Airbag lamp remians on due to failed passenger seat occupancy detection mat. Honolulu bmw dealer claims recall 08v384000 was performed july 18, 2008- which is the exact same date listed in the recall as bmw's report date to the federal safety agency. The recall campaign and procedure did not get published or begin for nearly a year later. The recall campaign asks that a small sticker be affixed adjacent to the VIN tag- there is no sticker, nor is there evidence of a sticker ever having been there ( I know what it should look like). The vehicle has not been repainted.
2004 BMW X3: airbag warning light
15 of the 138 complaints about the 2004 BMW X3 describe airbag warning light.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 11%
- typical mileage
- 76,000
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 6 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Airbag warning light by model year
What owners say
The airbag light is on our BMW and my 16 years daughter is driving this car. I cannot believe that BMW did not issue a recall. According to Repair Pal: "What are the symptoms of a bad Air Bag Occupant Sensor? Failing occupant sensors can show one of two symptoms. They may stay on at all times, causing the passenger airbags to stay active even when a passenger is not present. Also, they may not operate at all, which prevents the airbags from activating when a passenger is seated in that seating position. Also, for most systems, the airbag or SRS warning light will illuminate on the instrument cluster, prompting the driver to service the system.
The airbag light remains on at all times.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 bmw x3. The contact stated that the front passenger air bag warning light flashed and remained illuminated. The dealer and manufacturer stated that the vehicle was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign number: 08v384000 (air bags). The failure mileage was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 bmw x3. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer stated that the front passenger seat sensor needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. Two years later, the contact brought the vehicle to the dealer for routine maintenance. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 08v384000 (air bags); however it had expired. The contact was never notified. The vehicle was not repaired according to the recall. The failure mileage was 55,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw x3. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the air bag light illuminated and would not turn off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the sensor mat needed to be repaired. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was not included in recall 08v384000 (air bags: frontal). The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000 and the current mileage was approximately 99,000. Updated 01/06/11*lj updated 01/24/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw x3. The contact stated that the air bag light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact assumed that the failure was caused by faulty air bag sensors. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at the time of the complaint. The contact called both the dealership and the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not included in recall 08v384000 (air bags:frontal). The current mileage was approximately 82,400. The failure mileage was approximately 82,200.
I am a military member stationed in ramstein germany from jan 2001 - june 2005. In may 2005, I purchase a us-spec 2004 bmw x-3 from an authorized bmw dealer on base. I shipped my vehicle back to the states in july 2006. Recently, I noticed that my air bag warning lamp and passenger on-off lamp are illuminated--problem is identical to the recall summary 08v384000 in this website. However, when I called bmw, they said that my VIN is not included in the recall lists. Can you help me get my vehicle fixed under this recall program? My VIN # is [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Every once in a while the passenger air bag would not activate when someone of the appropriate weight was sitting in the passenger seat. So, when a passenger was sitting in the seat, the light showing passenger airbag not activated light would still be illuminated. This would happen on and off, not constant. Then one day it remained on constant and on the dash a red airbag warning light illuminated. Both of these lights have stayed illuminated since the problem began happening. I contacted bmw based on the recall that is listed, they state that even though the error that occurred and problem matches the recall, my VIN is not effected. Therefore, I would like a review to see if my VIN number should be included in this recall or if the recall should be extended to more vehicles that are effected. (the federal safety agency ea08001) I have contacted bmw and they refuse to repair the defect at no cost to me. I have contacted the main office and dealers. They continue to state that my VIN was not effected and I will need to pay to repair the defect.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw x3. She states that she noticed the passenger side frontal air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel indicating that the air bag system is inoperative. As a consequence the front passenger air bags will not deploy even if a sufficiently severe accident would occur and occupant protection provided by the system would not be possible. She contacted the dealer and the manufacturer and was advised that because her VIN number was excluded from the VIN range for recall #08v384000 (air bags:frontal) they would not assume responsibility for any repairs. The failure and current mileages were 57,000. Bl
Started the car and the airbag warning lamp came on and will not go off. The airbag has not been deployed and there has not been an accident. The passenger airbag status lamp is also on all the time. I am concerned the airbags are not working. The warning lights have been on for about 2 weeks.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 bmw x3. Whenever a passenger is seated in the front passenger seat, the passenger side air bag light indicates that the air bag is deactivated. As a result, the passenger side air bag would not deploy in the event of a crash. Through research, the contact found the federal safety agency campaign id number 08v384000 (air bags:frontal). The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact believes that the vehicle is being excluded because it was imported into the united states. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 105,000.
Service bulletins that may apply
- A check control message for the restraint system appears
- Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs
- Takata class action settlement
- In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has...
- Bmw service campaign: the airbag warning lamp (AWL) is illuminated, together with the passenger airbag...
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- Bmw is recalling 200,000 my 2006 3 series sport seat, my 2004-2006 5 series standard and sport seat, and my 2004-2006 x3 passenger vehicles. Depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit, small cracks have developed in the mat. If this occurs, the front passenger air bags, with the exception of the head protection system, will be deactivated and the air bag warning lamp as well as the passenger air bag "on-off" lamp will be illuminated.
- Risk
- In this situation the front passenger air bags will not deploy even if a sufficiently severe accident would occur and occupant protection provided by the system would not be possible.
- Remedy
- Dealers will rework the front passenger seat sensor mat so that external force application to the seat does not cause a crack to the mat. The recall began on november 6, 2008. Bmw will also extend the warranty on these vehicles to 10 years from first registration without any mileage limit. Owners may contact bmw at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 08V384000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2004 BMW X3 airbag light
Is airbag warning light a common problem on the 2004 BMW X3?
15 of 138 owner complaints about the 2004 BMW X3 (11%) mention airbag warning light. The model year with the most reports is 2006.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2004 BMW X3?
There is 1 recall and 6 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2004 BMW X3
VIN decoder
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