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2006 Bmw 3 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

202 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

66,050 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 168 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 78 of 202 complaints (38.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior2210.9%
Electrical and battery issues105.0%
Braking behavior63.0%
Fuel system concerns42.0%
Transmission and shifting31.5%
Engine operation21.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
78
Electrical System
31
Air Bags:Frontal
30
Latches/Locks/Linkages
24
Steering
23
Seat Belts
12
Seats
12
Engine
11
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags78
Electrical System31
Air Bags:Frontal30
Latches/Locks/Linkages24
Steering23
Seat Belts12
Seats12
Engine11

Air Bags: 78; Electrical System: 31; Air Bags:Frontal: 30; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 24; Steering: 23; Seat Belts: 12; Seats: 12; Engine: 11

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
25
25,000 to 49,999
21
50,000 to 74,999
52
75,000 to 99,999
34
100,000 to 149,999
32
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00025
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99952
75,000 to 99,99934
100,000 to 149,99932
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 4

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
5
2007
12
2008
10
2009
4
2010
32
2011
18
2012
32
2013
18
2014
25
2015
10
2016
15
2017
11
2018
7
2019
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20065
200712
200810
20094
201032
201118
201232
201318
201425
201510
201615
201711
20187
20193

2006: 5; 2007: 12; 2008: 10; 2009: 4; 2010: 32; 2011: 18; 2012: 32; 2013: 18; 2014: 25; 2015: 10; 2016: 15; 2017: 11; 2018: 7; 2019: 3

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10173714 · 2006-11-17 (November 17, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE AND STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO TURN IN ANY DIRECTION, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD. AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED WHEN NORMAL BRAKING WAS ATTEMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND ADJUSTMENTS HAD TO BE MADE TO THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE NECESSARY…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173714 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175076 · 2006-12-04 (December 4, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FLAT TIRE WARNING LIGHT FREQUENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175076 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175613 · 2006-12-08 (December 8, 2006)

TIRES ARE EXTREMELY NOISY AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS-2006 BMW 330I TURANZA EL42 RUN FLAT TIRE (RFT), P225/45R17: I WAS TOLD TODAY BY FIRESTONE THAT THE CUPPING OF THE EDGES OF ALL FOUR TIRES WILL CAUSE LACK OF TRACTION IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THEREFORE, HE SUGGESTED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175613 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175689 · 2006-12-10 (December 10, 2006)

EXCESSIVE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR ON A 2006 BMW 330I. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY ARE WORKING ON A FIX OR A TIRE REPLACEMENT BUT THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2,000 MILES AND IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I DRIVE MY 3 YEAR OLD SON TO DAY CARE AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO FEEL SAFE WHILE DRIVING HIM. HAVING GIVEN THE DEALERSHIP OVER 2 MONTHS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM I FEEL IT IS TIME TO LOOK INTO OTHER AVENUES TO GET A RESOLUTION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175689 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10176385 · 2006-12-18 (December 18, 2006)

TL*- THE CONTACT STATE THAT ALL OF THE WINDOWS IN THE CAR CAME DOWN ON THEIR OWN, WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10176385 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10177770 · 2007-01-04 (January 4, 2007)

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AFTER RESET AND UPON INITIAL COLD START. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,716 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177770 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10177814 · 2007-01-04 (January 4, 2007)

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 325XI BMW. THE TIRES ON THE BMW WERE BRIDGESTONE, TURANZA EL42, SIZE 205/55/R16 DOT# IS # EJ8KCNK4005. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ALL FOUR TIRES. WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ODOMETER REACHED 7,000 AND AGAIN AT 10,000 MILES THE TIRES BEGAN TO VIBRATE. BOTH BMW AND BRIDGESTONE WERE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE, AND BRIDGESTONE OFFERED A 25% DISCOUNT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SET OF TIRES. THE VEHICLE'S CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,200. *AK TIRE SIZE RFT EL42 205/55/16 UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 10,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177814 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10181199 · 2007-01-31 (January 31, 2007)

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON 2006 BMW 330I. FIRESTONE SAYS THAT THE CUPPING OF THE TIRES (STARTING AT ABOUT 8K MILES) CAUSES LESS TRACTION ON THE ROAD AND WILL GET WORSE. THE TIRES STARTED TO MAKE LOAD NOISE AT ABOUT 8K MILES AND THEY NOW HAVE 13K MILES ON THEM AND THE NOISE LEVEL IS VERY BAD. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY THAT THEY WILL CONSIDER REPLACING THE TIRES ONLY IF I WILL AGREE TO PAY HALF OF THE COST(ABOUT $600 MY COST FOR 4 TIRES). I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ONLY WITH THIS BRAND AND TYPE OF TIRE AND FIRESTONE NEED…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181199 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

06V400000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm

Reported: 2006-10-18 (October 18, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ONE OF THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND SWIVEL BEARING CONNECTION BOLTS WAS NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD LOOSEN.

Consequence: THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD BREAK WHICH COULD IMPAIR VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BOLTED CONNECTION AND, IF NECESSARY, ADJUST THE CONNECTION. IN SOME CASES, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND THE SWIVEL BEARING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V384000 · Air Bags:Frontal

Reported: 2008-08-05 (August 5, 2008)

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 BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V119000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)

Reported: 2022-03-02 (March 2, 2022)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗