BMW 5-SERIES · model year

2006 BMW 5-SERIES

125 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006BMW5-SERIES carries 125 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2006 5-SERIES is air bags with 21 filings, followed by electrical system (18) and air bags:frontal (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2006 5-SERIES. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

125
Complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

125 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM18
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL13
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
ENGINE6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
VISIBILITY4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
TIRES3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
SERVICE BRAKES3
SEATS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2

Recent Complaints

20190524SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY WHEN APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,932. *DT

Mileage: 104,932

20190524ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY WHEN APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,932. *DT

Mileage: 104,932

20170918AIR BAGS

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THOUGH NOT IN PREVIOUS RECALLS IN SIMILAR BMWS AND SIMILAR YEARS, THE ERROR PRESENTED A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS AND INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH. WITH THIS ERROR, I WAS FORCED TO REPAIR THE SEAT MAT AND EXPENDED $1.5K TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SEAT MAT ISSUE IS A KNOWN BMW PROBLEM THAT BMW AND NHTSA HAVE NOT ADDRESSED. VIN: [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 74,000

20170508ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NAVIGATION DISPLAY REBOOTS CONSTANTLY. WORKS PERIODICALLY. THIS DISPLAY GIVES ME ACCESS TO ALL OF THE CARS FEATURES INCLUDING WARNINGS AND MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE VEHICLE. IF THE DISPLAY WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS ON IT MAY NOT WORK IF YOU TURN OFF THE CARD AND TURN IT BACK ON.

Mileage: 200,000

20170508UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NAVIGATION DISPLAY REBOOTS CONSTANTLY. WORKS PERIODICALLY. THIS DISPLAY GIVES ME ACCESS TO ALL OF THE CARS FEATURES INCLUDING WARNINGS AND MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE VEHICLE. IF THE DISPLAY WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS ON IT MAY NOT WORK IF YOU TURN OFF THE CARD AND TURN IT BACK ON.

Mileage: 200,000

20170420ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HEAD LIGHTS ANGLE LIGHTS WIRES GETTING VERY DRY FROM THE HEAT OF THE LIGHT AND THE INSULATION COMING OFF THE OPTICAL WIRES, LIGHTS GO OUT, POSSIBLE SHORTING AND BECOME VERY UNSAFE.

Mileage: 140,000

20170420EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHTS ANGLE LIGHTS WIRES GETTING VERY DRY FROM THE HEAT OF THE LIGHT AND THE INSULATION COMING OFF THE OPTICAL WIRES, LIGHTS GO OUT, POSSIBLE SHORTING AND BECOME VERY UNSAFE.

Mileage: 140,000

20170105AIR BAGS

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED CASING THE SEAT TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENSOR REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT MY CAR, AND 2 OF MY FRIENDS CARS WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, MY FRIENDS WERE CHARGED BY THE DEALERSHIP. MY ENGINE LEAKS OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING SMOKE IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ON EVERY BM I HAVE EVER OWNED THE RADIATOR LEAKS FLUID WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.

Mileage: 69,000

20170105ENGINE

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED CASING THE SEAT TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENSOR REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT MY CAR, AND 2 OF MY FRIENDS CARS WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, MY FRIENDS WERE CHARGED BY THE DEALERSHIP. MY ENGINE LEAKS OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING SMOKE IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ON EVERY BM I HAVE EVER OWNED THE RADIATOR LEAKS FLUID WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.

Mileage: 69,000

20170105SEATS

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED CASING THE SEAT TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENSOR REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT MY CAR, AND 2 OF MY FRIENDS CARS WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, MY FRIENDS WERE CHARGED BY THE DEALERSHIP. MY ENGINE LEAKS OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING SMOKE IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ON EVERY BM I HAVE EVER OWNED THE RADIATOR LEAKS FLUID WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.

Mileage: 69,000

20160313AIR BAGS

MY PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO FOR APPARENT REASON AND STAY ON EVER SINCE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SOME CARS WERE ON THE RECALL AND SOME WERE NOT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL BMWS AND A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURE.

Mileage: 80,000

20150729STEERING

STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION LOCKS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE TO START STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 100,000

20150729ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTION LOCKS PREVENTING THE VEHICLE TO START STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 100,000

20150729ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AIR CONDITIONING STOP WORK CAUSING MOTOR TO HEAT

Mileage: 103,000

20150729ENGINE

AIR CONDITIONING STOP WORK CAUSING MOTOR TO HEAT

Mileage: 103,000

20150214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A MESSAGE ON THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SCREEN INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT-SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO REPLACE THE BULB AND FOUND THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING TO THE TOUCH, RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS NOT ACTUALLY BURNED OUT. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE BMW FORUMS BUT BMW AND THE HEADLIGHT MANUFACTURER, HELLA, REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 138,570

20150214EXTERIOR LIGHTING

A MESSAGE ON THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SCREEN INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT-SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS MALFUNCTIONING. I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO REPLACE THE BULB AND FOUND THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRUMBLING TO THE TOUCH, RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS NOT ACTUALLY BURNED OUT. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THE BMW FORUMS BUT BMW AND THE HEADLIGHT MANUFACTURER, HELLA, REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 138,570

20150121ENGINE

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

Mileage: 120,000

20141118AIR BAGS

MY CAR IS NOT ON THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST BUT I HAVE HAD THIS ERROR FOR AWHILE NOW & IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE AIRBAG ISSUE (NOT SURE IF MY CAR HAS A TEKATA.) THE MESSAGE COMES UP ON THE SCREEN- PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM- FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. I ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE ERROR. *TR

20141020SERVICE BRAKES

A LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM,CAUSING A VACUUM LOSS AND CONSEQUENT REDUCTION OF POWER BRAKING ASSISTANCE. MECHANICAL BRAKING IS STILL AVAILABLE TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

Compare 2006BMW5-SERIES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 BMW 5-SERIES have?
The 2006 BMW 5-SERIES has 125 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW 5-SERIES?
The most-complained component for the 2006 BMW 5-SERIES is AIR BAGS with 21 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 2006 BMW 5-SERIES safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.