repaired · 2026 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2006 BMW 325xiProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 110 owner complaints about the 2006 BMW 325xi, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-513 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 10, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 BMW 325xi has problems
110 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
64Air bags
14Steering
12Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
11Seat belts
8Seats
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Engine
3Structure
3Engine and engine cooling
128 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 64 | 0 |
| Steering | 14 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 0 |
| Seats | 8 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 12 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2006 BMW 325xi recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Emission control: crankcase (pcv)
Risk. An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q4
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
repaired · 2015 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
76kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 50 air bags complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
1under 30k miles38under 100k miles12100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $1,000 – $1,338
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other 325xi year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 325xi median. How we score
'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What 325xi owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
[XXX]. I have a 2006 BMW e91, but mine is not listed for recall above in the link. Currently have a fault for occupant detection malfunction. I also have sports seats listed in the above document. The sensor will say active when no one is sitting in the seat which is a safety concern. INFORMATION…
The contact owned a 2006 BMW 325XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V513000 (Air Bags) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
I purchased a used car that now has a passenger restraint sensor warning. Please fulfill a recall as this is a recurring issue with bmw
Own a 2006 325xi?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.