RecallMyCar

2006 BMW X5 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2006 BMW X5, and owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
168
owner complaints to NHTSA
5 / 11
complaints citing a crash / fire
16
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 2006 BMW X5

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Occupant classification (air bags)

    NHTSA 13V564000 Reported 76,565 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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…

    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…

  2. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 05V504000 Reported 240 vehicles potentially affected BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

    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.

168 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2006 BMW X5 have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 11 describe a fire. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 85,256 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 45 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I put a new battery and I need to unplugged the negative every time I turn it off. If I don’t do this, the next day, the battery would be dead. I checked with the Ancel OBD2 and there’s nothing wrong.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 14, 2026 · Electrical system

“Anytime I have a passenger in the car the seatbelt warning light goes off. My passenger is wearing the seatbelt. I put the car in park and tell my passenger to take the seatbelt off then back on. It's”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 16, 2025 · Seat belts

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2006 BMW X5 (X5 4.8is). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16 mpg
City / Highway13–14 / 19–20
FuelPremium
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6/8 cyl, 3/4.4/4.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S5); Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd

Compare BMW X5 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW X5 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1999 BMW X510
2000 BMW X5629
2001 BMW X512160
2002 BMW X53102
2003 BMW X5399
2004 BMW X5464
2005 BMW X5282
2006 BMW X52168
2007 BMW X5871
2008 BMW X510215
2009 BMW X512138
2010 BMW X514124
2011 BMW X514263
2012 BMW X510271
2013 BMW X56149
2014 BMW X5899
2015 BMW X56152
2016 BMW X5574
2017 BMW X5675
2018 BMW X5572
2019 BMW X513191
2020 BMW X511113
2021 BMW X512108
2022 BMW X5170
2023 BMW X5433
2024 BMW X58145
2025 BMW X5562
2026 BMW X5225

Checking a specific 2006 BMW X5

How do I know if my 2006 BMW X5 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 2006 BMW X5; 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

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.