Model year
2006 BMW 3 Series
NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 202 complaints for the 2006 BMW 3 Series (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 50 recalls and 1,041 complaints under 323CI, 323I, 325, 325CI, 325I, 325XI, 325XIT, 328, 328CI, 328I, 328XI, 330, 330CI, 330I, 330XI, 335, 335I, and 335XI. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (78), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31), AIR BAGS:FRONTAL (30). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 19–21 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,900–$4,350, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 88 complaints
- 2001 36 complaints
- 2002 26 complaints
- 2003 73 complaints
- 2004 77 complaints
- 2005 25 complaints
- 2006 202 complaints
- 2007 115 complaints
- 2008 68 complaints
- 2009 53 complaints
- 2010 30 complaints
- 2011 1 complaints
- 2012 7 complaints
- 2013 21 complaints
- 2014 410 complaints
- 2015 215 complaints
- 2016 106 complaints
- 2017 80 complaints
- 2018 73 complaints
- 2019 41 complaints
- 2020 53 complaints
- 2021 33 complaints
- 2022 8 complaints
- 2023 0 complaints
- 2024 11 complaints
- 2025 6 complaints
- 2026 1 complaints
Recalls
22V119000 · Mar 2, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 1 Series Coupe (128i); 2007-2013 3 Series Coupe (328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive); 2007-2010 X3 SAV (X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i); 2008-2013 1 Series Convertible (128i); 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i…
08V384000 · Aug 5, 2008
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,…
06V400000 · Oct 18, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, ONE OF THE SUSPENSION CONTROL ARM AND SWIVEL BEARING CONNECTION BOLTS WAS NOT TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. THE BOLTED CONNECTION COULD LOOSEN.
Complaints
202 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 6, fire flag on 1, injury field 7, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 323CI | 1 | 0 |
| 323I | 2 | 0 |
| 325 | 1 | 8 |
| 325CI | 2 | 36 |
| 325I | 7 | 515 |
| 325XI | 6 | 110 |
| 325XIT | 0 | 7 |
| 328 | 1 | 0 |
| 328CI | 1 | 0 |
| 328I | 3 | 0 |
| 328XI | 3 | 5 |
| 330 | 1 | 3 |
| 330CI | 2 | 34 |
| 330I | 7 | 219 |
| 330XI | 6 | 104 |
| 335 | 1 | 0 |
| 335I | 3 | 0 |
| 335XI | 3 | 0 |
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA08001 | BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION · AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE | Jan 4, 2008 | Dec 31, 2008 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325ci Convertible · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 17 | 25 | 20 | — | — | $4,100 |
| 325ci Convertible · 2.5L · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 16 | 24 | 19 | — | — | $4,350 |
| 330ci Convertible · 3L · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 17 | 26 | 20 | — | — | $4,100 |
| 330ci Convertible · 3L · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 16 | 23 | 19 | — | — | $4,350 |
| 325ci · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 18 | 27 | 21 | — | — | $3,900 |
| 325ci · 2.5L · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 17 | 25 | 20 | — | — | $4,100 |
| 330ci · 3L · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 18 | 28 | 21 | — | — | $3,900 |
| 330ci · 3L · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 17 | 24 | 20 | — | — | $4,100 |
| 325i · 3L · Manual 6-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 18 | 28 | 21 | — | — | $3,900 |
| 325i · 3L · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 18 | 27 | 21 | — | — | $3,900 |
| 325xi · 3L · Manual 6-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 17 | 26 | 20 | — | — | $4,100 |
| 325xi · 3L · Automatic (S6) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium Gasoline | 18 | 25 | 20 | — | — | $4,100 |
7 more configurations are in the EPA file and are not listed in this table. The fuel-cost calculator lists every configuration.
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2006 BMW 3 Series at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.