The contact owns a 2008 BMW 328XI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag deployed unintendedly. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated prior to the air bag deployment. The air bag deployed, and there was no occupant inside the vehicle. The contact stated that after the air bag had deployed, the air bag warning light was illuminated after the air bag had deployed. The vehicle was recently taken to the dealer and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
BMW 328XI airbag light comes on
16 of the 460 owner complaints about the BMW 328XI describe airbag warning light, most of them for the 2007 model year.
- owner complaints
- 16
- worst model year
- 2007
- typical mileage
- 109,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
- 20101
- 20081
- 200713
- 20061
Often reported together
What owners say
Quote: Report Receipt Date: NOV 12, 2013 the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V564000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 76,565 Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC The Problem: 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. Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury. Repair: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, anticipated to be in March 2014, BMW will send a second letter 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. This is reproducible with the front passenger seat. The seatbelt light and airbag light turn on when a passenger is present. This car is unsafe for anyone to be seated in the front passenger seat even when buckled as the red seatbelt and red airbag turn on and stay on until the passenger unbuckles and exits this vehicle.
Airbag lights keep going off, saying "fault in passenger restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner, or belt force limiter. Continue to wear a seat belt. Please contact the nearest bmw center." or "function of the airbag, belt tensioners, and belt force limiters faulty. Ensure the seat belt is fastened despite the fault. Have the problem checked by the nearest bmw service center". These lights come on everytime the car is started, dealerships cannot figure it out, and any attempt to clear the code does not work.
Passenger air bag light is lit even when passenger is sitting. There's no difference as to if the passenger sits down with the car on or off, if the belt is fastened with the car on or off, moving or stationary.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 bmw 328xi. While operating the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not determined. Bmw of devon (20 lancaster av, devon, pa) was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000. The VIN was invalid.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 bmw 328xi. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag indicator illuminated and remained lit. The contact called bmw of rochester at 585‑617‑0465 (located at 4250 w henrietta rd, rochester, ny 14623) and was informed that there was no recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The seatbelt light is on as if there is someone in the car without a seatbelt on. The airbag light is on and the engine light as well. They all popped up around the same time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 bmw 328xi. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the seat belt chime on the front passenger side sounded and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. There was no passenger occupying the seat. After the last incident on september 24, 2018, the failure occurred every day. The only way to stop the chime was by engaging the latch on the seat belt buckle. The vehicle was taken to winslow bmw of colorado springs (5845 n nevada avenue, colorado springs, co 80918) where it was diagnosed that the sensor mat on the front passenger side was damaged and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 bmw 328xi. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated every time the vehicle was started. The contact also stated that the warning indicator illuminated for approximately three months. The dealer diagnosed that the mat sensor on the passenger side front seat failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 bmw 328xi. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was constantly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the front passenger seat wiring harness and seat occupant detection mat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle 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 98,000. ..updated 03/16/16 *bf the consumer stated she and her husband sold the vehicle to her parents. Updated 03/22/16.
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: 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: 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
Questions about the BMW 328XI airbag light
Why does the airbag light come on in the BMW 328XI?
Owners who report it most often also describe seat belt won't latch or retract and check engine light.
Which BMW 328XI years have airbag warning light problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2007 (13 complaints), 2006 (1 complaints) and 2008 (1 complaints).
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