2006 BMW 525I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 525I years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 BMW 525I. That ranks 2nd out of 15 525I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (44 complaints, 57%), typically at around 97,750 miles. Complaints mention 4 fires, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 77owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 BMW 525I problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 44 | 57% | 97,750 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 10% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 9% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 9% | 87,250 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 6% | 78,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 4% | 199,863 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% | 135,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 4% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 4% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 3% | 78,500 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 3% | 141,750 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | 36,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 3% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 3% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 3% | 124,000 | — | — |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 188,318 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 1% | 92,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 BMW 525I recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:crankcase (pcv)
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion to recall 17V-683.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, she noticed the odor of burning plastic. The contact…
I received a notice in the mail stating that my vehicle with the matching Vin had a recall for the pc value heater. And that it causes the vehicle to over heat and catch fire I contacted the dealership and manufacturer and I was told that there was no remedy available as I started experiencing…
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525i. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and added coolant in the vehicle. The contact then continued to drive. The contact stated…
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525I. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer where it was both diagnosed that the vehicle was leaking fuel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PASSPORT BMW (4730 AUTH PL, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, MD 20746, [redacted]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A BOLT TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
Other BMW 525I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 525I | 72 | 2 |
| 2006 | 77 | 3 |
| 2005 525I | 35 | 0 |
| 2004 525I | 84 | 0 |
| 2003 525I | 32 | 2 |
| 2002 525I | 29 | 4 |
| 2001 525I | 22 | 4 |
| 2000 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 525I | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 525I | 24 | 3 |
See all BMW 525I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2006 BMW 525I badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW 525I?
Owners most often report air bags, service brakes, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 44 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2006 BMW 525I?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2006 BMW 525I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 525I model years, the 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.