2006 Bmw X5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
168 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 132 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 77 of 168 complaints (45.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 35 | 20.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 | 77 |
| Seats | 24 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
Air Bags: 77; Seats: 24; Service Brakes: 21; Electrical System: 19; Seat Belts: 8; Engine: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 36 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 30 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 34 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 30; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 10
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 36 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 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 13 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 45 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 9; 2011: 12; 2012: 13; 2013: 21; 2014: 45; 2015: 13; 2016: 13; 2017: 8; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10159935 · 2006-06-15 (June 15, 2006)
HID LIGHTS FROM OTHER CARS ARE BLINDING ME FROM BEHIND. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173657 · 2006-11-16 (November 16, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ALSO, THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE AT A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2006 BMW X5.*AK UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173657 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210313 · 2007-11-29 (November 29, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT SIDE QUARTER PANEL OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE HER HEAD HIT THE DOOR WINDOW. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213091 · 2007-12-28 (December 28, 2007)
BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT WITHIN 35,000 KLM ON BMW X5. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE AVERAGE FOR PERFORMANCE BRAKES LIKE THESE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE 50,000 KLM. BMW WILL NOT REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS WITHOUT REPLACING ALL 4 ROTORS AT THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WITH PERFORMANCE BRAKES ON SPORTS CARS HAVE LASTED OVER 50,000 TO 90,000 WITHOUT REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES. WE'RE NOT HARD ON BRAKES IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR LAST 2 VEHICLES WITH PERFORMANCE STYLE BRAKES ON SPORTS CARS... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220994 · 2008-03-13 (March 13, 2008)
SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. VERY, VERY BUMPY, ROUGH RIDE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10220994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224757 · 2008-04-16 (April 16, 2008)
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS ON HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAYS. WHEN BRAKING CAR MERGES TO LEFT. I AM NOT SURE OF THE DATE BUT IM SURE THE DEALER COMPUTERS WILL HAVE THE HISTORY OF MAINTENANCE. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES FROM THEY DAY I GOT THE CAR TILL TODAY. THE CAR DEALER ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF THE SERVICE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10224757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249841 · 2008-11-25 (November 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, HE NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS SMOKING AND HIS LEG WAS BURNED. THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT CURRENTLY REMAINS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE RISK OF HAVING SEAT HEATERS. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253174 · 2008-12-30 (December 30, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE BUMPER, MUFFLER, AND TRUNK WERE DAMAGED. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED AND RELEASED PREMATURELY. THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253174 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V504000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
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.
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 ↗