2006 BMW 550I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 550I years
- More complaints than other years 5th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 BMW 550I. That ranks 5th out of 12 550I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (13 complaints, 57%), typically at around 100,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 23owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 BMW 550I 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 | 13 | 57% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 13% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 9% | 118,882 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 9% | 120,790 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 9% | 99,525 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 9% | 162,025 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% | 142,764 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 4% | 195,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 BMW 550I recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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].
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain vehicles equipped with v8 engines, in conditions of below freezing temperatures combined with low humidity, it is possible for electrostatic discharge to occur at the fuel rails. If this were to occur, the engine electronic control unit (ecu) could be affected so that engine stalling could result.
Risk: If stalling were to occur, the driver may not be able to maintain vehicle speed or accelerate and the power steering could fail increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will attach two ground cables in the engine compartment free of charge. The recall began on october 29, 2007. Owners may contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Bmw airbag light illumination (EA08001) — opened Jan 4, 2008, closed Dec 31, 2008, led to recall 08V384000.
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 550I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front passengerâs side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was…
I was driving home and felt the car leaning to one side (passenger side) i drove slowly with hazard lights on made it home and checked under vehicle looked liked the bolt came off and bar connected to tire was dropped had it towed to shop and was told control arm needed to be replaced . Another…
Nexen tires n5000 plus sidewall on all tires are starting to crack and split with less than 30,000 miles and 24 months of use. Going to replace tires with another brand and remove these due to unsafe and potential catastrophic failure of tires coming apart or blowout at highway speeds..
Headlight wire insulation flaking off and wires are shorting causing headlight to go off. Wires short and arcing. The headlight went off while driving on highway at night.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS…
Other BMW 550I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 550I | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 550I | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 550I | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 550I | 6 | 2 |
| 2013 550I | 15 | 1 |
| 2012 550I | 35 | 2 |
| 2011 550I | 84 | 3 |
| 2010 550I | 11 | 1 |
| 2009 550I | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 550I | 32 | 2 |
| 2007 550I | 37 | 2 |
| 2006 | 23 | 3 |
See all BMW 550I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW 550I?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2006 BMW 550I?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2006 BMW 550I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 550I model years, the 2006 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.