2006 Bmw 525XI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
121,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 28 complaints (46.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 17.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
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 | 13 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Air Bags: 13; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 4; Engine: 3; Seat Belts: 2; Seats: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 2; 2016: 7; 2017: 4; 2019: 1; 2022: 3; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10445046 · 2012-01-24 (January 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION AND THE CRACK CAUSED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR A REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10475640 · 2012-09-17 (September 17, 2012)
WHEN I CAME TO RED LIGHT AND WENT TO PUSH MY BRAKE A WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASH WITH THE MESSAGE LEFT BRAKE LAMP MALFUNCTION AND MY BRAKE WOULD NOT PUSH DOWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE LAST WEEK AND I FOUND AN OPEN RECALL THAT FITS MY CAR EXACTLY BUT MY CAR IN NOT COVERED. WHY???? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 96,217 miles reported. Look up ODI 10475640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498012 · 2013-02-13 (February 13, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSING THE OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10498012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503773 · 2013-03-20 (March 20, 2013)
MESSAGE APPEARS THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND REMINDED PASSENGER TO WEAR SEAT BELT UNTIL IT IS LOOKED INTO. ALSO A WARNING ABOUT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE ARE BOTH SAFETY ISSUES BUT BMW HAS BEEN OF NO HELP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10579197 · 2014-04-11 (April 11, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604692 · 2014-06-20 (June 20, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN TO ORDER REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PARTS DELAY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,800.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10604692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606963 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE AIR BAG ALARM SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10629216 · 2014-08-28 (August 28, 2014)
THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ALARM CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. BMW SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE, A 2006 BMW 525XI IS NOT CAPTURED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL 13V564000, WHICH FIXES THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629216 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V564000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2013-11-12 (November 12, 2013)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V428000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2017-07-06 (July 6, 2017)
BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V273000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv)
Reported: 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion to recall 17V-683.
NHTSA campaign record ↗