155 complaints reported

2007 BMW 3 Series Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
155
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Injuries
6

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Mar 2015

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (SRS) FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR (OC3) MAT FAULTY. VERY DANGEROUS! PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT! BMW SHOULD RECALL THIS! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
Feb 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE "FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT AFFECTING AIR BAG TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER, RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 335I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014
Feb 2015

MY CAR'S AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE SUMMER INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS DISABLED, EVEN WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT WITH THEIR SEAT BELT FASTENED. AFTER AWHILE, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON CONSISTENTLY, AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELT LIGHT. THE CAR NOW HAS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PERMANENTLY DISABLED. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE FOR A FRONT PASSENGER AS THERE IS NO WAY TO ENABLE THE AIRBAG MANUALLY. I WAS INFORMED BY BMW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL (2007 328I) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, HOWEVER MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR EITHER THE RECALL, OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AS IT IS ONLY MODELS WITH A CERTAIN PART NUMBER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Nov 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Nov 2014

SAME AS THIS PERSON PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000. MY VEHICLE MATCHES THE CRITERIA EXACTLY. SPORT SEATS. YET BMW CLAIMS IT IS NOT APPLICABLE TO VIN. A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH SHOWS A FLOOD OF PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE YET THEY ARE ALL BEING DENIED BY BMW EVEN THOUGH THEIR VEHICLES FIT THE EXACT PROFILE OF THE RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2014
Nov 2014

I UNLOCKED THE CAR AND SAT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. MY WIFE SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I INSERTED THE KEYFOB AND PUSHED THE 'START' BUTTON. THE CAR TURNED ON AND ABOUT 5 SECONDS LATER WE HEARD A 'GONG' SOUND. WE LOOKED AT THE SCREEN AND IT WAS SHOWING A RED WARNING ABOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING DISABLED. I POWERED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A MINUTE AND POWERED IT BACK ON. SAME ERROR CAME UP. SO I POWERED OFF THE CAR A SECOND TIME, ASKED THE WIFE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN BACK ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THEN I POWERED ON THE CAR. THE ERROR WENT AWAY. WE DROVE 15 MINUTES TO DINNER, ATE AND RETURNED HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THAT NIGHT I SETUP AN APPOINTMENT WITH GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW FOR 9/12/2012 TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THE DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND REPORTED THE FOLLOWING IN REGARDS TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ISSUE: "87844 PERFORMED SHORT TEST AND FOUND FAULT MRS-93C3. PERFORMED TEST MODULE AND FOUND THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT TO BE DEFECTIVE. CUSTOMER DECLINED THE SEAT MAT REPLACEMENT." NEXT TO THIS I HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER WRITE IN THE TOTAL REPAIR COST, $1,345.70. I STILL HAVE A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK WITH THE DETAILS IF NEEDED. I DECLINED THE REPAIR AT THE TIME BECAUSE I FELT THE FACT THEY FOUND "...THE SEAT MAT TO BE DEFECTIVE" INDICATED A KNOWN ISSUE. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY 4/11/2014, NHTSA LISTS A "RECALL SUBJECT : FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT" CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000. I CALLED BMW USA'S CUSTOMER RELATIONS NUMBER AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR HAD NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH IT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSOR MAT. TO THIS DAY I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY RECALL LETTERS FROM BMW NOR NHTSA. THE CAR STILL BRINGS UP THIS ERROR WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IT'S NOT SAFE AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS IF THERE'S AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. PLEASE HELP. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO SEPERATE OCASSIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,900.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 335I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Oct 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE FLOOR MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 09/16/2014 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Aug 2014

AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH REMAIN LIT AT ALL TIMES. ADDITIONALLY, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED" INDICATOR REMAINS LIT AT ALL TIMES. THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ISSUE WHICH CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS, YET APPARENTLY NOT FOR MY VIN. THE DISABLED PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AND CLEARLY MY VIN SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2014
Jul 2014

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. NOT PART OF THE RECALL? NOT THE SPECIFIC TO THE VIN? BMW DEALER SAID IT THE SEAT PAN CUSHIN? DIFFERENT PART? IS THIS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2014
Jun 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,338. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN UPDATED 8/29/2014 *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Jun 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jun 2010
May 2014

THE AIRBAG SENSOR ON MY 2007 BMW 328I IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT MATCHES THE EXACT DESCRIPTION AS THE RECALL AND OTHER FILED COMPLAINTS. HOWEVER, BMW INSISTS THAT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012
May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND SEAT BELT SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Apr 2014

AFTER CLEANING MY CAR I TRIED TO START IT, WHEN SUDDENLY A WARNING LIGHT POPPED UP INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. THE WARNING, FURTHER INDICATED THAT ALL SEAT BELT BE WORN IMMEDIATELY WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP ONLY TO FIND OUT AFTER PAYING FOR DIAGNOSIS FEE, THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ROLLOVER PROTECTION CONTROLLER THEREBY AFFECTING THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS IN CASE OF A CRASH.THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS SAFETY FEATURE FOR CONVERTIBLES WASN'T UNDER DEALERSHIP WARRANTY. THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SUCH, I WOULD THINK. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Apr 2014
Apr 2014

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR IS ON. THERE ARE OTHER 2007 WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS BUT MY BMW DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT MY CAR WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Apr 2014

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 335I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2014
Apr 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 328XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Mar 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED AS AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE THAT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL REPORT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 335I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2014
Feb 2014

I GOT IN MY CAR AFTER DRIVING IT TO THE PARK & GOT A FAULT THAT SAID RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT- FORCE LIMITER. I RESEARCHED THIS & FOUND THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT. I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECALL ON MY CAR & YEAR, BUT WHEN I CALL, THEY SAY IT DOESN'T APPLY TO MY VIN. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PROBLEM WITH A TON OF OWNERS. I'VE ALSO READ THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE CALL & COMPLAIN & THEY'LL END UP FIXING IT UNDER THE RECALL. BUT, I'M HAVING NO LUCK. I'D UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS JUST ME, BUT THEY'VE RECALLED IT ON THE SANE EXACT CAR & YEAR AS MINE & I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MINE WOULDN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
Feb 2014

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE MODEL (2007 BMW 328I) FOR CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE "FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT". THIS CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TO BE DEACTIVATED DURING A CRASH (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000). I CALLED BMW AND THEY SAY THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED WHEN MY EXACT MODEL IS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE ISSUE WITH MY CAR IS EXACTLY THE SAME. I FEEL THIS IS VERY UNFAIR. PLEASE HELP ME OUT HERE. I FEAR THE WORST BECAUSE NOW I AM MARRIED AND I HAVE A PASSENGER MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE. I REALLY CANNOT AFFORD $1000 RIGHT NOW TO FIX AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2011
Jan 2014

HAVE HAD ISSUE WITH MY ONE OF MY 2 --- 2007 330I'S DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON WITH A MESSAGE "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". A DETAILED MESSAGE SAYS "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WITH A REPLACEMENT COST OF OVER $1000,00. I RECENTLY LEARNED BMW HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS PART AND HAS RECALLED 2006-2007 CARS BUT ANY VEHICLE MADE AFTER SEPTEMBER 2006 IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. MINE WERE MANUFACTURED JAN 2007. I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PART AS THE RECALLED ONES AND BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD RECALL ALL THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 3 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2013
Dec 2012

AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2007 BMW 328XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2007 BMW 3 Series has 155 Air Bags complaints on file. 10 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.