2006 BMW 5 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 2006 BMW 5 Series, and owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 2006 BMW 5 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
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…
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…
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Cables (electrical system)
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…
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…
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Vacuum (service brakes)
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.
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.
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Air bags: frontal
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…
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…
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Shock absorber (suspension)
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.
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.
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Suspension: control arm
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.
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.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with an incorrectly manufactured automatic transmission parking pawl guide plate.
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.
85 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2006 BMW 5 Series have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 63,942 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 22 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 5 series. The contact stated that the vehicle leaked oil and the brakes failed while driving at low speeds. The brakes worked normally when applied at high speeds. The”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 24, 2019 · Service brakes
“Front passenger seat occupancy detection mat had to be replaced as it was defective. Though not in previous recalls in similar bmws and similar years, the error presented a safety issue that would dis”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 18, 2017 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2006 BMW 5 Series (525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, …). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–18 / 20–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars, Midsize Station Wagons |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 3/4.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 5 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 5 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2002 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 7 |
| 2003 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 15 |
| 2004 BMW 5 Series | 6 | 64 |
| 2005 BMW 5 Series | 4 | 21 |
| 2006 BMW 5 Series | 7 | 85 |
| 2007 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 13 |
| 2008 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 105 |
| 2009 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 8 |
| 2010 BMW 5 Series | 5 | 6 |
| 2011 BMW 5 Series | 4 | 81 |
| 2012 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 10 |
| 2023 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2006 BMW 5 Series
How do I know if my 2006 BMW 5 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2006 BMW 5 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V504000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.