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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Bmw 550I: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 23 complaints (47.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation313.0%
Braking behavior28.7%
Steering behavior28.7%
Electrical and battery issues14.3%

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.

Air Bags
11
Electrical System
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Engine
2
Service Brakes
2
Steering
2
Wheels
2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags11
Electrical System3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Engine2
Service Brakes2
Steering2
Wheels2
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module1

Air Bags: 11; Electrical System: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Steering: 2; Wheels: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 4 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.

2008
1
2010
1
2011
2
2012
2
2014
4
2015
5
2016
2
2017
1
2018
1
2019
2
2020
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20081
20101
20112
20122
20144
20155
20162
20171
20181
20192
20201
20231

2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10252449 · 2008-12-21 (December 21, 2008)

2006 - BMW E60 550I - FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DEFECTIVE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252449 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10370346 · 2010-12-13 (December 13, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. TWENTY SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED 28 TIMES AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN THE DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REFERENCED RECALL 07V479000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,700.

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10370346 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10402414 · 2011-05-23 (May 23, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG POSSIBLY WOULD NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEH…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402414 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10438928 · 2011-12-07 (December 7, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE COMPONENT WAS UNDER RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 -AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), BUT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10438928 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10446647 · 2012-02-04 (February 4, 2012)

THERE IS A RECALL INVOLVING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT, WHICH CAUSE THE AIRBAG NOT TO WORK IN SOME MODELS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 HOWEVER, SINCE MY VEHICLE'S PROD. DATE WAS 01/2006 IT IS NOT COVERED. THERE IS MANY VEHICLES UP TO 2007 I'VE HEARD, WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT WOULD BE FAIR TO REVISIT THE RECALL AND DO THE NEEDED CHANGES IN ORDER TO COVER THESE VEHICLES. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A FRONT AIRBAG NOT WORKING. AND UNFAIR THAT BECAUSE OF THREE MONTHS DIFFERENCE IN THE PRODUCTION DATES, SOMEONE HAS T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10446647 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10480856 · 2012-10-17 (October 17, 2012)

WHILE DRIVING NEAR HOME ON A RAINY DAY ON 10/18/2012 WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AT A ROAD CURVE, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND I HIT A SIDEWALK, DAMAGING THE REAR BUMPER ON ITS RIGHT HAND SIDE (PASSENGER'S SIDE). I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR BRAKE FAILURES ON MY 2006 BMW 550I AND FOUND A RECALL ID #87954, RELATED TO A "COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING, OR UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST...". WHEN I CALLED BMW NUMBER SHOWING IN THE RECALL NOTICE, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FACTORY RECALL. A TOTAL O…

Owner-reported narrative. 95,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480856 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10586825 · 2014-05-06 (May 6, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V564000(AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586825 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10638332 · 2014-09-23 (September 23, 2014)

IN THE EARLIER PART OF THE YEAR, I NOTICED THE BATTERY CABLE (LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR) WAS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH AND BEGAN CHARRING. I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE I READ OF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE (ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND MSNBC.COM. EACH ARTICLE STATED BMW WOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND MY CONSULTANT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THAT ISSUE WITH MY CAR. ON, 9/14/14 THE CAR STARTED GIVING ELECTRONIC ERRORS AND ACTING LI…

Owner-reported narrative. 103,481 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638332 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.

07V479000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Reported: 2007-10-12 (October 12, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.

Consequence: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
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 ↗