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2006 BMW 525I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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
95,500 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Air BagsSeats

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT MALFUNCTION. ALARM LIGHTS UP ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AS WELL AS THE IDRIVE SERVICE SECTION. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALERS ARE ASKING FOR $400 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THE ISSUE IS COMMON BUT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. …

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FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT MALFUNCTION. ALARM LIGHTS UP ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AS WELL AS THE IDRIVE SERVICE SECTION. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALERS ARE ASKING FOR $400 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THE ISSUE IS COMMON BUT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. BMW USA CANNOT HELP AS THEY WANT AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS AND STANDS BY THEIR POSITION THAT MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL OR WHAT EVER TERM THEY LIKE TO USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649817

75,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG AND THE RESTRAINT INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10621614

79,200 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Air Bags

HAD HEARD FROM FRIENDS ABOUT NHTSA RECALL 13V564000 REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON 2006 BMW 5 SERIES SEDANS AND OTHERS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATIONS FROM BMW IN THE MAIL REGARDING THIS RECALL. IN JUNE 2014, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IN MY CAR FAILED AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE. I WENT TO…

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HAD HEARD FROM FRIENDS ABOUT NHTSA RECALL 13V564000 REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON 2006 BMW 5 SERIES SEDANS AND OTHERS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATIONS FROM BMW IN THE MAIL REGARDING THIS RECALL. IN JUNE 2014, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR IN MY CAR FAILED AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE. I WENT TO THE BMW DEALER TO INQUIRY ABOUT THE RECALL AND TO FIND OUT WHY I DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTICE IN THE MAIL. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. I ASKED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE EXACTLY WHY IT WAS NOT COVERED AT WHICH HE REPLIED "I'M NOT SURE, IT'S JUST NOT ON THE LIST". I THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTACT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL. THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR BMW ON THE PHONE BASICALLY HAD THE SAME RESPONSE AS THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP, SHE WAS UNCERTAIN WHY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED AND WHY CERTAIN VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR WERE COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT BMW NORTH AMERICA SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT NHTSA REGARDING THE ISSUE. PLEASE HELP SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHY MY PARTICULAR BMW IS NOT COVERED EVEN THOUGH IT HAS THE FAILURE AS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. IN ADDITION, WHAT CRITERIA WAS USED TO DETERMINE WHICH VEHICLES AND PARTS WERE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617729

96,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Air BagsExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V56400 (AIR BAG); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING AND REAR LIGHT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WERE ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V56400 (AIR BAG); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING AND REAR LIGHT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WERE ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE INTIAL RECALL. UPDATED 8/28/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598454

85,000 miles · Jun 12, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10597823

90,000 miles · Jun 9, 2014
Service Brakes

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED PRIOR TO COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REGULARLY. THE VEHICLE …

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED PRIOR TO COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REGULARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10597043

55,000 miles · May 29, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE COVERED PAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE COVERED PARTIALLY UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10594781

80,000 miles · Apr 17, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKES HAD NOT PROPERLY WORKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKES HAD NOT PROPERLY WORKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE APPLYING FORCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THREE REPAIR SHOPS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10583291

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10574941

92,000 miles · Jan 15, 2014
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

BOUGHT FROM MANAGER AT BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT W/89,920 ON 10/25/13. 2 OVERHEATED BROKE DOWN ON 11/29/13 ON JANUARY 7 RARELY PARK IN DRIVEWAY, PULL UP ON DRIVEWAY WITH AN INCLINE AT MY HOME. CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK BUT SORTA DID NOT CATCH GEAR RIGHT, FELT A ROLLBACK SO I ENGAGED MY E-BRAKE. DID NOT WANT TO RELEASE KEY, SO I GET …

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BOUGHT FROM MANAGER AT BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT W/89,920 ON 10/25/13. 2 OVERHEATED BROKE DOWN ON 11/29/13 ON JANUARY 7 RARELY PARK IN DRIVEWAY, PULL UP ON DRIVEWAY WITH AN INCLINE AT MY HOME. CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK BUT SORTA DID NOT CATCH GEAR RIGHT, FELT A ROLLBACK SO I ENGAGED MY E-BRAKE. DID NOT WANT TO RELEASE KEY, SO I GET STUFF AT HOUSE AND RESUMED INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, CAR DID NOT START. SO I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE OUT OF PARK, TO NO AVAIL, THEN AFTER OFF AND ON ATTEMPTS IT CHANGED GEARS. SCREEN SAID GEAR CHANGE WITHOUT BRAKE POSSIBLE. TOOK IT IN THEY SAID HAD TO REPLACE GUIDE PLATE AND SOLENOID FOR 1250.00 I HAVE 4 KIDS AND A WIFE I LOVE, WE ARE ALWAYS IN VEHICLE, I FEEL MY FAMILIES SAFETY IS VIOLATED FOR BEING EXPOSED TO A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS EPISODE. DID RESEARCH PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE HAS RECALL. EXACT TO MY PROBLEM DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES IT BUT CLAIMS THAT MY CAR AIN'T BECAUSE RECALLS ON V8 MODELS. ONLY HAD CAR FOR SHORT TIME FRAME. FEEL SCAMMED, PAID 14600 W/ TAXES FROM BANK LOAN AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP!!??

NHTSA ODI #10560152

Official recalls

3

19V273000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control:crankcase (pcv)

Apr 4, 2019

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.

17V428000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jul 6, 2017

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.

13V564000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Nov 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 & 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.