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
161,000 miles · Feb 15, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER VALVE. THE VA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER VALVE. THE VALVE WAS DAMAGED BY AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 161,000. UPDATED 03/23/12*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10448052
100,000 miles · Dec 9, 2011
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10439206
99,500 miles · Dec 7, 2011
Air BagsSeat Belts
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASH AND SEAT BELT, WHEN I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES WHEN A DOG RAN IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438944
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2011
Air Bags
RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM. BMW HAS RECALLED THE CARS WITH SAME YEAR AND MODEL FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. BUT MY VIN IS NOT RECALLED. I JUST CALLED BMW BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX IT. I WISH BMW ACTS MORE ACTIVELY ON SAFETY ISSUES. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10437850
54,000 miles · Nov 16, 2011
Air BagsInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PRIOR IMPROPER REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PRIOR IMPROPER REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PRIOR REPAIR WAS NOT RELATED TO THE AIR BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10436055
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2011
Air Bags
I GOT A WARNING LIGHT ON MY DISPLAY PANEL PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SEAT BELT. ALTHOUGH BMW HAS RECALLED CAR SAME YEAR AND MODEL FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS, MY VIN IS NOT RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10434292
96,000 miles · Oct 19, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
SEVERAL OF THE HEAD BOLTS BROKE DUE TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW. I WAS TOLD BY THE BMW SHOP THAT BECAUSE THE HEAD BOLTS WERE MADE FROM A DIFFERENT METAL THAT THEY HEAT AND COOL AT DIFFERENT RATES AND THE BOLTS TEND TO BREAK, THEY HAD SEEN IT MANY TIMES. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW THEY REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WOU…
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SEVERAL OF THE HEAD BOLTS BROKE DUE TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW. I WAS TOLD BY THE BMW SHOP THAT BECAUSE THE HEAD BOLTS WERE MADE FROM A DIFFERENT METAL THAT THEY HEAT AND COOL AT DIFFERENT RATES AND THE BOLTS TEND TO BREAK, THEY HAD SEEN IT MANY TIMES. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW THEY REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR
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
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