Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
125–50K
550–75K
475–100K
9100–150K
2150K+
22 reports with mileage · 5 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 6 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 reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reports
60,000 miles · Dec 14, 2012
Air Bags
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR HAS FAILED, LEAVING AIRBAG IN PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATED STATE. THIS DEFECT WAS PREVIOUSLY SUBJECT OF RECALL IN OTHER VEHICLES IN SAME MODEL YEAR, BUT NOT PARTICULAR MONTH OF MANUFACTURE OF MINE ACCORDING TO VIN. HAVE REPORTED TO BMW DEALER AND BMW NA; CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT BMW NA INITIALLY INDICATED…
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PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR HAS FAILED, LEAVING AIRBAG IN PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATED STATE. THIS DEFECT WAS PREVIOUSLY SUBJECT OF RECALL IN OTHER VEHICLES IN SAME MODEL YEAR, BUT NOT PARTICULAR MONTH OF MANUFACTURE OF MINE ACCORDING TO VIN. HAVE REPORTED TO BMW DEALER AND BMW NA; CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT AT BMW NA INITIALLY INDICATED THEY MIGHT COVER IT BUT THEN REQUEST WAS DENIED BY MANAGEMENT. I HAVE REQUESTED THEY SIMPLY DEACTIVATE THE SENSOR AND LEAVE THE AIRBAG ON, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO BE A LOW-COST REPAIR. THEY HAVE STATED THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE IN DOING SO. THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE SENSOR IS TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY COST FOR AIRBAG REPLACEMENT AFTER AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CLEAR DESIGN DEFECT: IF THE SENSOR FAILS, THE AIRBAG SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE ACTIVE CONDITION, NOT A DISABLED CONDITION. THE DEALER IS REQUESTING $1276 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE SEAT SENSOR. BMW KNOWS THEY ARE MAKING MONEY OFF THIS REPAIR AND HAS NO INCENTIVE TO FIND A LOW COST REPAIR THAT WOULD SAVE LIVES. SOFTWARE DEACTIVATION OF THE SENSOR WOULD INCREASE SAFETY SINCE SOME WILL BE UNABLE TO AFFORD A REPAIR OF THIS EXPENSE AND DRIVING WITHOUT A PASSENGER SIDE SRS PUTS OCCUPANTS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK. I AM A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND I HAVE NOTIFIED BMW NA OF THIS AND IF BMW CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO PROVIDE A LOW-COST REPAIR FOR THIS CONDITION I WILL BE WILLING TO TESTIFY AT TRIAL ATTESTING TO THE FACT THAT BMW WAS INFORMED OF THIS ISSUE AND ADVISED OF THEIR POSSIBLE LIABILITY IF ANYONE HAS AN ACCIDENT IN A 2006 X5 AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN INCREASED PASSENGER INJURY; CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10488843
59,862 miles · Nov 28, 2012
Air Bags
THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT FAILED SO THE AIRBAGS LIGHT STAYED ON AS WELL AS THE FASTEN SEATBELT. TRANSPORT CANADA ISSUED A RECALL # 2008307 AUG. 26, 2008 CONFIRMING THE PROBLEM AND THAT"THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT WILL BE GRANTEDA WARRANTY EXTENSION OF 10 YEARS" BMW WILL NOT HONOR THIS. I HAD TO ENTER WASHINGTON STATE …
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THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT FAILED SO THE AIRBAGS LIGHT STAYED ON AS WELL AS THE FASTEN SEATBELT. TRANSPORT CANADA ISSUED A RECALL # 2008307 AUG. 26, 2008 CONFIRMING THE PROBLEM AND THAT"THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT WILL BE GRANTEDA WARRANTY EXTENSION OF 10 YEARS" BMW WILL NOT HONOR THIS. I HAD TO ENTER WASHINGTON STATE AS CANADA IS NOT LISTED. CITY IS SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, V4A8C1. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10486353
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TAIL LIGHTS ASSEMBLY (SOCKETS) ON BOTH SIDES BURNS AND MELTS EASILY CAUSING BULBS TO DIE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10468360
68,166 miles · Mar 10, 2012
Air Bags
I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, I CALLED BMW AND THEY SCHEDULED ME FOR A APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND SHOWED THAT THE FRONT SEAT MAT WAS FAULTY. I PAID $1400 TO HAVE IT FIXED. FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON…
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I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, I CALLED BMW AND THEY SCHEDULED ME FOR A APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND SHOWED THAT THE FRONT SEAT MAT WAS FAULTY. I PAID $1400 TO HAVE IT FIXED. FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN WHICH MEANS THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY WHEN IT'S NEEDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451073
54,000 miles · Feb 24, 2011
Air Bags
MY 2006 X5 BMW 4.4I HAS RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WHICH FAILS TO IDENTIFY A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THUS DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10384286
41,200 miles · Jan 11, 2010
SeatsInjury
2006 BMW X5. SEAT HEATER TURNED ON. SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER IN CABIN. SMOKE. BURN TO DRIVER BACK LEG. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298940
86,730 miles · Jan 6, 2009
SeatsFire
I'VE RECENTLY (LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO), PURCHASED A 2006 BMW X5 WITH HEATED SEATS. JUST THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 30F, I TURN ON THE HEATED SEATS TO THE NUMBER II POSITION AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I START SEEING SMOKE/STEAM RISING UP FROM MY PELVIC AREA. I COULD SMELL IT WAS ALMOST …
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I'VE RECENTLY (LESS THAN 24 HOURS AGO), PURCHASED A 2006 BMW X5 WITH HEATED SEATS. JUST THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 30F, I TURN ON THE HEATED SEATS TO THE NUMBER II POSITION AND AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES, I START SEEING SMOKE/STEAM RISING UP FROM MY PELVIC AREA. I COULD SMELL IT WAS ALMOST LIKE PLASTIC BURNING. I TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEATS AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND AFTER INSPECTION, THE LOWER SEAT LEFT SIDE BOLSTER HAD A BURN MARK IN IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. ALTHOUGH THE CAR COMES WITH ONLY A 90DAY/3000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY FROM THE PURCHASING DEALER, I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED THEM ABOUT IT BUT I CERTAINLY PLAN TO BUT WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY WILL DENY COVERAGE FOR ANY REPAIRS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253933
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1
EA08001 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination
Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Dec 31, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
2006 BMW X5 Sav Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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