PERTAINING TO BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN 17V-605. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE PART IN QUESTION IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM DEALERS. I DON'T FEEL THAT BMW IS HANDLING THIS RECALL…

12/30/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11057503.0

2006 X3 · airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE OVER A SIX MONTH…

12/28/2010 · NHTSA ODI #10373137.0

2006 X3 · airbags

Dealer states my occupancy detection mat was already reworked, however the original mat is still in the seat and no evidence exists to show what was done to prevent future fatigue of the mat. The date code on the mat is 2005 and the dealer stated it only needed replacing if it…

12/20/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11498224.0

2006 X3 · other

WHILE DRIVING, WITH DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT SET ON HIGH (3 LIGHTS FOR HEATED SEAT CONTROL), DRIVER NOTED A BURNING SMELL. DRIVER TURNED OFF CABIN HEAT, HEATED SEAT AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE STRONG BURNING SMELL. HEATED SEAT HAD BURNED THROUGH THE…

12/17/2019 · NHTSA ODI #11289704.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi

At 80,000 miles

Likely repair cost in next 24 months

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

moderate NHTSA 08V384000 05/08/2008

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

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2006 BMW X3 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 142 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 BMW X3 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 BMW X3?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 74 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my BMW X3 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 BMW X3?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 142 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 6 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with bmw. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.