The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The drivetrain and passenger’s side air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 25 MPH and the vehicle was shaking erratically. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 174,775.
BMW 328I airbag light comes on
90 of the 2,584 owner complaints about the BMW 328I describe airbag warning light, most of them for the 2007 model year.
- owner complaints
- 90
- worst model year
- 2007
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,100
- typical mileage
- 82,000
Is there a fix? There are 14 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Won't start 4Stalling 4Check engine light 4Seat belt 2ABS 2Transmission failure 1Steering lock-up 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The odor was more prominent while the vehicle was idling. The RPM fluctuated while idling, causing the vehicle to stall. The contact would depress the brake pedal, place the vehicle in neutral, turn off, and restart the vehicle to accelerate and continue driving. The air bag warning light was illuminated, and the message, "Check Engine Soon," was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, and a diagnostic code was retrieved for Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) failure; however, no repairs were completed. The contact completed some research and learned that the failure could be occurring due to air entering the brake lines. The contact also found information about the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, diagnosed, or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
RECALL OMISSION & SAFETY DISPUTE (Case #10683843): I am reporting two documented safety defects in my 2008 BMW 328i (N51 engine) that are identical to existing Federal Safety Recalls but have been omitted from the recall VIN list for this model year. 1. AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE (Recall 17V‑428): The vehicle has a confirmed Fault Code 93C3 (Passenger Seat Occupancy Mat). This is the exact failure mode described in Recall 17V‑428. This defect has deactivated the front passenger airbag system, as indicated by the red SRS warning light. The manufacturer has refused to address this as a safety recall, despite the component failing in the identical manner described in the 2006 model year recall. This creates an immediate risk of injury or death to front-seat passengers in the event of a crash. 2. ENGINE STALL RISK (Recall 23V‑707): This vehicle utilizes the same aluminum VANOS housing bolts that are currently under Safety Recall 23V‑707 for 2010–2012 models. These bolts are known to loosen and shear, causing sudden engine stalling while in motion. Despite the high risk of a high-speed stall and loss of power steering/braking, the manufacturer is excluding 2008 models from the recall remedy. DEALER/MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: The vehicle was inspected by a dealer in October 2024 (Invoice #156201), but the safety warning light was not documented on the repair order. A subsequent formal request for assistance (Case #10683843) was denied verbally by the manufacturer's regional management, who stated the vehicle is excluded from the recall based on its VIN, regardless of the active safety system failure. I am requesting a formal investigation into this Recall Omission to ensure these safety-critical repairs are provided to all affected vehicles.
The vehicle’s "Passenger Airbag Off" light and dashboard SRS warning lamp are illuminated. A diagnostic scan using a BMW-specific tool confirms manufacturer Fault Code 93C3 (Passenger Seat Occupancy Detector). This indicates a hardware failure of the OC3 internal seat sensor mat. Safety Risk: The failure of this sensor prevents the vehicle from correctly identifying if an adult is in the passenger seat. This compromises the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and may result in the passenger airbag failing to deploy during a collision, posing a significant risk of injury or death to the occupant. Confirmation of Problem: The fault was confirmed via a digital diagnostic system (Foxwell NT510) which identified the specific "Open Circuit" within the seat mat. The component is currently installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. Connection to Existing Recalls: This failure is identical in symptoms and fault code to those described in the federal safety agency Safety Recall 17V‑428. Although this vehicle is the same year and model (2008 BMW 3-Series) as those covered in the recall, the VIN was excluded from the initial recall range. This appears to be a recall omission of a known manufacturing defect, as the failure occurred despite minimal use of the passenger seat.
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light illuminated. The failure persisted with a passenger seated in the front passenger’s seat. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 24V513000 (AIR BAGS) and 23V707000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated while operating the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle failed to immediately start, and while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light flashed off and on. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The failure mileage was 110,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
I was driving down the highway when the car started to stall and it sounded like it wanted to shut down. The engine light came on and the airbag light on. I pulled over to the side of the road and the car started jittering and the engine was stalling and making a hit pitch noise. This incident was really dangerous in the highway where sometimes you don’t have enough time to pull over especially with engine problems. I had to pay to tow my car from the high way to my house because the dealership wouldn’t take it in to fix it, they want to charge me for a diagnostic check to see what is wrong with it but my issue is that if I pay for this and they want to charge me for other work and at the end of the day the issue is still happening, I don’t want to waste thousands of dollars when I know the problem is coming from the recall that it needs and it’s been on standby for almost a year. This is really un safe and now I am out of a car because it is now non- operational. This issue is exactly the same as the recall issues they describe on your online site.
Front Seat Passenger Side Seatbelt warning indicator activates when no person is in passenger seat. Airbag warning light illuminates even when there is a passenger in the seat. I see numerous complaints about the same/similar issues in your data base, but seemingly no resolution or recall. My car is a convertible. I note from other complaints on your website that a related recall was initiated for my year make model but it did not apply to convertible version of this model. That is irresponsible and unacceptable.
The the OC3 MAT on the passanger car just showed up faulty which causes the air bag light to also come on. I have seen a lot of others posting they are having the same issue. Can you help me find out if this has already been recalled but not replaced on my car or if it hasn't even been recalled yet this is a safety issue. Because the airbags will not function if the oc3 mat is not functioning properly. There wasn't anyone in the seat and the car had not been in an accident when the lights for the seat and airbags came on I took it in for a diagnostic and they said it was the passenger OC3 mat . I have read some of the same modle had already had recalls just trying to find out if this was one that should have been because the rep at the dealer ship said this was the first one he's ever seen go bad on any car since he's been there. The big problem I'm having is the warranty I bought with the car won't cover this repair either and I'm a disabled veteran so I can't afford it at this moment.
Passenger restraint system malfunction alert when car is turned on. Air bag and passenger seatbelt warning lights are on. Passenger seat belt light will never turn off even with no passengers in the car. Air bags for passenger are off when there is a passenger in the car causing a safety concern. BMW wants $1000 to diagnose what the issue is for the airbag light only but not to fix it or check the seat belt light. Already paid them $100 just to tell me exactly what the message said on the car screen. Seeing the same issue all over the internet with flaws in the passenger restraint system for this model and similar models but no fix. Found an extended warranty but does not list the E92 model, all other models are listed.
Related recalls
Air bags: side/window: head
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
- Risk
- An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 12, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 25V871000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
- Remedy
- The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 24V527000 · Recall details
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: side/window
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive, M3, 328d, 328d xDrive), 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive, M4), and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
- Risk
- An inflator that ruptures may cause sharp metal fragments to enter or exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, an inflator that leaks gas may only partially inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the head air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 4, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 24V288000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These vehicles are equipped with driver-side air bag inflators that were previously inspected, but not replaced under recall numbers 19V‑851, 19V852, or 19V‑853. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflator may absorb moisture, causing the inflator to explode or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting 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
- Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 21V401000 · 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: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2000 323i and 328i and 2000 323Ci and 328Ci vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators 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 will mail interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Dealers will inspect the driver air bag inflators and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. BMW mailed interim notices informing owners of the safety risk on January 17, 2020. The recall began July 27, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V852000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999 323i and 328i vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) manufactured by Takata at one specific inflator production facility. These inflators do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators 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
- Dealers will inspect the driver air bag inflators and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Note: BMW recommends that owners do not continue to drive their vehicles.
Recall number 19V851000 · Recall details
Questions about the BMW 328I airbag light
Why does the airbag light come on in the BMW 328I?
Owners who report it most often also describe won't start, engine stalls while driving and check engine light.
Which BMW 328I years have airbag warning light problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2007 (28 complaints), 2008 (16 complaints) and 2011 (14 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix airbag warning light on the BMW 328I?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,100 (median of 11 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used BMW 328I?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history