2006 BMW 3 Series Latches, locks and linkages Problems
- Complaints
- 26about this part
- Share
- 13%of 202 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 2006 BMW 3 Series, 13% of the 202 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Yesterday, the doors on my 2006 325i wouldn't unlock with the key fob. I used the actual key to enter the car and the central locking/unlocking button does not unlock the doors. The door to the gas tank is also locked. There is no way to unlock any of the passenger doors which poses a safety hazard. In reading through online forums, this is a common problem that should be addressed by Bmw. Thank you.”
NHTSA complaint #10504242, filed 2013-03, 100,000 miles“Failure of steering column lock, causing inability to restart automobile intermittently. I have read this is a common problem with early 2006 330i models, but a recall was never issued. My car has very low miles, so it was clearly a design flaw. Bmw offered to supply the parts for free, however I feel this is a safety-related issue and should have been 100% covered by Bmw as a recall and handled proactively by the company.”
NHTSA complaint #10369685, filed 2010-12, 12,696 miles“The door locks on my car failed resulting in not being able to unlock any of the doors with the key fob. I can unlock the driver side door with the valet key. None of the other doors can be unlocked and can not even be opened from the inside. If someone got locked inside the car, they could be in serious trouble. Not to mention the fact that if in an accident any passengers in my car would have been unable to get out because the door locks malfunctioned.”
NHTSA complaint #10365263, filed 2010-11, 85,500 miles“Door locks on 2006 Bmw 330xi suddenly stopped functioning properly midway through the day and were unable to be unlocked. I was able to open the door with the embedded physical key in the fob but when I got in the car and tried operating the doors they again locked but were unable to be unlocked neither by the unlock button on the console, the fob or the door handle. The only way I was able to exit the car was to roll down the drivers side window, and use the emergency mechanical key to unlock it by extending my hand out the window. …”
NHTSA complaint #10397135, filed 2011-04, 55,804 miles“The door locks on my car failed resulting in not being able to unlock any of the doors with the key fob. I can unlock the driver side door with the valet key. None of the other doors can be unlocked and can not even be opened from the inside. This is a safety issue with the heat in southern california recently someone getting locked inside their car could be in serious trouble. Not to mention the fact that if in an accident any passengers in my car would have been unable to get out because the door locks malfunctioned.”
NHTSA complaint #10357856, filed 2010-09, 55,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10030626Oct 2, 2009Bmw vehicles: doors will not unlock using the key fob or central locking button. *pe updated1/4/10. *pe updated 5/24/10.
Latches, locks and linkages: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 BMW 3 Series
101 complaintsElectrical system
32 complaintsSteering
24 complaintsTires
13 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsSeats
12 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 BMW 3 Series
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology