 330XI. 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). 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 RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
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* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. 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 RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL-I FOUND OUT IN SEPT 2015 THAT MY CAR WAS PART OF THE AIRBAG RECALL. I CONTACTED HENDRICK BMW IN CHARLOTTE, NC TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER BAGS WERE RECALLED BUT THEY ONLY HAD THE PASSENGER AVAILABLE TO REPLACE. I'M NOT IN CHARLOTTE FULL TIME AND DO NOT DRIVE IT WHEN I'M AWAY. THEY SAID I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN IT WAS READY. DEC I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN, SAME STORY NO DRIVER. FEB CALLED BMW USA, THE AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND THE CAR IS A SPORT MODEL WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES THAT DRIVES LIKE A TANK AND SOME ELSE HAD JUST BEEN KILLED IN AN AIR BAG ACCIDENT. THEY FIRST SAID THEY WOULD ARRANGE FOR A LOANER, THEN BACKTRACKED AND OFFERED A "INTERIM REPLACEMENT" UNTIL THE "REAL" REPLACEMENT DRIVERS SIDE WAS AVAILABLE WHICH ALMOST 6 MONTHS SINCE MY FIRST CALL, NO ONE HAS ANY CLUE WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. OK....A WEEK OR SO LATER GOT A CALL FROM BMW SAYING I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A CALL FROM HENDRICK THAT THEY HAVE THE "INTERIM " BAG. I CALLED HENDRICK, AND WAS TOLD THEY ONLY HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE, HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, PUT ME IN A MANAGER VM THAT CUT OFF BEFORE I COULD LEAVE MESSAGE. I CALLED BMW BACK, LEFT A MESSAGE IN THAT TONE ONLY DOGS CAN HEAR, AND NOW SEVERAL WEEKS LATER NOT A WORD FROM ANYONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM 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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325I. 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 RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ *JS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. 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 RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 325XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (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 MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
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.