BMW 7-SERIES · model year

2006 BMW 7-SERIES

42 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006BMW7-SERIES carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 7-SERIES is power train with 5 filings, followed by air bags (5) and electrical system (3). 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 1 investigation file overlapping the 2006 7-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.

42
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

42 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN5
AIR BAGS5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
ENGINE3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES2
SEATS2
TIRES1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM1
SUSPENSION1

Recent Complaints

20190624ENGINE

DOORS DONT ALWAYS LATCH AND A PERSON WAS THROWN FROM CAR, HAVE CALLED DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL BUT MY CAR IS DOING IT AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM , I NEED MY CAR ADDED TO RECALL LIST ASAP

Mileage: 10,200

20190624FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

DOORS DONT ALWAYS LATCH AND A PERSON WAS THROWN FROM CAR, HAVE CALLED DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL BUT MY CAR IS DOING IT AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM , I NEED MY CAR ADDED TO RECALL LIST ASAP

Mileage: 10,200

20190624UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DOORS DONT ALWAYS LATCH AND A PERSON WAS THROWN FROM CAR, HAVE CALLED DEALER SHIP AND THEY SAID NO RECALL BUT MY CAR IS DOING IT AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM , I NEED MY CAR ADDED TO RECALL LIST ASAP

Mileage: 10,200

20190318ENGINE

BLOWS OUT WHILE/BLUISH SMOKE, SHIFTS INTO PARK WHEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, WON'T GO FORWARD. TRANSMISSION FAULT LIGHT ON. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL IN IT. THERE IS NO REASON WHY I SHOULD BE HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS, I SEE THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE OR PURCHASED THIS SAME CAR HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TRULY BELIEVE BMW NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE PROBLEMS. IT'S TERRIBLE THAT ONE WOULD PAY SO MANY CH FOR A LUXURY CAR FOR IT TO HAVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 85,000

20180830SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKES HAVE NO POWER ALMOST HAD ACCIDENT RECALL #10V446000 WAS IN FREEWAY ALL SUDDEN LOST BRAKES LOOK ON LINE THIS WHAT I FOUND CALL MANUFACTURE DEALER THEY DENIED SERVICE

Mileage: 106,781

20170518AIR BAGS

I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER IN VIRGINIA. MAYBE A FEW WEEKS LATER THE AIRBAG WAARNING LIGHT CAME N THE SCREEN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT BECASUE WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO GET LOOKED AT BY A BMW REPAIR PERSON TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE SOLD ME THE CAR WITHOUT TELLING ME THAT INFORMATION. HE THEN TOLD ME IT IS THE ( SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR PASSENGER SIDE AND RESISTENCE TO HIGH FIRING CIRCUIT , BELT TENSIONER PASSENGER SIDE. HE SAID TO CALL BMW SO I DID AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL REPAIR TIME EXPIRE A YEAR BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR . NO ONE EVER SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH ME AND NOW IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE MY KIDS OR HUSBAND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.. BMW SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED THAT IF IT WAS NEVER DONE WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY SENT OUT THE NOTICE TO WHOM EVER HAD THE VEHICLE BEFORE. IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE FROM THE REALL KNOWING ITS A SAFELTY ISSUE THEN IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED UNTIL REPAIRED. IT I

20170518SEAT BELTS

I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER IN VIRGINIA. MAYBE A FEW WEEKS LATER THE AIRBAG WAARNING LIGHT CAME N THE SCREEN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT BECASUE WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO GET LOOKED AT BY A BMW REPAIR PERSON TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE SOLD ME THE CAR WITHOUT TELLING ME THAT INFORMATION. HE THEN TOLD ME IT IS THE ( SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR PASSENGER SIDE AND RESISTENCE TO HIGH FIRING CIRCUIT , BELT TENSIONER PASSENGER SIDE. HE SAID TO CALL BMW SO I DID AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL REPAIR TIME EXPIRE A YEAR BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR . NO ONE EVER SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH ME AND NOW IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE MY KIDS OR HUSBAND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.. BMW SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED THAT IF IT WAS NEVER DONE WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY SENT OUT THE NOTICE TO WHOM EVER HAD THE VEHICLE BEFORE. IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE FROM THE REALL KNOWING ITS A SAFELTY ISSUE THEN IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED UNTIL REPAIRED. IT I

20170518SEATS

I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A DEALER IN VIRGINIA. MAYBE A FEW WEEKS LATER THE AIRBAG WAARNING LIGHT CAME N THE SCREEN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT BECASUE WHEN I WENT TO TAKE IT TO GET LOOKED AT BY A BMW REPAIR PERSON TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SAME ISSUE AND THE DEALER SHOULD NOT HAVE SOLD ME THE CAR WITHOUT TELLING ME THAT INFORMATION. HE THEN TOLD ME IT IS THE ( SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR PASSENGER SIDE AND RESISTENCE TO HIGH FIRING CIRCUIT , BELT TENSIONER PASSENGER SIDE. HE SAID TO CALL BMW SO I DID AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL REPAIR TIME EXPIRE A YEAR BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR . NO ONE EVER SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH ME AND NOW IT IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE MY KIDS OR HUSBAND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.. BMW SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED THAT IF IT WAS NEVER DONE WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY SENT OUT THE NOTICE TO WHOM EVER HAD THE VEHICLE BEFORE. IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE FROM THE REALL KNOWING ITS A SAFELTY ISSUE THEN IT SHOULD BE EXTENDED UNTIL REPAIRED. IT I

20170402AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ISSUES, CAR WAS STATIONARY

Mileage: 103,000

20170307AIR BAGS

TROUBLE LIGHT SHOWS-- PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECTIVE SEAT MODULE SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. HIS COST OF REPAIR IS $1,200 WITH NO ASSURANCES THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED DUE TO THE TAKATA AIR BAG RESPONSE TO THIS SENSOR.

20170307SEATS

TROUBLE LIGHT SHOWS-- PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A DEFECTIVE SEAT MODULE SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. HIS COST OF REPAIR IS $1,200 WITH NO ASSURANCES THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED DUE TO THE TAKATA AIR BAG RESPONSE TO THIS SENSOR.

20160805SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD AND WENT TO THE FLOOR, JUST BARELY AVOIDING A CATASTROPHE. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER, AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MULTIPLE DEATH ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED BMW OF NA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I CLEARLY SHOULD BE, BECAUSE I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 66,000

20160303AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS ARE NOT FUNCTIONING IT POP UP ON MY CLUSTER WHEN I WAS STARTING UP MY VEHICLE FROM HOME. I RECIEVED A RECALL LETTER FROM NHTSA WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BMW DEALER IT WASNT ON THE SYSTEM SO THEY COULDNT REPLACE MY AIR BAGS FOR THE PASSANGER SIDE

20151117ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE FRONT LIGHT BULBS HAVE BLOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE TWICE. THE HARNESS WIRE CONNECTION IS FAULTY. ALSO THE DYNAMIC DRIVE INACTIVE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AFTER VEHICLE STOPS.

Mileage: 93,000

20151117POWER TRAIN

THE FRONT LIGHT BULBS HAVE BLOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE TWICE. THE HARNESS WIRE CONNECTION IS FAULTY. ALSO THE DYNAMIC DRIVE INACTIVE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AFTER VEHICLE STOPS.

Mileage: 93,000

20151117EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE FRONT LIGHT BULBS HAVE BLOWN ON THE LEFT SIDE TWICE. THE HARNESS WIRE CONNECTION IS FAULTY. ALSO THE DYNAMIC DRIVE INACTIVE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AFTER VEHICLE STOPS.

Mileage: 93,000

20150104POWER TRAIN

I HAD BEEN FEELING SOME POWERFUL HER KING WHEN I BEGUN TO STOP AND ACCELERATE A COUPLE TIMES.. AND THEN ONE DAY IT JUST STOP GOING INTO GEAR PERIOD. . *TR

Mileage: 109,891

20150104VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAD BEEN FEELING SOME POWERFUL HER KING WHEN I BEGUN TO STOP AND ACCELERATE A COUPLE TIMES.. AND THEN ONE DAY IT JUST STOP GOING INTO GEAR PERIOD. . *TR

Mileage: 109,891

20130613ENGINE

VEHICLE SMOKES AT IDLE AND AT TAKE OFF. *TR

20130609ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CRANK CASE VENT VALVE/BREATHER FAILURE AFTER LONG TRIPS, NO INDICATION OF THE FAILURE UNITL CAR GIVES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT USUALLY AFTER THE TRIP THE NEXT DAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO LATE PART FAILURE ALREADY CAUSES MOTOR ISSUES AFTER ISSUES (OIL LEAKS, BLOWN GASKETS AND SEALS, MISFIRE, ROUGH IDLE, VEHICLE STALLING) FROM THE PRESSURE ON THE ENGINE FROM THE FAILED COMPONENT (CRANK CASE VENT BREATHER/VALVE) AND HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CAUSE EXCESSIVE SMOKING FROM TAIL PIPE OR SIMULATIONS OF A FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

Compare 2006BMW7-SERIES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 BMW 7-SERIES have?
The 2006 BMW 7-SERIES has 42 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW 7-SERIES?
The most-complained component for the 2006 BMW 7-SERIES is POWER TRAIN with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2006 BMW 7-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.