I was driving by myself on the freeway and a rubble the size of a basketball was rolling towards my path. I do not know if it fell from a construction vehicle or it already hit another car and that the rubble just ricochet towards me. Anyway I was going 65 miles per hour and was in the middle lane and there were cars on both sides and a car not too far off behind. I never had the chance to avoid the rubble so I just braced myself and hope that the rubble would get past me. Unfortunately, it hit my left side and elevated my car around 2 to 3 feet from the ground and flattened my two left tires. The airbag on the front passenger side deployed, the one on the door and the one on the upper roof panel. None of the driver side airbags deployed. I just had a little whiplash from the impact but I was fine. I contacted my insurance and upon inspection they considered my vehicle a total loss due to the damages. I also contacted bmw and have yet to notify me of why the driver side airbag did not deploy on where the impact occurred. They did a recall service on my vehicle around march 2020 for the airbag. After the service there were no airbag lights or any warnings on the dashboard. In the event of the accident, my vehicle went to an sos mode which slowed down the vehicle and automatically turned on the hazard lights. I was able to pull to the right shoulder of the freeway and had it towed. Hopefully the car manufacturer could send notice to owners of this car model that could have the same issue with airbags on the side of impact not deploying.
BMW 325I no deployment problems
26 of the 1,367 owner complaints about the BMW 325I describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2006 model year.
- owner complaints
- 26
- worst model year
- 2006
- typical mileage
- 81,000
By model year
- 200615
- 20044
- 20032
- 20022
- 20011
- 19951
- 19921
Often reported together
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw 325i. While driving at 65 MPH, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and the other vehicle fled the scene. The contact sustained back injuries, which did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle. The dealer (south motors bmw, 16215 s dixie hwy, miami, fl 33157) diagnosed that the vehicle had a faulty air bag seat sensor. The dealer stated that the vehicle did not have a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was unable to provide assistance. The failure mileage was 155,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 bmw 325i. While driving 45 MPH, the vehicle shifted to the left side of the road and flipped over six times. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle caught fire, which was extinguished by the fire department. The driver sustained a sprain to her neck and back, consistent headaches, and internal bleeding from her gallbladder. The other passenger sustained injuries to the neck and back, but specifics were not available. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw 325i. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned the sensor error and air bag would not deploy warning message illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed but the contact was unable to provide the details. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v564000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw 325i. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a back injury that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw 325i. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact fall asleep behind the wheel and crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical /attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 4/29/15*cn updated 9/8/2017
On may 12, 2014, as I pulled into my driveway, I put the vehicle into park, so that I can open the garage door, to get inside of my garage. As I put my foot on the brake and proceeded to put the vehicle into drive, the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly, at a high rate of acceleration. I instinctively applied the brakes, however, this sudden unintended acceleration, safety defect, caused me to crash into the backside wall of my garage, thus causing extensive damage. It should be noted that the airbag failed to deploy, which may have something to do the november 2013, bmw recall relating to air bags. The mileage on the vehicle was 14,240, at the time that this sudden unintended acceleration defect, manifested itself. The vehicle was towed to my local bmw dealership, however, because this sudden unintended acceleration defect, is more than likely, embedded operating system related, the dealership's service technicians were unable to find a hardware related, mechanical cause, to this stated defect. On may 30, 2014, I picked up my vehicle from the dealership, with my husband accompanying me. As I arrived on my street and about to put the vehicle into park, the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly, once again, almost striking my postal carrier. My husband, as well as my postal carrier, were witnesses to this second incidence of sudden unintended acceleration. The mileage of the vehicle, at the time of this second occurrence, of the stated defect is 14,247. It should be noted that sudden unintended acceleration has plagued bmw vehicles, since at least the 1990's. Bmw 325 1990, bmw 750il 1991, bmw 525 1992, bmw 318is 1993, bmw 528i 1997, bmw 328i 1998, bmw 318 1998, bmw 528i 1998, bmw 328i 1999, bmw 528i 1999, bmw r1100 1999, bmw 750li 2006, bmw 530i 2007, bmw 1 series, etc., have all been reported by bmw owners as having this sudden unintended acceleration, safety defect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw 325i. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag light continuously illuminated with and without a person occupying the seat. The contact mentioned that the passenger side air bag would not deploy in the event of an accident. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 149,000 and the current mileage was 151,100. Updated 8/14/14*cn updated 8/26/2014
Total engine failure. Air bag lights illuminated. Air condition failure. Several electrical component failures. Incident occurred at idle speed at stoplight. Currently window system failure due to automobile accident. Window were slow to roll prior to the accident. Reported to bmw denied for warranty coverage. Rear side highway speed contact airbags failed to deploy resulting in medical injury on october 11th 2013. Window now inoperable bmw still fails to acknowledge any responsibility to design flaw.
About a week ago, the vehicle passenger airbag and seatbelt warning indicators began to display erratically. They would go on and off at differing intervals. Several weeks ago the indicators both came on and have remained on. Doing some research on the issue, I located a recall notice in 2008 for this exact same issue which included my 2006 325i and another recall in 2013 and that bmw had extended the warranty for this issue for an additional 10 years. The seat mat wiring was determined to be faulty which cause the vehicle sensor to engage the warning/indicator as it could not determine if a passenger was in the seat or not and therefore the airbag would not deploy in case of an accident. I confirmed my vehicle is experiencing the same recall issue from 2008 and 2013 recall with a local bmw shop and was instructed to contact bmw of northamercia becouse based my VIN# it was not part of the recall and I would have to pay for the diagnostic test,parts and repair s out of pocket. I contacted bmw of northamercia and was told that my vehicle make,model and yearwas part of the nov 2013 recall but could not specify based on the VIN number if my vehicle qualified. ??? This is the same exact issue. Why would my qualifying vehicle not be under warranty for the same make, model, year and recall issue as the other vehicles being recalled? Why would my VIN be excluded from having the same exact issues?
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a sport or M-sport steering wheel equipped with an inflator that can explode during deployment.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 24V513000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V018000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive and M3, 2009-2011 335D, 2006-2012 325xi, 328i, 328xi and 328i xDrive, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 2007-2013 328i, 335i, 335is, M3 Coupes, X5 30si, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 48i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M, 2009-2013 X5 xDrive35d and 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6M vehicles equipped with non-desiccated driver frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V017000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles may have received a replacement driver air bag as part of a vehicle repair. Due to a manufacturing issue, the replacement NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V853000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014. A second notice was mailed when an adequate supply of parts became available, on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 14V428000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
- 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.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 17V428000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V‑348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
Recall number 15V318000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
- 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.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 13V564000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 13V172000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.
- Risk
- If this happens, the contact ring wiring could eventually break. The air bag readiness indicator lamp (SRS or airbag) in the instrument cluster will illuminate, and the air bag would not deploy in the event of a frontal impact vehicle collision.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the locking tab with one of a different design.
Recall number 96V110000 · Recall details
Questions about the BMW 325I no deployment
Which BMW 325I years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2006 (15 complaints), 2004 (4 complaints) and 2002 (2 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used BMW 325I?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history