Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
00–25K
625–50K
850–75K
2075–100K
19100–150K
14150K+
67 reports with mileage · 10 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
77 reports
307,726 miles · Jul 29, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525-I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, SMOKE STARTED EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525-I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, SMOKE STARTED EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS ISSUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 307,726.
NHTSA ODI #11240285
100,000 miles · Jun 16, 2019
Electrical System
BECAUSE OF POOR QUALITY OF FIBER OPTICS WIRING USED ON THE HEADLIGHT THEY TEND DRY ROT RESULTING IN A BURNT OUT HEADLIGHT. WHICH CAN BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #11220400
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2019
FirerelatedUnknown Or OtherFire
WE RECEANTLY PURCHASED A USED BMW 525 I. AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY SON CAME TO A STOP. HE BARLEY EXCAPED WITH HIS LIFE. THE WHOLE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES. WE DONT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM BUT IT WAS THE WORST THING THAT I SEEN. THANK GOD HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE DID. WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD HA…
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WE RECEANTLY PURCHASED A USED BMW 525 I. AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY SON CAME TO A STOP. HE BARLEY EXCAPED WITH HIS LIFE. THE WHOLE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES. WE DONT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM BUT IT WAS THE WORST THING THAT I SEEN. THANK GOD HE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE DID. WE NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIS SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE, BEING ONE OF THE TOP OF THE LINE VEHICLES!
NHTSA ODI #11184997
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2018
Air BagsSeat Belts
MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS AND AIRBAG WARNINGS LIGHT COMES ON. I SAW THAT THIS YEAR WAS INCLUDED IN MY MODEL 525I, BUT BMW OF HONOLULU SAID MY BIN SHOWS NO RECALL? I'M CONFUSED AND UPSET ON HOW BMW CAN RISK SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE BY NOT INCLUDING ALL AFFECTED BY THIS ESPECIALLY MY YEAR AND MODEL CLASS BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY …
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MY PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS AND AIRBAG WARNINGS LIGHT COMES ON. I SAW THAT THIS YEAR WAS INCLUDED IN MY MODEL 525I, BUT BMW OF HONOLULU SAID MY BIN SHOWS NO RECALL? I'M CONFUSED AND UPSET ON HOW BMW CAN RISK SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE BY NOT INCLUDING ALL AFFECTED BY THIS ESPECIALLY MY YEAR AND MODEL CLASS BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WE ALL ARE HAVING AROUND THE SAME EXACT TIME. IS THERE A SOLUTION OR SHOULD I GIVE UP ON BMW FOR SUCH NEGLECT FOR MY SAFETY AND YOURS?
NHTSA ODI #11156403
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2018
Air Bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG RESTRAINT LIGHT IS ACTIVATED.
NHTSA ODI #11143963
126,525 miles · Sep 7, 2018
Air Bags
I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE APPEARING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I DISCOVERED 2006 525I VEHICLES HAVE A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, I WAS TOLD BASED ON VIN NUMBER MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES UNDER RECALL AND…
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I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE APPEARING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I DISCOVERED 2006 525I VEHICLES HAVE A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, I WAS TOLD BASED ON VIN NUMBER MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES UNDER RECALL AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V428000 (AIR BAGS). CURRENTLY, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO THE PASSENGER IF INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT, THEREFORE, MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11128103
140,000 miles · Apr 26, 2018
Air Bags
WARNING LIGHT PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG BELT TENSIONER ETC
NHTSA ODI #11090232
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2018
Air Bags
I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE APPEARING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I DISCOVERED 2006 525I VEHICLES HAVE RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, I WAS TOLD BASED ON VIN NUMBER MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES UNDER RECALL. AS I…
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I RECENTLY STARTED GETTING PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE APPEARING. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, I DISCOVERED 2006 525I VEHICLES HAVE RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE. HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED BMW, I WAS TOLD BASED ON VIN NUMBER MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SAME ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES UNDER RECALL. AS IS, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO THE PASSENGER, THEREFORE MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11088461
105,000 miles · Mar 13, 2018
Air BagsElectrical System
MY BMW APPEARS TO THE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT THE VIN ISN'T INCLUDE IN THE RECALL LIST. KINDLY REQUEST RECALL, AS THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11078903
143,000 miles · Jan 31, 2018
Air BagsSeat Belts
WAS DROPPING OFF A PASSENGER AND WHEN I PARKED ON A CITY STREET .HE TOOK HIS SEATBELT OFF AND OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR . WHEN HE GOT OFF THE SEAT I NOTICED TWO LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASHBOARD . THEN THE NOTIFICATION CAME UP ON MY MENU SCREEN DISPLAYING RESTRAINT AUSTEN MALFUNCTION . I'VE LOOKED UP MY 2006 BMW 525I TO NOTICE IT…
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WAS DROPPING OFF A PASSENGER AND WHEN I PARKED ON A CITY STREET .HE TOOK HIS SEATBELT OFF AND OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR . WHEN HE GOT OFF THE SEAT I NOTICED TWO LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASHBOARD . THEN THE NOTIFICATION CAME UP ON MY MENU SCREEN DISPLAYING RESTRAINT AUSTEN MALFUNCTION . I'VE LOOKED UP MY 2006 BMW 525I TO NOTICE IT HAPPENING TO ALLOT OF THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AS MINE.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion to recall 17V-683.
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 & remedy
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.
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2006 BMW 525I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year