2004 BMW X3 Air Bags

The airbag light is on our BMW and my 16 years daughter is driving this car. I cannot believe that BMW did not issue a recall. According to Repair Pal: "What are the symptoms of a bad Air Bag Occupant Sensor? Failing occupant sensors can show one of two symptoms. They may stay on at all times, causing the passenger airbags to stay active even when a passenger is not present. Also, they may not operate at all, which prevents the airbags from activating when a passenger is seated in that seating position. Also, for most systems, the airbag or SRS warning light will illuminate on the instrument cluster, prompting the driver to service the system.

The contact ownd a 2004 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, she dozed off behind the wheel when the vehicle crashed into the rear of a tow truck. As a result, the front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an injury to the head and bodily soreness. Medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard however, the vehicle was then towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an air bag specialist and it was determined that the air bag was not connected. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the air bags failed to deploy due to minimal impact. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number 08V384000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, the contact had not received a response back. The failure mileage was unknown.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW X3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SHE FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TOW TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE PULLED OVER AFTER THE IMPACT WOKE HER UP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CRASH WAS A FRONT END COLLISION. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). *DT*JB

THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES.

BMW UNABLE AND UNWILLING TO COMPLETE RECALL NO. 08V384: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT RECALL AND WARRANTY COVERAGE EXTENSION. NO PARTS AVAILABLE, PARTS NOT ON ORDER, BMW USA NOT ORDERING PARTS FOR RECALL. NO TIMELINE GIVEN, TOLD TO CALL BACK IN TWO MONTHS.

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.

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.

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.

"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

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 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

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

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

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 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. 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.

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

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