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Campaign 17V428 Posted July 6, 2017 2,158 units

2006 BMW 3 and 5 Series Recall 17V428: Seat Mat

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 25, 2026

Recall 17V428 covers 2,158 selected 2006 BMW vehicles for passenger-seat air bag sensor failure. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.

BMW is recalling 2,158 2006 vehicles, including the 325XI, 330I, 525I, and 550I, because the front passenger seat occupant detection mat can fatigue and crack. If the system fails in a crash, the passenger frontal air bag would be deactivated, increasing injury risk; BMW dealers will repair it free of charge.

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What's wrong?

The front passenger seat occupant detection mat in these 2006 BMW vehicles sits inside the front passenger seat and tells the air bag control system whether someone is seated there. The system uses that signal to decide if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash.

On affected vehicles, the mat can fatigue as the seat is used and develop cracks. Once the mat cracks, the occupant classification signal can fail, and the system can deactivate the passenger frontal air bag instead of reading the seat status correctly.

Owners should see the air bag warning lamp and the passenger air bag "on-off" lamp illuminate if the system detects the problem. Those lights are the warning sign that the passenger air bag has been deactivated.

Who's affected?

Covers 9 BMW model variants from the 2006 model year, all tied to the same air bag occupant classification system.

2006 BMW 325XI air bag system
2006 BMW 525XI air bag system
2006 BMW 330I air bag system
2006 BMW 530I air bag system
2006 BMW 330XI air bag system
Units affected2,158
Field incidentsNHTSA has logged no field incidents to date.

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific car.

What's the safety risk?

If the occupant detection mat fails, a crash can leave the front passenger air bag deactivated, increasing injury risk. The air bag warning lamp and passenger air bag on-off lamp illuminate when the system detects deactivation. Schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2006 BMW 325XI, 525XI, 330I, 530I, 330XI, 325I, 530XI, 550I, or 525I is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the free occupant detection mat repair that fixes the front passenger air bag detection failure.
  3. Bring the recall notice if BMW mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V428 when you call.
  4. Ask the BMW dealer whether the vehicle is safe to drive with a front passenger before the repair appointment.
  5. Call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 if the dealer cannot confirm parts or scheduling.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a BMW technician repairs the front passenger seat occupant detection mat to prevent cracking, and replaces the mat when replacement is needed. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. BMW has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid out of pocket for this related repair before the recall notice. Bring repair orders, receipts, and proof of payment to the service desk so BMW can review the claim.

ReimbursementReimbursement available

Timeline

July 6, 2017 NHTSA published the recall
July 6, 2017 Dealer notification began
September 1, 2017 Owner notification mailed
September 1, 2017 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 17V428?

Recall 17V428 covers 2,158 2006 BMW vehicles with a front passenger seat occupant detection mat that can fatigue and crack. If the system fails in a crash, the passenger frontal air bag would be deactivated. BMW dealers will repair or replace the mat for free.

What should I do if my 2006 BMW 325XI, 525XI, 330I, 530I, 330XI, 325I, 530XI, 550I, or 525I is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V428. If it is, contact a franchised BMW dealer to schedule the occupant detection mat repair. Reference recall number 17V428 when you call. The dealer repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and BMW's recall remedy says dealers will repair the occupant detection mat, replacing it as necessary, free of charge.

What is the safety risk?

The risk is that the front passenger air bag would be deactivated in a crash if the occupant detection system fails. That increases the risk of personal injury to the front passenger. The free dealer repair addresses the mat that causes the system failure.

What if I bought my BMW used?

The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific BMW is included, then call a franchised BMW dealer and reference recall number 17V428.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V428000
BMW customer service1-800-525-7417
NHTSA recall #17V428
NHTSA recall # (full)17V428000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →