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2006 BMW 530I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

68 reports with mileage · 16 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

7 reports
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100,000 miles · May 27, 2022
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 530i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for t…

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The contact owns a 2006 BMW 530i. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that air bag and seat belt needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI #11466417

10,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
EnginePower TrainSeat Belts

"TAKATA RECALL" THE CAR OVERHEAT, THE DASHBOARD SHOW SAFETY BELT MALFUNCTION, WHEN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL SOMETIMES JUMP, THE CAR SMELL GASOLINE ALL HE TIME, ALL THE TIME SHOW LOW LIMITS OF OIL BUT THE LEVEL OF OIL IS CORRECT.

NHTSA ODI #11081128

199,260 miles · Oct 22, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

I HAVE A 2006 BMW 530I (MAKE: 03/05). TWO DAYS BACK, WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (HIGHWAY), SUDDENLY THE MESSAGE, "PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION" CAME UP AND WHEN I RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS, I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2006 BMW 530I'S FOR THIS ISSUE (RECALL SUBJECT : FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT, NHTSA C…

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I HAVE A 2006 BMW 530I (MAKE: 03/05). TWO DAYS BACK, WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (HIGHWAY), SUDDENLY THE MESSAGE, "PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION" CAME UP AND WHEN I RESEARCHED ABOUT THIS, I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2006 BMW 530I'S FOR THIS ISSUE (RECALL SUBJECT : FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000) . BUT, WHEN I EMAILED BMW REGARDING THE ISSUE, THEY SAID MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL LIST. I AM NOT SURE WHY ALL THE CARS ARE NOT INCLUDED WHEN THEY ARE MADE IN SAME YEAR AND SAME MODEL. I AM ATTACHING THE SCREENSHOT OF THE EMAIL THAT BMW CUSTOMER CARE HAS SENT ME AND ALSO OF THE ERROR MESSAGE IN THE CAR. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY CAR NOW. SO, COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND RESOLVE THIS FOR ME. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR.....UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF UPDATED 05/21/18*JB

NHTSA ODI #10785458

9,827 miles · Jul 26, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. WHEN LIT, THOSE SYSTEMS ARE DEACTIVATED. BMW DEALER REPLACED OC3 MAT [RECALL] APPARENTLY TWICE. PROBLEM RECOCCURRED. DEALER REPLACED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE [RECALL]. PASS AIRBAG AND SEATBELTS HAVE ILLUMINATED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. DEALER BLAMED LOW …

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ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. WHEN LIT, THOSE SYSTEMS ARE DEACTIVATED. BMW DEALER REPLACED OC3 MAT [RECALL] APPARENTLY TWICE. PROBLEM RECOCCURRED. DEALER REPLACED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE [RECALL]. PASS AIRBAG AND SEATBELTS HAVE ILLUMINATED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. DEALER BLAMED LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE, WANTED TO SELL ME A BATTERY. I REFUSED. THEY TESTED WITH A "GOOD" BATTERY. DEALER NOW STATES SGM MODULE IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO CODE 93F9. IF THAT IS TRUE I BELIEVE THE SGM HAS BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH OC3 MAT AND BATTERY CABLE CAUSING FLUCTUATING VOLTAGE AND DAMAGE TO SGM, PROBABLY THE CAPACITOR THAT STORES ELECTRICITY. IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE FOR 93F9 FAULT CODE YOU WILL SEE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW.

NHTSA ODI #10743537

140,000 miles · Oct 31, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 12/30/13*CN

NHTSA ODI #10550350

60,000 miles · Aug 14, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts

MY VEHICLE, A 2006 BMW 530I SHOWED A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY MENU STATING THAT I HAD AN ISSUE WITH "THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM". IT STATED THAT IN THE EVEN OF AN ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE AS IT IS SAFETY RELATED. BMW TOOK CARE OF IT IN 2009, AND I RECALL THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATING THAT THE MA…

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MY VEHICLE, A 2006 BMW 530I SHOWED A MESSAGE ON THE DISPLAY MENU STATING THAT I HAD AN ISSUE WITH "THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM". IT STATED THAT IN THE EVEN OF AN ACCIDENT, MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS ISSUE AS IT IS SAFETY RELATED. BMW TOOK CARE OF IT IN 2009, AND I RECALL THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATING THAT THE MAT WAS "PATCHED UP", NEVER REPLACED. BUT DID MENTION THAT IF I HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS SYSTEM, THAT I HAD A 10YEAR WARRANTY WITH NO LIMIT ON MILES AS IT IS A SAFETY RECALL. TODAY, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE YET AGAIN. SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAS A SALVAGE TITLE, I HAVE NO WARRANTY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE INITIALLY, THEN DECLINE THE PROMISED WARRANTY (WHICH I HAVE A LETTER FOR). ANY HELP TO RESOLVE MY ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. BEST REGARDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535396

65,000 miles · Apr 11, 2013
Air BagsSeat Belts

MY 2006 BMW 530I HAS JUST EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG / SEATBELT SENSOR, AND I TOOK IT TO THE BMW OF STERLING SERVICE CENTER, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THIS IS EXACTLY THE CAUSE FOR THE AUGUST 5 2008 BMW RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000), AND AC…

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MY 2006 BMW 530I HAS JUST EXPERIENCED A MALFUNCTION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG / SEATBELT SENSOR, AND I TOOK IT TO THE BMW OF STERLING SERVICE CENTER, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THIS IS EXACTLY THE CAUSE FOR THE AUGUST 5 2008 BMW RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000), AND ACCORDING TO THE RECALL DESCRIPTION, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, BMW OF STERLING TOLD ME THAT MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE RECALL DATABASE. I HOPE THIS IS NOT A SCAM THAT BMW OF STERLING (VIRGINIA) IS RUNNING, AS THEY ASKED FOR $1400 TO REPLACE THE SENSE, THAN AFTER ONE MORE DAYS THEY SAID THEY CONTACTED BMW WHICH AGREED TO PAY 50% OF THE BILL. I REFUSED THE OFFER, AS IT SEEMS LIKE A SCAM TO ME. WHY MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL, WHICH STATES THAT ALL MY 2004-2006 BMW 5-SERIES (LIKE MINE) ARE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE, AND THAT BMW WILL EVEN OFFER A 10-YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS EXACT SENSOR? IS BMW ONLY RECALLING SELECTIVE CARS, AND NOT ALL OF THEM, TO SAVE SOME EXTRA MONEY????? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10506002

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.