The passenger seat occupancy sensor is defective. This is part of the "seat mat", which is under recall. Bmw sent an initial notice of recall in september of 2017. As of april 20, 2018 the parts are still not available to perform this recall. Over 7 months! No one at the dealer or bmw USA can give us a straight answer as to when the parts will become available. The q and a part of the notice indicates no one should sit in the passenger seat until this is fixed! Why is bmw being allowed to continue to delay fixing this safety defect? I would like to know what the federal safety agency is doing to make bmw repair this in a timely manner!
2008 BMW X3 SAV airbags problems
29 complaints (52% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 78,000.
- owner complaints
- 29
- of this car's complaints
- 52%
- typical mileage
- 78,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Sensor: occupant classification1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
BMW X3 SAV airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive, 335is and M3 Coupes and Convertibles, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i SAVs, 2007-2010 X3 xDrive30i SAVs, 2007-2013 X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i, X5 xDrive50i and X5 M SAVs, 2009-2013 BMW X5 xDrive35d SAVs, 2008-2014 X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6 M SACs, 2010-2011 BMW X6 xDrive50i SACs and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may 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
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 16V071000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
What 2008 BMW X3 SAV owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Takata recall - I called east bay bmw and bmw of concord dealerships since receiving safety recall in june 2017 to make an appointment for the airbag recall service and I haven't received a call back regarding the parts arriving to the dealership. It is not november and I still haven't received a single phone call.
The federal safety agency campaign number: 16v071000 . Almost a year and a half and still no resolution from bmw meanwhile we are at risk everyday. I would like to at least see a schedule for repair rather than them using attrition to mitigate their cost.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 bmw x3 sav. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. One dealer stated that bmw had not yet released the parts. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recall. I have been notified of the recall for this item more than a year ago and there has been no progress in replacing defects. Meanwhile, we are driving a time bomb that is more likely to injure us than offer protect from impacts.when is the federal safety agency going to force bmw to make repairs. My car is 9 years old now and I have been driving without protection for that long and the car's resale value is affected by this as well.
Takata recall - became aware of driver's side air bag recall in june 2016; contacted local bmw dealer who estimated parts available to fix by october 2016. Contacted my bmw dealer again in january 2017 and was told parts are provided to bmw dealers based on VIN, that my VIN was on record with bmw, and that I'd be contacted when they became available. This nine month wait is unreasonable for this significant safety issue, and no estimate of when repairs will be made has been provided.
"takata recall" I am not sure if this vehicle has been fixed. I bought the vehicle in march of 2016. I am getting a warning light regarding the airbag and I am concerned.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 bmw x3 sav. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v071000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
My car was on recall for a defective airbag. I was notified in march 2016. I was told by my dealer they would notify me when they had an airbag. When I didn't hear from them still by early august I asked for a loaner car as I no longer felt safe in my car because of the constant worry about the airbag. Bmw instructed me to park my car and "not drive it" which I did. Finally on 11/28/16 they said they had an airbag. I brought the car in. The result from it sitting for so long has rusted my perfectly maintained brakes and rotors to be not safe to drive and my hood is frozen shut with possibility of flying off and killing someone. Bmw will not be responsible for the damage caused by the car sitting so long and I believe they should be. It is thousands of dollars worth of damage on a car that was perfectly safely drivable before I parked it to wait for an airbag. I have the bmw recall and the paperwork that says I had to park and not drive my car. They say I was supposed to maintain my car. I started it regularly to be sure battery was good and everything seemed ok. I don't know what else I should have know to maintain if the car was ordered to be parked and not driven. They should be responsible for this. Can you please help?
Takata recall: I first received notice from nhts in feb. 2016 and went to dealer to have part replaced however they did not have the notice or the part. I received a notice from bmw in oct. 2016 and went to the dealer again and still no replacement part available in our area. I was told to just hang tight. Please advise
Questions about the 2008 BMW X3 SAV airbags
Does the 2008 BMW X3 SAV have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 29 complaints about the airbags of the 2008 BMW X3 SAV, 52% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2008 BMW X3 SAV airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 78,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 BMW X3 SAV airbags?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V071000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW X3 SAV have bad airbags?
The BMW X3 SAV model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (41 complaints), 2008 (29 complaints) and 2010 (15 complaints).
Other 2008 BMW X3 SAV problems
Engine 10Transmission 6Fuel system 5Seats 5Suspension 3Acceleration 2Body 2Brakes 1Electrical 1Seat belts 1Steering 1Tires 1Visibility 1Wheels 1
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