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2006 BMW 530XI

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

78 reports with mileage · 13 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 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports6 fire reports1 injury reports

Seats complaints

7 reports
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130,000 miles · Nov 12, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

MY COMPUTER IS SHOWING : PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. I CALLED THE BMW RECALL SYSTEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER, I FOUND BMW RECALL OF THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR E60 (MY MODEL CAR) CAN YOU HELP AND CONTACT THE BMW RECALL CENTER. THEY NEED TO EXPAND THEIR RECALL. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A C…

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MY COMPUTER IS SHOWING : PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. I CALLED THE BMW RECALL SYSTEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER, I FOUND BMW RECALL OF THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FOR E60 (MY MODEL CAR) CAN YOU HELP AND CONTACT THE BMW RECALL CENTER. THEY NEED TO EXPAND THEIR RECALL. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE A CAR WITH FAILED PASSENGER RESTRAINED SYSTEM. I DID SUBMIT THE INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT RECALL IN ATTACHMENT

NHTSA ODI #11151009

Mileage unknown · Dec 20, 2017
Air BagsSeats

RE: RECALL 17V-XXX FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT B65 10 17. LAST JULY 2017 MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG/SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND CAUSE WAS FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. . IT WAS REPLACED AT THE CHARLOTTESVILLE BMW DEALER ON JULY 18 2017 FOR $867.05. YET THIS 2006 MODEL IS SPECIFIC…

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RE: RECALL 17V-XXX FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT B65 10 17. LAST JULY 2017 MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG/SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND CAUSE WAS FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT. . IT WAS REPLACED AT THE CHARLOTTESVILLE BMW DEALER ON JULY 18 2017 FOR $867.05. YET THIS 2006 MODEL IS SPECIFICALLY THE MODEL WITH THE DEFECT AND IN THE RECALL. MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING THAT I AM ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AS OBVIOUSLY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED, SINCE THIS IS THE SPECIFIC DEFECT FOR WHICH THE RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, AND THIS IS THE SPECIFIC YEAR AND MODE BMW WHICH HAS THE DEFECT APPEARING. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI #11055820

132,000 miles · Sep 9, 2016
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats

WHEN MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED, DURING STARTUP THE CAR CHIMES WITH AN ERROR "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM" "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER" "CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT" (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY) BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ODDLY MY VIN IS NOT …

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WHEN MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED, DURING STARTUP THE CAR CHIMES WITH AN ERROR "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM" "FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER" "CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT" (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY) BMW HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT ODDLY MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE GROUP INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI #10905118

135,000 miles · Jun 29, 2016
Seats

WE NOTICED A WARNING ON OUR DASHBOARD IN JANUARY 2016. BEING THAT WE ARE SENIORS, IT WAS MID- WINTER AND THE AUTO DEALERSHIP WE GO TO IS MANY MILES AWAY, WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DRIVE TO SEE WHAT THE LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN WE FINALLY DID, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE. " RECALL HAD EXPIRED " AND TO FIX THE SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WO…

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WE NOTICED A WARNING ON OUR DASHBOARD IN JANUARY 2016. BEING THAT WE ARE SENIORS, IT WAS MID- WINTER AND THE AUTO DEALERSHIP WE GO TO IS MANY MILES AWAY, WE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DRIVE TO SEE WHAT THE LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN WE FINALLY DID, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE. " RECALL HAD EXPIRED " AND TO FIX THE SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD COST WELL OVER $3,000??? IF THERE WAS A " RECALL", SHOULD WE NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED? NOW WE ARE TOLD THE "RECALL HAS EXPIRED" AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT HAS A FAULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #10881388

212,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015
Seats

THE HEATED SEATS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED BURNING A HOLE AND MAKING A LARGE BROWN AREA ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THIS SEAT WILL BURN YOU IF LEFT ON THE HIGH SETTING AND HAS A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL. I AM AFRAID THAT USING IT AGAIN AFTER IT BURNED THIS HOLE WILL CAUSE A FULL SCALE FIRE. NOT VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A LUXURY CAR THAT YOU CAN…

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THE HEATED SEATS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED BURNING A HOLE AND MAKING A LARGE BROWN AREA ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT. THIS SEAT WILL BURN YOU IF LEFT ON THE HIGH SETTING AND HAS A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL. I AM AFRAID THAT USING IT AGAIN AFTER IT BURNED THIS HOLE WILL CAUSE A FULL SCALE FIRE. NOT VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A LUXURY CAR THAT YOU CAN'T USE ONE OF THE LUXURIES OF BECAUSE OF A SERIOUS DANGER. THESE WERE MY FIRST HEATED SEATS EVER AND MAY BE MY LAST, VERY SCARY!

NHTSA ODI #10817292

75,901 miles · Jun 13, 2013
Air BagsSeats

THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT AND NON FUNCTIONAL , WAS TOLD THERE IS NO OPEN ISSUE/RECALL , DEALER REFUSES TO FIX AND I AM NOT SPENDING 1200.00 TO FIX A ISSUE THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I NEED YOU TO CONTACT ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED. [XXX]THANK YOU INFORMATION…

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THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT AND NON FUNCTIONAL , WAS TOLD THERE IS NO OPEN ISSUE/RECALL , DEALER REFUSES TO FIX AND I AM NOT SPENDING 1200.00 TO FIX A ISSUE THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I NEED YOU TO CONTACT ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED. [XXX]THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519732

95,000 miles · Jan 17, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeats

BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TH…

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BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCES: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY SAY MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL, HOWEVER I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I AM WORRIED ABOUT PASSENGER SAFETY! PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493295

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.