134 complaints reported

2006 BMW 5 Series Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
134
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
4

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Aug 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jul 2013
Jul 2013

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 5 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
May 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 5 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2013
Apr 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 5 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2010
Apr 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Apr 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Mar 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2013
Mar 2013

I HAVE RECEIVED A WARNING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY 2004-2006 BMW 5-SERIES FOR THIS ISSUE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 08V384000), HOWEVER I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
Mar 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Mar 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2013
Feb 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, INDICATING THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2012
Feb 2013

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2013
Jan 2013

THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 THE DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COSTS TO ME AND BMW NORTH AMERICA SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2013
Jan 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY DURING A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2010
Jan 2013

WHILE DRIVING ALONE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ABOVE THE PASSENGER SEAT WENT OFF INDICATING THE AIRBAG WAS ON, BUT NO ONE WAS RIDING WITH ME. ALSO, THE SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ALARM SOUNDED BUT NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. AFTER PICKING UP A FRIEND, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHTS WERE GONE UNTIL I HAD DROVE ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS BEGAN TO ACT UP AGAIN. I CALLED BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE AIRBAG RECALL AND I COULD GET THE REPAIRS DONE AND SAVE MY BMW DEALER RECEIPTS IN CASE ONE DAY IT WOULD BE COVERED. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $1200 SO MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: May 2012
Dec 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Nov 2012
Dec 2012

THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS DEFECTIVE. MY CAR IS TWO MONTHS OUTSIDE THE EXISTING RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 530XI, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2012
Nov 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGOSITIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Sep 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL ). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,500.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012
Jul 2012

THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT MAT FOR THE AIRBAG FAILED. BMW HAS BULLETIN SIB 65 75 06, AIRBAG WARNING LAMP FOR OC3 SEAT MAT FAULT, THAT COVERS MY CARS BUILD DATE, BUT BMW STATES MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. THERE IS ALSO A CURRENT RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V-384, BUT BMW STATES MY CAR IS NOT COVERED AND REFUSES TO HONOR THE 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE, AS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL BMW DEALERS, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO COVER IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING MANY CARS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL. THEY ARE MANY PEOPLE POSTING ON VARIOUS BMW FORUMS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX ALL THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 5 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Jul 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACRT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL); HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Jun 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525. WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION SENSOR MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 7/11/12 *CN ADDED VIN. 07/12/12. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Jun 2012

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE AIRBAG WAS DISABLED, ALTHOUGH THERE IS PASSENGER SITTING THERE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 5 SERIES, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Oct 2010
May 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAIN SYSTEM BELT TENSIONER AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) AND DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,300.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2006 BMW 525I, Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2006 BMW 5 Series has 134 Air Bags complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.