2006 BMW 330Ci Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
No verdict The 2006 BMW 330Ci has 34 NHTSA complaints, led by airbags at 76% of reports, plus 2 do-not-drive recalls for the passenger front airbag. With only one other model year of data (2005), it ranks worst first among the years tracked.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 2 330Ci years
- Verdict
- No verdict
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 34
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- 2 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Airbags
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 25 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2006 BMW 330Ci problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags26 (76%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (9%)
- Electrical System2 (6%)
- Engine1 (3%)
- Other1 (3%)
- Steering1 (3%)
- Structure & Body1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Passenger front airbag warning lights illuminate, sometimes tied to a faulty occupancy sensor mat.
- A driver-side door airbag deployed unexpectedly while the vehicle was traveling around 75 mph on the highway.
- Front suspension ball joints wore out, creating several inches of play in the wheel assembly.
- A steering knuckle or rod reportedly split, causing a wheel to detach during a turn.
- Door sills let water in during rain or snow, freezing the doors shut and creating a slip hazard.
- Headlight assemblies failed due to insulation that degraded over time, and rear taillights showed wiring errors.
2006 BMW 330Ci recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V018000Jan 15, 2020Airbags292,948 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
- NHTSA 15V318000May 28, 2015Airbags419,235 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
2006 BMW 330Ci fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 25 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other 330Ci years
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Recalls | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | No verdict | 0 | 33 | 2 ! | 20 |
| 2006 | No verdict | 100 | 34 | 2 ! | 20 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 BMW 330Ci reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 34 owner complaints for this year, with airbags making up 76% of reports and two do-not-drive recalls issued. Among the two model years with data, 2006 ranks worst first by complaint index.
- What are the main recalls on the 2006 BMW 330Ci?
- Two recalls affect this year, both do-not-drive campaigns for the passenger front airbag, filed in 2015 and 2020.
- What is the most common complaint area for the 2006 330Ci?
- Airbags account for 26 of 34 complaints, or 76%, with a median failure mileage of 76,000 for this model year overall and 88,500 within the airbag category.
- Did any 2006 330Ci complaints involve crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA lists one crash and three injuries among the 34 complaints for this year, with no reported fires or deaths.
- How does the 2006 330Ci compare to the 2005 330Ci?
- The 2005 330Ci had 33 complaints and 2 recalls with a complaint index of 0, while 2006 had 34 complaints, 2 recalls, and a complaint index of 100, making 2006 the higher-complaint year of the two tracked.