2006 Bmw 5 SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls

I OWN A 2006 BMW 525I. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAS A SENSOR THAT DISABLES THE AIR BAG IF AN ADULT IS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT (BASED ON WEIGHT) SINCE IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN. THE SENSOR IN MY CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING AND ALWAYS KEEPS THE AIR BAG DISABLED, EVEN IF AN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PART, BUT HAS NO DELIVERY DATE FOR THE PART. IN ADDITION, IT ISN'T EVEN CERTAIN THAT THE REPLACEMENT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148243 at NHTSA ↗

COMPUTER LOCKED KEY, ALL LIGHTS INSIDE CAR AND OUTSIDE FLICKERED OUT OF CONTROL, THEN 2 WEEKS LATER BRAKE DID NOT ENGAGE WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10155527 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING A NEW BMW M5 IN CHICAGO ON LOWER LAKE SHORE DRIVE (THE BRIDGE OVER THE CHICAGO RIVER.) AT APPROXIMATLY 30-35 MILES/HOUR THE CAR WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE AND THIS RESULTED IN TO A MAJOR CRASH WITH SIGNIFICANT INJURY, SEVERAL DEVICES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY INCLUDING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR-BAGS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS AND DURING THIS TIME I DID NOT EXPERIENCE EVEN A MINOR ACCIDENT NOR DID I EVER RECEIVE A TICKET FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156087 at NHTSA ↗

THE DSC (DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL) AND AWD (ALL WHEEL DRIVE) MODULE ON MY CAR (2006 BMW 530XI) MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER (BUDDS' BMW IN OAKVILLE) SAID THAT THE CAR WAS "NOT ROAD-WORTHY" AND THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK-ORDER, AND THAT THERE WERE OTHER CARS BROUGHT IN WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT BMW HAD ISSUED A BULLETIN. I PHONED BMW CANADA BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME A COPY OF THE BULLETIN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162553 at NHTSA ↗

DO YOU HAVE ANY STUDIES INVOLVING THE BRIGHT HEAD LIGHTS AND ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THESE HEADLIGHT?. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167100 at NHTSA ↗

THE TAILLIGHTS OF BMWS (MADE IN ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS), SOME LEXUS (STARTING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO) AND SOME CADILLACS (STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO) USE LEDS THAT ARE MODULATED ON AND OFF. THESE CAN BECOME A DISTRACTION AT NIGHT WHEN MOVING ONE'S EYES QUICKLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT CAN GIVE THE ILLUSION THAT THERE ARE MORE CARS ON THE HIGHWAY THAN THERE ARE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171166 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED CAR IN MAY 2005 AND WITHIN 4 WEEKS MY CAR LIGHTS AND SIGNAL WOULD JUST FLASH OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR WOULD THEN BEEP ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHY. THEN THE COMPUTER LOCKED MY CAR. AFTER WAITED ALMOST 2 HOURS FOR ROADSIDE THE DEALER CAME TO BRING ME TO A RENTAL CAR DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND THEN THE CAR WAS RE KEYED. THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED AND ALL ELECTRONICALLY DEFECTS WORKED BETTER THEN DELIVERY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173308 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER NUMEROUS SERVICES FOR ELECTRONICALLY DEFECTIVE PROBLEMS, MY CARS COMPUTER SHUT DOWN. JUST SHUT DOWN. SINCE THE COMPUTER CONTROLS ALL FUNCTION I WAS LEFT WITH NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR. I WAS LEFT WITH NO GPS, NO CLIMATE CONTROL, NO ENTERTAINMENT CONTROL, AND IN ORDER IN HAVE THE CAR SERVICES WITH A COMPLIMENTARY VEHICLE IT HAD TO MAKE WEEKS TO BE SERVICED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS SOLD ON THE FACT THAT THE COMPANY WILL BE PICK UP THE CAR, HOW YOU DO WAIT. THE CAR HAD TO BE SERVICED TWO TIMES AND BECAME A HUGE IN CONVINCE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173309 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.

Reported: 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NUTS WHICH SECURE THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT TO THE FRONT WHEEL HUB MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. OVER TIME THE NUTS COULD LOOSEN AND THE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT COULD BE DAMAGED.

Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL COULD COMPROMISE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FRONT AXLE CONTROL ARM AND TENSION STRUT NUTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LOWER RUBBER MOUNT OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY NOT ADHERE CORRECTLY TO ITS HOUSING WITHIN THE SHOCK ABSORBER.

Consequence: THE BUSHING COULD LOOSEN AND OVER TIME COULD SEPARATE FROM ITS HOUSING. THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE IMPAIRED VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2008-08-05 (August 5, 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. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2010-10-01 (October 1, 2010)

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Consequence: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2012-03-26 (March 26, 2012)

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

Reported: 2022-03-02 (March 2, 2022)

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 xDrive, 330i, 330xi); 2006-2012 3 Series Wagon (328i, 328i xDrive); 2007-2013 3 Series Convertible (328i); 2006-2010 5 Series Sedan (525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi); 2006-2007 5 Series Wagon (530xi); 2007-2010 X5 SAV (X5 3.0si, X5 xDrive30i); 2006-2008 Z4 Coupe (Z4 3.0si); and 2006-2011 Z4 Roadster (Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si, Z4 sDrive30i) vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

Consequence: An electrical short can cause the PCV valve heater to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire while driving or, soon after driving when parked.

Remedy: This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Dealers will install an electrical wiring harness with fuse protection for the PCV Valve heater in potentially affected vehicles, free of charge. This recall supersedes and expands previous NHTSA recalls 17V-683 and 19V-273. Vehicles previously repaired under the prior recalls will need to come back for the new recall remedy. The remedy is currently being developed. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on April 1, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 22, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.