2006 Bmw M5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 39 complaints (59.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 12.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 10.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 23 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
Air Bags: 23; Seat Belts: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Seats: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 12; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2020: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10175151 · 2006-12-05 (December 5, 2006)
FOR ABOUT A 1.5 MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN HAVING MAJOR ISSUES WITH SMG. IN THE MORNING ON STARTUP. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, IT SHOWS (R). I STEP ON THE GAS AND IT REVS AND DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. YOU THEN HEAR A LOUD CLUNK AND IT POPS BACK TO NEUTRAL. SAME THING WITH DRIVE IN WHICH THERE IS A HUGE DELAY EVEN WHEN IT SHOWS 1. EXTREMELY SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE TRAFFIC COMING UP BEHIND YOU AND YOU CAN'T GET INTO GEAR. I HAVE OPENED DIALOGUES WITH BMWNA, MY LOCAL DEALER, THE GM OF MY LOCAL DEALER DONNA TAFOYA AND AT THIS MOMENT, THE ONLY ERROR THEY GOT WAS A S…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10302909 · 2010-01-28 (January 28, 2010)
ON JUNE 24, 2006, A-UNITED LEASED THE M5 THROUGH BMW OF MONROVIA, FORMERLY ASSAEL BMW. DURING THE DURATION OF THE LEASE, A-UNITED INCURRED LESS THAN 1800 MILES ON THE M5 PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE M5'S SAFETY AND RELIABILITY HAD CAUSED SERIOUS CONCERNS. FROM AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER 2006, A-UNITED BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE M5 WHEN THE UNUSUAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER. SHORTLY, THE M5 BEGAN HESITATING TO ACCELERATE. ON OCTOBER 22, 2007, THE M5 WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF MONROVIA FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AS WELL AS THE CAUTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10302909 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307584 · 2010-02-08 (February 8, 2010)
2006 BMW M5 WITH SEQUENTIAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENTER GEAR AT LIGHT, RENDERING VEHICLE IMMOBILIZED. *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10381004 · 2011-02-07 (February 7, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL IN FEBRUARY 2011. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAD FAILED AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10391048 · 2011-03-10 (March 10, 2011)
THERE IS A MESSAGE READING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. I FOUND OUT IT IS THE SEAT SENSOR IN THE SEAT THAT TURNS THE AIRBAG ON AND OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, SO THE AIRBAG IS ALWAYS OFF REGARDLESS IF SOMEONE IS ON THE SEAT OR NOT. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER 2006 5 SERIES BUT THE DEALER IS SAYING MINE IS NOT INCLUDED. I BELIEVE THE 2006 M5 SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL IF IT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE OTHER VEHICLES IN THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10391048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397351 · 2011-04-25 (April 25, 2011)
THIS ERROR APPEARS ON THE CONSOLE EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE VEHICLE; EXACT ERROR MESSAGE IS : PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM , AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG PASSENGER LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY ON BOTH THE DISPLAY CONSOLE AND DASHBOARD. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AT BRAMAN BMW DEALERSHIP IN MIAMI ON 9/20/2010 BUT THE REPAIR WAS REJECTED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL (AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MAT INVOLVING OF 8/13/2008). ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE SAME PART…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398059 · 2011-04-27 (April 27, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE OR TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ENGAGEMENT THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER MADE TEN ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL UP TO THE POINT OF ACTUAL ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,500 AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422411 · 2011-08-29 (August 29, 2011)
ERROR CODE PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM. DESCRIPTION FROM DEALER IS THAT THE OC3 UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT IS WORN FROM USE. THIS DISABLES THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422411 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V126000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗