2006 BMW 3 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2006 BMW 3 Series, and owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2006 BMW 3 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
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…
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…
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Air bags: frontal
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…
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…
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Suspension: control arm
On certain vehicles, one of the suspension control arm and swivel bearing connection bolts was not tightened correctly. The bolted connection could loosen.
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,…
202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2006 BMW 3 Series have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 7 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,105 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 32 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Coolant hoses released and radiator split open -- appeared while driving --- fluid released onto windshield”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 30, 2019 · Engine
“I was receiving a imagine on the on board computer saying that my headlights were not working. Upon inspection inside the headlight's casing, i saw that all of the wiring's protection had completely f”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 9, 2019 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2006 BMW 3 Series (325ci, 325ci Convertible, 325i, 325xi, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–18 / 23–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Minicompact Cars, Small Station Wagons, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 2.5/3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Automatic (S6); Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 3 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 3 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1994 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 6 |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 88 |
| 2001 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 36 |
| 2002 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 26 |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 73 |
| 2004 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 77 |
| 2005 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 25 |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 202 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 115 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 68 |
| 2009 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 53 |
| 2010 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 30 |
| 2011 BMW 3 Series | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 7 |
| 2013 BMW 3 Series | 0 | 21 |
| 2023 BMW 3 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2006 BMW 3 Series
How do I know if my 2006 BMW 3 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2006 BMW 3 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 06V400000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
- 335I810 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.