Bmw 6 SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
38,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 17.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 17.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Seats: 2; Tires: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2004: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10147109 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING . THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB AND HIT A PARKING PILLAR. THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT REPORTS HEARING SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE BRAKES TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SQUEAKING NOISE OCCURRED ONLY WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS BAD. THE DEALER PLANS ON CONTACTING BMW TO SEE IF THE REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,323 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407568 · 2011-06-20 (June 20, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S AC WAS NOT COLD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE OIL WAS LEAKING BELOW THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V479000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT THEN CALLED BMW USE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE BRAKES CAUSING A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 07/12/11 *BF UPDAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10621822 · 2014-08-12 (August 12, 2014)
2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED IN POURING RAIN WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE A RAG TOP CONVERTIBLE BMW THAT WHEN IT IS POURING RAIN..WATER SOMEHOW PERMEATES THE BACK OF THE CAR AND "FRIES" THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS I AM DRIVING.. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IT FRIED THE ONBOARD CCC AT 48,000 MILES, AND ALL THE COMPONENTS AND NOW IT HAS APPARENTLY COMPROMISED THE REPLACED PARTS IN THE TRUNK AREA.. I LOOKED IT UP AND IT THERE IS "SERVICE BULLETIN" NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10028770.. AND I AM SORRY BUT I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I AM DRIVING IN THE RAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10940255 · 2017-01-07 (January 7, 2017)
SHOWS THE BMW LOGO THEN SCREEN GOES BLANK AND KEEPS CYCLING THE SAME WAY. THE NAV, RADIO, BLUETOOTH, CD AND THE SOS LIGHT ERROR IN THE CLUSTER. SAFETY ALARKS ARE ALL DISABLED AND THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO DETECT OR REPORT IF OBJECTS ARE NEAR THE BUMPER OR SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE UNIT STAYS RUNNING (MAYBE THE FAN) WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF AND DRAINS THE BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10940255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397431 · 2011-04-25 (April 25, 2011)
BMW 645CI: TRANSMISSION SURGES BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 30-40MPH WHILE APPLYING CONSTANT THROTTLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641104 · 2014-10-03 (October 3, 2014)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED IN 3-4 GEAR, WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE. HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACE WITH ONLY 25,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10641104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091708 · 2004-09-09 (September 9, 2004)
2004 BMW 645: WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. AGAIN, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT UNCOVER ANY DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK (VEHICLE BUILD DATE: MAY 4, 2004 - EXCLUDED FROM SAFETY RECALL 04V-344, WHICH HAS A BUILD DATE RANGE BEGINNING WITH MAY 12, 2004) *MJJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093654 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES WHILE IDLING OR ON TURNING. VEHICLE RESTARTS AFTER STALL, BUT ALL STEERING IS LOST UNTIL RESTARTED. BMW HAS REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER CONTROL BOARD TWICE (DME). STALLING IS STILL EVIDENT. TOTAL NUMBER OF KNOWN STALLS - 4. ALSO, BASED ON POSTINGS ON HTTP://BIMMER. ROADFLY.ORG/BMW/FORUMS/E63/ IT APPEARS OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH HARDWARE/SOFTWARE ON THIS MAKE, BUT PERHAPS NOT TO THE SAME SAFETY LEVEL AS MINE. ALMOST IDENTICAL COMPLAINT ON FILE WITH YOU:MAKE: BMW MODEL: 6 SERIES YEAR: 2004 COM…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429457 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, IN A THUNDERSTORM IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE INTERSTATE, WHEN HE NOTICED A BOLT OF LIGHTING LAND JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE INTERSTATE IN THE GRASS. 31 OF 43 ELECTRICAL MODULES FAILED IMMEDIATELY, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, STEERING, BRAKES, RADIO AND THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE COULDN'T BE RE-STARTED, OR EVEN SHIFTED INTO TO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP FOR 105 DAYS, WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. NONE OF THE REPLACED PARTS EXHIBITED ANY PHYSICAL STIGMATA OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELECT…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,345 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429457 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2012: 1