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2006 BMW M5

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

38 reports with mileage · 1 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
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40,000 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY CAR HAD A SMELL OF BURNING OIL SO I STOPPED, AS I STOPPED MY CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. I LOST OIL ALL DOWN THE STREET AND MY DRIVEWAY, AFTER,I STOPPED MY CAR AND PUSHED IT INTO MY GARAGE AND I SAW WERE IT WAS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR SO I TOOK OFF THE UNDER PANEL AND SAW A …

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I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY CAR HAD A SMELL OF BURNING OIL SO I STOPPED, AS I STOPPED MY CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE HOOD. I LOST OIL ALL DOWN THE STREET AND MY DRIVEWAY, AFTER,I STOPPED MY CAR AND PUSHED IT INTO MY GARAGE AND I SAW WERE IT WAS DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR SO I TOOK OFF THE UNDER PANEL AND SAW A HOLE IN THE PRESSURE HOSE(VANOS PRESSURE HOSE ASSEMBLY). THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL WHEN THE CAR FIRST CAME OUT ON THE LINES BUT MY CAR WAS A MONTH OUT OF THE RECALL RANGE. MY CAR IS AN 06 WITH JUST AT 40K MILES...THE CAR IS USED BY THE WAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532435

90,000 miles · Nov 30, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIME COMPLAINING ABOUT IDLING AND ENGINE KNOCKING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE GAS, AND THE CHANGE OF WEATHER CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY FINALLY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE PARTS IN THE ENGINE, BUT I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM LATER, AND MY NEIGHBOR NOTICE IT AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED S…

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AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIME COMPLAINING ABOUT IDLING AND ENGINE KNOCKING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE GAS, AND THE CHANGE OF WEATHER CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY FINALLY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE PARTS IN THE ENGINE, BUT I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM LATER, AND MY NEIGHBOR NOTICE IT AS WELL. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR STARTED SMOKING AND THE OIL SPILL TO THE HIGHWAY. AFTER HAVING THE CAR EXAMINED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BEARING ON THE ROD WAS LOOSED AND HAD CAUSED THE ROD TO BREAK AND TORE THE ENGINE APART. I CONTACTED THE COSTUMER RELATION OF BMW HEADQUARTER AND THEY GAVE ME EVERY EXCUSE WHY THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I WAS ADVISED BY THE SHOP THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND IT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED BY THE DEALERSHIP, ETC. I NEED ADVICE AND I AM CONSIDERING GETTING LEGAL ADVICE. I REFUSE TO PAY $25K FOR ANOTHER ENGINE ON A CAR THAT CAUSED ME $100K AND ENGINE BLOWN SO QUICKLY. BMW KNOWS THAT THIS A PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO CORRECT IT. *KB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437852

Official recalls

1

12V126000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Mar 26, 2012

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.

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.