Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
AIR BAGS
05/26/201156423
 Upon starting the car the air bag light came on and stayed on. this is the third time this has happened. the first two time it cost approximately $350 to repair. for this to happen a third time is indicative of a design fault.
04/01/2008695001
 Passenger got into front seat and adjusted it down and back with the power seat controls. airbag light illuminated and has been on ever since. i checked for broken or damaged wiring but found nothing obvious. bmw is recalling many of their new cars, but it seems their old ones exhibit the same failures. *tr
11/22/20041
 The consumer was driving 65 mph on i-95 when all of a sudden he lost control of the vehicle. the traction control feature on the vehicle failed to work. the consumer hit a guard rail and the air bags did not deploy. the consumer was injured. *jb
08/30/200232000308/10/2002
 My 1997 bmw z3 has the srs light constantly on, i get it fixed and it goes on again. i've done this like 3 times, now my mechanic is saying it's like 800 to fix. rediculous! it'a definitely a safety issue, i'm not sue the system will work now.*ak
09/01/2003009/01/1999
 Repeated problems with the car's airbag. the airbag light comes on and stays on. i had this problem before and i paid bmw to fix it. they told me that it was something with the seatbelt. the light has come on again.
01/22/2002104/01/1997
 While driving, the air bag light illuminateed on the dashboard, the airbag sensor was replaced. *ak. consumer stated the seat belt tensioner and harness was causing the air bag light and engine light to come on, the hood sensor for the alarm was replaced, there was a faulty thermostat that caused damage to the radiator, the glove box was replaced and the seat came out of place when stopping. *yd
06/01/2001111/01/1999
 Airbag light in dasboard remains illuminated. seatbelts appear to work, but i have had the car inspected by 2 different service shops (dave walter bmw and autobahn - both in akron, oh) and have been told that the cause is a faulty seatbelt lock on the driver's side seat.
06/29/2001202/01/1997
 Airbag light stays on all the time. this happened the first time in november 1999. dealership analyzed the fault on their computer and said it was a problem with the driver's side seatbelt recepticle. this was replaced under warranty. in june of 2001, airbag lite came on again. dealership diagnosed the problem as a short in the driver's side seatbelt receptacle. replacement cost is $266.00. i said they replaced the same part a year and a half ago. the said the warranty on parts is one year. i called bmw of north america and requested help with the repair. they said the parts warranty is one year. i said it's a major safety component of the vehicle and its been replaced once already. there's obviously a problem with the part they manufacture. without the sensor in the seatbelt receptacle functioning, the airbag will not deploy in a crash. they replied, parts warranty is one year.*ak
02/02/2000111/01/1997
 Air bag light on. brought to bmw charged $80 to diagnose, saw internet other owners same problem / then foundout there is a service bulliten
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL
10/23/2002
 While driving at 35 mph, vehicle was in a frontal collison. only the passenger side air bag deployed upon impact. the driver side air bag didn't deploy. please provide more details. ts
09/15/19991
 No deployment of air bag during accident which resulted in substantial frontal damage. consumer sustained injuries to arm, wrist and lower back. nlm
09/01/199804/24/1997
 After vehicle was vacuumed it would not start; the vehicle was pushed to the side and the driver turned the key again to start it, and a puff of smoke came from the steering column. the driver quickly tried to turn the key to the off position,then the lights dimmed. the key became immovable in the start position, and smoke began to pour from all the vents. stunned, the driver opened the door to run from the vehicle, but the air bag deployed and knocked the driver unconscious. the driver was pulled from the vehicle and revived in time to get the negative battery terminal disconnected. ems attended to the driver's injuries.
AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
10/19/200334000106/01/1997
 Air bag light came on, unknown reason.*ak
AIR BAGS - ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
 Requesting an on/off air bag switch
AIR BAGS - SIDE/WINDOW
09/01/199804/24/1997
 After vehicle was vacuumed it would not start; the vehicle was pushed to the side and the driver turned the key again to start it, and a puff of smoke came from the steering column. the driver quickly tried to turn the key to the off position,then the lights dimmed. the key became immovable in the start position, and smoke began to pour from all the vents. stunned, the driver opened the door to run from the vehicle, but the air bag deployed and knocked the driver unconscious. the driver was pulled from the vehicle and revived in time to get the negative battery terminal disconnected. ems attended to the driver's injuries.