NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 BMW 5 Series. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC BUT WOULD NOT RESTART DUE TO A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL LOCK SENSOR. (ELV) WHEEL WAS TURNED AND WOULD NOT MOVE DUE TO THIS ELECTRONIC LOCKING CONTROL SENSOR. BMW REFUSES TO FIX AS A RECALL OR SAFETY ISSUE. $1000 FOR NEW PART. *TR
IN THE EARLIER PART OF THE YEAR, I NOTICED THE BATTERY CABLE (LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF MY CAR) WAS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH AND BEGAN CHARRING. I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE I READ OF OTHER CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE (ARTICLE IN CONSUMER REPORTS, THE NEW YORK TIMES AND MSNBC.COM. EACH ARTICLE STATED BMW WOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND MY CONSULTANT TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THAT ISSUE WITH MY CAR. ON, 9/14/14 THE CAR STARTED GIVING ELECTRONIC ERRORS AND ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT ON THE INTERSTATE AND WE WERE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO BMW OF NASHVILLE'S SERVICE CENTER ON 9/14/14 AND WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE CHARGES TO REPLACE THE CABLES AND THEY KNOW IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT EFFECTED MILLIONS OF CARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT MALFUNCTION. ALARM LIGHTS UP ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AS WELL AS THE IDRIVE SERVICE SECTION. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALERS ARE ASKING FOR $400 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THE ISSUE IS COMMON BUT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. BMW USA CANNOT HELP AS THEY WANT AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS AND STANDS BY THEIR POSITION THAT MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL OR WHAT EVER TERM THEY LIKE TO USE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AND DIAGNOSED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN TO ORDER REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PARTS DELAY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAG). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
BOUGHT FROM MANAGER AT BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT W/89,920 ON 10/25/13. 2 OVERHEATED BROKE DOWN ON 11/29/13 ON JANUARY 7 RARELY PARK IN DRIVEWAY, PULL UP ON DRIVEWAY WITH AN INCLINE AT MY HOME. CAR WAS PLACED IN PARK BUT SORTA DID NOT CATCH GEAR RIGHT, FELT A ROLLBACK SO I ENGAGED MY E-BRAKE. DID NOT WANT TO RELEASE KEY, SO I GET STUFF AT HOUSE AND RESUMED INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, CAR DID NOT START. SO I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE OUT OF PARK, TO NO AVAIL, THEN AFTER OFF AND ON ATTEMPTS IT CHANGED GEARS. SCREEN SAID GEAR CHANGE WITHOUT BRAKE POSSIBLE. TOOK IT IN THEY SAID HAD TO REPLACE GUIDE PLATE AND SOLENOID FOR 1250.00 I HAVE 4 KIDS AND A WIFE I LOVE, WE ARE ALWAYS IN VEHICLE, I FEEL MY FAMILIES SAFETY IS VIOLATED FOR BEING EXPOSED TO A POTENTIAL DANGEROUS EPISODE. DID RESEARCH PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE HAS RECALL. EXACT TO MY PROBLEM DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES IT BUT CLAIMS THAT MY CAR AIN'T BECAUSE RECALLS ON V8 MODELS. ONLY HAD CAR FOR SHORT TIME FRAME. FEEL SCAMMED, PAID 14600 W/ TAXES FROM BANK LOAN AND NOW I'M STUCK WITH A LEMON! HELP!!??
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V56400 (AIR BAG); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING AND REAR LIGHT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR WERE ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE INTIAL RECALL. UPDATED 8/28/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAIN AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,661.
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL STATING THE SENSOR MAT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE IN JANUARY 2014 AND THE AIRBAGS DO NOT WORK. THE EXPECTED DATE FOR REPAIRS WOULD BE MARCH 2014. CALLED IN MARCH AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AND IT WOULD BE MAY 2014. CALLED ON MAY23RD AND WAS INSURED THEY HAD A SOLUTION AND RECALL FOR REPAIRS WERE BEING SENT OUT BY MAY 31ST, 2014. CALLED AGAIN ON JUNE 13, 2014 AND AM NOW TOLD THEY STILL HAVE NO SOLUTION AND ARE HOPING FOR JULY OR AUGUST OF 2014. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE JANUARY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT WITH BMW AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS NOT A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING CORRECTED. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THE HEAT ON HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR IN THE SEATS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
I OWN BMW 530XI ,I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG , LIGHT STILL ON ALL TIME . I CHECKED IN THE WEB SIDE BMW HAVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ,BUT I CONTACT BMW ASK ME FOR THE VIN # ,I GIVING ALL NUMBER, BUT LATER THEY SAID TO ME MY CAR NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHY MY CAR NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT PAID $ 1000, FOR THIS.... LET'S BMW DO THIS... THANKS... *TR
I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD AN OIL LEAK, RADIATOR LEAK, DEVELOPED AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, TAR IS ACCUMULATING ON TOP OF THE SUNROOF EVERY TIME I OPEN IT, THE HEATER FAN MAKES NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISE AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS IT IS STILL LEAKING OIL. ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO OWN BMW'S HAVE ALSO HAD AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONS. NONE WERE PART OF THE RECALL, ALL PAID $1,300.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. BMW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THEM. THE PURPOSE OF RECALLING SOME IS TO AVOID A TOTAL RECALL. THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR CARS WITH INFERIOR PARTS SO THAT THEY DO NOT LAST FOR MORE THAN 60,0000 BEFORE MAJOR PROBLEMS OCCUR. ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAS SPENT OVER $10,000 ON REPAIRS TO HIS 2004 X3. *JS
I BOUGHT A USED BMW FROM LONG ISLAND AUTO FIND. BEFORE PICKING IT UP I TOLD NICK CERTAIN THINGS NEEDED TO BE DONE THERE WAS A DRAFTY SOUND COMING FROM THE MOON ROOF THE CENTER RIMS WERE CORRODED, BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE VALVE COVER. I WAS CALLED THREE DAYS IN A ROW BY NICK WHO CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS DONE AND THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN I GOT THE RE NOT ONLY WAS THE BATTERY DEAD, NOTHING ON MY LIST WAS DONE! I HAVE SINCE HAD THE CAR 5 MONTH AND I HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 WEEKS SO FAR. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK THAT CAUSED MY EYES TO WATER AND LEAVES A FUNNY TASTE IN MY MOUTH. THIS TOOK THREE DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO FIX. THE CAR MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT 65 MPH. THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE TAKING MY WIFE TO WORK. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP IT DID IT ON THE MECHANIC BUT HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HE SAID IT WAS SAFE TO TAKE TO FLORIDA WHICH IS THE REASON I BOUGHT IT. IT STALLED IN FLORIDA WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION THEN AGAIN IN DELAWARE AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING AND 13 DEGREES! AND AGAIN ON THE BQE AS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC MERGED INTO ONE.I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR THEY WERE CHARGED $1300 TO FIX THE "AIR BAG MALFUNCTION"EVERYONE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I AM TOLD THE GASKETS BECOME BRITTLE AND LEAK. ALL OF THESE ISSUE'S SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. *TR
THE CAR WAS GOING AT 20MPH ON A RAINY DAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO SPIN, AFTER A COUPLE OF 360 DEGREE TURN IT HIT A POLE AND CAME TO A HALT. AIRBAGS AND SIDE CURTAIN BAGS DEPLOYED WITH DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED INTO PIECES. DRIVER HAS A MINOR INJURY TO RIGHT HAND. *TR
BMW OVER-TORQUED THE FOUR CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS ON ALL N52 ENGINES DURING MANUFACTURE, INCLUDING MY CAR. THE BOLT HEADS ARE POPPING OFF ON ALL THE CARS, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AT SPEED AND MINIMALLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. THE ISSUE IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN HOW BMW BUILT THESE ENGINES (AFFECTING MANY, MANY 5 SERIES CARS) BUT IS TAKING ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE OR ANYTHING OWNER-RELATED -- IT'S PURELY A MISTAKE BY BMW THAT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND TO COVER REPAIR COSTS. THEY CORRECTED THE SPECS THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND DON'T TORQUE THE BOLTS AS MUCH, BUT ARE LEAVING PREVIOUS OWNERS OUT TO DRY FOR SOME $3000-5000 IN REPAIR COSTS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE BMW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND TO RETRO-ACTIVELY REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THIS MISTAKE OF THEIRS. THANKS. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HARSH 2-1 SHIFT DOWN TO STOP. THIS HAPPENS AT 5 MPH AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR. SOMETIMES IT IS MILD SOMETIMES IT IS VERY ROUGH AS TO MOVE YOU AND YOUR HEAD IN THE SEAT, AS IF ANOTHER CAR TAPPED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR. SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP. I SEE REFERENCE TO THIS PHENOMENON ALL OVER THE WEB BUT WHEN I APPROACHED A BMW SERVICE WRITER AND EXPLAINED THIS TO HIM, HE WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE WAS EVEN AWARE OF IT. HE WOULD ONLY SAY THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT MY CAR BUT THEIR POLICY IS THAT THEY DO NOT REPAIR TRANSMISSIONS, THEY ONLY REPLACE THEM. SO IF THERE IS ANY TRANSMISSION OPERATION OUT OF THE NORM, IT WILL BE DEEMED FOR REPLACEMENT. DID I STILL WANT THEM TO LOOK AT IT? A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR MY CAR IS $8,000.00 AND ALMOST ANOTHER $700.00 TO PROGRAM THE COMPUTER TO MATE THE NEW TRANSMISSION WITH THE CAR. BLUE BOOK ON MY CAR IS $9,000.00, THEREFORE YOU COULD SAY IT'S TOTALED! BMW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. WHEN I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN M+S MODE THE 2-1 SHIFT DOWN DOES NOT OCCUR BUT THERE ARE ROUGHER SHIFTS GOING UP THROUGH THE GEARS. EITHER WAY IT IS A TRADE OFF AND NEITHER IS A SATISFACTORY RESULT. *TR
MY BMW 525I JUST RECEIVED A PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAILURE ERROR. I SAW ONLINE WHERE THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS MATTER. YET, WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BMW USA, I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER.THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE HERE! THE LIVES OF MYSELF AND ANYONE I CARRY AS A PASSENGER RISK HARM. I ASK THAT THIS BE REVIEWED FOR IT IS A KNOWN FLAW WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] OR PHONE AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V564000(AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
IN AUGUST 2013, THE STATION WAGON APPEARED TO LOWER ITSELF IN THE REAR LITTLE BY LITTLE. AS OF THIS FILING, THE REAR END HAS LOWERED ITSELF TO THE POINT IT CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING AND THERE IS NO SHOCK ABSORPTION OR SUSPENSION ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT APPEARS TO BE FINE. IN JUNE 2006, THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS UNDER 06V-277 FOR 2006 BMW 5. 6 & 7 SERIES FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 5, 2006-APRIL 26, 2006. MY VEHICLE, PER BMW, WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 2005. I AM ALLEGING MY VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL IS IMPAIRED DUE TO THE DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHOCK ABSORBERS AND THE INCLUSIVE MANUFACTURING DATES SHOULD INCLUDE ALL 2006 BMWS. THE DEALER AND BMW IS NEGLECTING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BASED ON A TECHNICALITY ON THE INCLUSIVE MANUFACTURED DATES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AN EXPANSION TO THE INCLUSION. *TR
MY GIRLFRIEND GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY BMW AND AS I TOOK OFF, A WARNING CODE CAME OVER MY IDRIVE SCREEN STATING THAT MY PASSENGER RESTRAINT WAS CAUSING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION. I NOTICED AT THAT SAME TIME THAT MY AIRBAG AND RESTRAINT LIGHT WERE ON IN THE DASH BOARD. *TR
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT IN MY 530I 2006 BMW. THE ANGEL LIGHT BULB BURNED OUT AND WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE IT, THE WIRE COVERS STARTED TO COME OFF EXPOSING THE WIRES COMPLETELY. AFTER REPLACING THE BULB (WHICH WAS A BIT DIFFICULT TO DO), MOST OF THE WIRES IN THE HEADLIGHT HAD NO PROTECTION AND WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED. I HAD TO COVER THEM WITH ELECTRIC TAPE TO PREVENT SOME SHORTS, BUT MISSED A SECTION I GUESS, SINCE NOW THE COMPUTER IS GIVING ME A ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHT WARNING MESSAGE AND THE LIGHT IS NOT POINTING TO THE PROPER DIRECTION. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND THAT IT IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY SAID SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE MATERIAL USED TO COVER THESE WIRES IS NOT CORRECT, AS IT WILL BREAK OFF JUST BY LIGHTLY TOUCHING THEM. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN WHERE THERE MAY BE SHORT CIRCUITS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND IT WOULD AFFECTS THE CAR'S COMPUTERS. IN MY CASE, THE LIGHT CONTROL MODULE IS ALSO SHORTED AND MUST BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN OR NOT. I BELIEVE IT IS SPECIALLY ON A CAR STILL NEW. LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU. *JB
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
WARNING SENSOR FOR PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOT ACTIVE WOULD START SHOWING ON MY DASH AND UPPER CONSOLE LAST YEAR. RECEIVED LETTER IN JAN 2014 ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALL IN THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN 13V-564. TODAY IS MARCH 08,2014 AFTER BEING DIVERTED SEVERAL TIMES DURING PHONE CALLS, I DEMANDED IF THEY CAN REVIEW MY WARNINGS IN MY DASH BOARD BUT TO SCAN THE CAR FOR ANY PROBLEMS IT WOULD BE A CHARGED OF 140.00. FIELDS BMW AT WINTER PARK FL, SAID THAT IN ORDER FOR THE SERVICE TO BE FREE OF CHARGE, I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I GET THE LETTER THAT STATES A FORMAL RECALL NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED. I HAVE A FAMILY OF FOUR AND EVEN THOUGHT THE WARNING DOES NOT COME ON OFTEN, I STILL HAVE WORRIES THAT IF IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS OR THE SEAT BELT WON'T WORK. I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY TO USE MULTIPLE CARS WHERE EVER I GO WITH MY KIDS. I PURCHASED A SOUND CAR AND I WOULD LIKE THE PEACE OF MIND THAT THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS WILL PROTECT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER AND REAR SEATS AT TIME OF NEED. I AM AFRAID THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR A TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN BEFORE AN ACTUAL RECALL IS PERFORMED. *TR
MY VEHICLE MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR BMW RECALL 13V564 BUT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE PRODUCTION DATE IS 2 MONTHS OUTSIDE THE VIN RANGE BMW WILL NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT. ALL OTHER CRITERIA APPLY - MAKE, MODEL, YEAR, ETC. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT MAY FAIL, RESULTING IN RESULTING IN A DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM. A WARNING DISPLAY AND ISSUE WAS VERIFIED BY AN AUTHORIZED BMW REPAIR CENTER. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE. *TR
WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I RECEIVED AN ERROR MESSAGE ON MY COMPUTER DISPLAY. THE ERROR MESSAGE READ: "PASSENGER SEAT RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION", THEN A PICTURE OF MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH A LINE THROUGH IT. I CALLED BMW( MCKENNA, NORWALK, CA) ON 07/02/2013 AND THEY STATED PER MY VIN NUMBER THIS IS NOT A RECALL PART, YET MAYBE FOR SOME VEHICLES IT WAS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWING WATER TO PENETRATE THE CABIN, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
WHILE CHANGING MY OIL, NOTICE THAT OIL HAS BEEN SLOWLY LEAKING AROUND THE VALVE COVER. LOOKED ON ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I INSPECTED THE AREA WHERE THEY HAVE STATED COMMON BROKEN VALVE COVER BOLTS AND SURE ENOUGH THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN. THEY LITERALLY JUST SITTING IN THE VALVE COVER WITH NO PURPOSE. THEY CAME RIGHT OFF WHEN I PULLED THEM UP BY HAND. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKES FURIOUSLY UNTIL THE BRAKES RESPONDED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND MOTOR OIL INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE VACUUM PUMP. THE BRAKE BOOSTER, VACUUM PUMP AND VACUUM PIPE WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,300.
THE 2006 BMW 5 SERIES USED ALUMINUM HEAD AND VALVE COVER BOLTS WHICH WERE OVER-TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY AND BREAK AFTER APPROXIMATELY 80K. BMW ADMITS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. BMW'S REPAIR COST IS ~$6000. THESE BOLTS ARE NON SERVICEABLE AND SHOULD NEVER BE REMOVED, WHEN BROKEN THEY CAUSE MASSIVE OIL LEAKS AND POSSIBLY FIRE. I CONTACTED BMW, THEY REQUESTED TO REVIEW THE CAR. BMW AGREED THAT THE BOLTS WERE BROKEN THEN REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM CLAIMING THE CAR HAS TOO MANY MILES. BMW KNEW THE MILEAGE WHEN THEY REQUESTED TO REVIEW THE PROBLEM ... WHY WASTE MY TIME IF THEY KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO DO NOTHING? MY VEHICLE NOW LOSSES APPROXIMATELY 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL PER 100 MILES. I AM CHAGRINED THAT BMW WILL NOT ADMIT THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR WITH CARE AND OTHER THAN THE OIL LEAK FROM THE BROKEN BOLTS THE CAR IS IN PERFECT CONDITION - BUT IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE IGNITION, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 ( AIR BAGS); HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,500. ...UPDATED 07-24-13 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AS WELL. UPDATED 07/29/13
ON MAY 20 2013, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY 5 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER, SUDDENLY BRAKES WENT OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, HE FOUND OUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THE MECHANIC SAW A RECALL FOR BMW 5 SERIES 2004-2010 FOR BRAKE BOOSTER, HE PROCEEDED TO CALL BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY TOLD HIM MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE TOOK THE BRAKE BOOSTER OUT TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION DETAILS ARE OIL IN BRAKE BOOSTER. HE CHANGED IT, GAVE ME A BILL AND THE OLD PART, AND SHOWED ME THE OIL IN IT. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA USING THE NUMBER ON RECALL NO LUCK KEPT GETTING RECORDER WITH INFO EVERY TIME I PRESSED 0 AS INSTRUCTED TO TALK TO A PERSON I WOULD GET HANG UP ON. I FOUND OTHER NUMBERS ON THE WEB AND FINALLY ONE OF THE NUMBERS WORKED WHERE I TALKED TO A LIVE PERSON. AFTER 15 MINUTES OR SO, SAME ANSWER YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE MAKE MODEL YEAR AND THE PROBLEM FIT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION, ALL I RECEIVED WAS SORRY THIS IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR YOU VIN NOTHING WE CAN DO. *TR
MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE AIRBAG AND SAFETY RESTRAINT LIGHTS NEVER TURNED OFF. I LOOKED ON LINE AND SAW THERE WAS A RECALL THAT LISTED THIS YEARS MODEL NUMBER BUT AFTER CALLING BMW THEY SAID MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT LISTED IN THE AFFECTED NUMBERS. IT LOOKS LIKE BMW IS ONLY TRYING TO FIX A FEW CARS TO SAY THEY HAVE DONE SOMETHING BUT THIS PROBLEM IS IN ALL THEIR CARS MADE IN THAT YEAR. MY CAR HAS THE SPORTS SEATS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND SAFETY RESTRAINT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
UPON STARTING ENGINE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHTS APPEARED INDICATING AIR BAGS WOULD NOT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. PASSENGER SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME AND NO ITEMS WERE ON THE SEAT. DEALER RESET AND REPORTED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS DETECTED LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION TO THAT CIRCUIT. DEALER RESET. DEALER RECOMMENDED I PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY 10 DAYS LATER.DURING THE INTERVAL BETWEEN RESET AND NEW BATTERY THE LIGHTS DID NOT REAPPEAR. 9/2014 I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHTS APPEARED. SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME AND NO OBJECTS WERE ON THE SEAT. DEALER DIAGNOSED SAME AS ABOVE. AT TIME OF THIS INCIDENT BATTERY WAS 1.5 YEARS OLD. NO LIQUIDS HAVE EVER BEEN SPILLED ON SEAT. NO MOISTURE ON SEAT. MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS 23,900. DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAULT WARNING DID NOT APPEAR DURING EITHER INCIDENT. PRESUMABLY THAT CIRCUIT WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THE SAME LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION AS THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
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
CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY IN THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE ONBOARD SYSTEMS DETECTED A PASSANGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR. AT THE TIME THERE WAS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CODE DOES NOT WANT TO GO AWAY AND IT'S INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. *TR
HELLO NHTSA, RECALL REGARDING MY ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED / INVESTIGATED WITH BOTH NHTSA AND BMW. TO SUMMARIZE THE ISSUE IS ABOUT A "PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION" SPECIFICALLY THE OC3 SEAT SENSOR MAT FAULTY UNIT, WHICH CONTROLS THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS. WHEN FAULTY, THE AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED, WHICH RAISES A SAFETY CONCERN. I HAD CALLED BMW NA AND HAD MY VIN PULLED AND UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE UP UNTIL 11/2005, MY PARTICULAR MODEL WAS MADE 12/2005. I REQUESTED BMW NA TO OPEN UP AN INVESTIGATION FOR RE-CONSIDERATION TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE UNDER THERECALL LIST, CONSIDERING THE TIME FRAME OF CUTOFF DATE AND MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURED PRODUCTION DATE. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE HANDLED INTERNALLY WHICH IS FINE, HOWEVER SENSE CONSIDERATION WILL NOT BE EXTENDED AND WANTED TO REACH OUT TO NHTSA. MY QUESTION TO BMW NA WAS, "WHAT WERE THE ENHANCEMENTS MADE TO MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE IN IMPROVING SAFETY, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY DETAILS REGARDING THIS. WOULD YOU HAVE SOMETHING DOCUMENTED EXPLAINING THE SPECIFICS REPAIRS/ IMPROVEMENTS/ OR COMPONENT ENHANCEMENTS MADE FOR MODELS FOLLOWING AFTER 11/2005 CUT OFF DATE? *TR
MESSAGE APPEARS THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND REMINDED PASSENGER TO WEAR SEAT BELT UNTIL IT IS LOOKED INTO. ALSO A WARNING ABOUT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE ARE BOTH SAFETY ISSUES BUT BMW HAS BEEN OF NO HELP. *TR
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE, FAULT LIGHT HAS STARTED SHOWING ON MY BMW, THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL REPORTED ON THE SAME COMPONENT "STATEMENT ON VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS - AUGUST 13, 2008". I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING UP IN THE RECALL. DEALER SAYS ITS EXACTLY THE SAME PART BUT I AM NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. THIS IS A HUGH SAFETY ISSUE... *TR
SELF LEVELING COMPRESSOR STOPPED WORKING IN REAR OF CAR. SUSPENSION STAYED "ON" AND WASN'T ABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE LEVELING SYSTEM EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING THE CAR. MELTED/BURNT THROUGH WIRE HARNESS BECAUSE SUSPENSION LEVELING SYSTEM STAYED ON. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE E61 BMW SERIES. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND THE AIR COMPRESSOR UNIT FOR SUSPENSION, WIRE HARNESS KIT, ETC. ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR CAR TO BE SAFE AGAIN. UNLUCKILY WE WERE ON VACATION AND THE SELF LEVELING AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEM FOR SUSPENSION IS QUITE IMPORTANT FOR DRIVING SAFETY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.
I WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR YESTERDAY AND STARTED IT UP AND THEN I HAVE THIS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION APPEARS ON MY IDRIVE COMPUTER. I HAVEN'T CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AS OF YET SINCE I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE IN THESE CARS. THROUGH MY RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND THAT SOME DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IT AND SOME WON'T AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. I THINK THAT SINCE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IT SHOULD BE FIXED BY BMW WITH NO QUESTIONS SINCE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM HOPING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL CAMPAIGN THAT I'VE BRIEFLY READ ABOUT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CARS. *TR
NO ONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND FIRST THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A DAY LATER THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE SAME SEAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
THE MESSAGE OF "LEFT BACK-UP LIGHT MALFUNCTION" HAS BEEN COMES AND GOES SINCE THEN. IT IS THE EXACTLY PROBLEM DESCRIBED AS THE RECENT BMW RECALL. *TR
A PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN ON IN MY WIFE'S 2006 BMW 530I FOR THE PAST YEAR. DESPITE THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN (ACTION NUMBER EA08001 AND PE07045), BMW SAYS THIS CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A 2006 BMW 530I WITH THE SAME AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON. BMW WILL FIX MY PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT MY CAR HAS "COMFORT SEATS" WHILE MY WIFE'S CAR HAS "SPORTS SEATS." OBVIOUSLY, THE DEFECTIVE PART IS PRESENT ON BOTH VEHICLES AS WELL AS ON THE OTHER BMW MODELS AND YEARS IDENTIFIED IN YOUR RECALL CAMPAIGN. WHY DID YOUR RECALL STOP SHORT OF FIXING ALL PROBLEMS? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKES HAD NOT PROPERLY WORKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE APPLYING FORCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THREE REPAIR SHOPS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.