YearToAvoid

2006 BMW X3 Recall List

2 safety recall campaigns on file with NHTSA for the 2006 BMW X3, affecting airbags. Recall repairs are free at any authorized BMW dealer.

Recall campaigns
2
Do Not Drive
0
Park Outside
0
Over-the-air fixes
0
Latest report
Sep 28, 2017
Owner complaints
143

All 2006 BMW X3 recalls

Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA’s own wording.

  1. NHTSA 17V605000Sep 28, 2017Airbags85,302 vehicles

    Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

    BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2010 BMW X3 2.5i, X3 3.0i and X3 xDrive30i Sports Activity Vehicles. 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, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat occupant detection mat, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. A second notification letter will be sent when parts are available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

  2. NHTSA 08V384000Aug 5, 2008Airbags200,000 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal

    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.

Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does the 2006 BMW X3 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 BMW X3, covering airbags.
Are 2006 BMW X3 recall repairs free?
Yes. Under U.S. law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls free of charge at authorized dealers, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had. Use the VIN check to see which campaigns are still open on a specific car.
What is the most recent recall on the 2006 BMW X3?
The most recent campaign is NHTSA 17V605000, reported Sep 28, 2017, concerning the airbags.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.