IllustrationNTSB: 2006-2015 BMW DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN MODEL YEARS. *BF THE CONTACT HAS COMPLAINED DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. *AS
2006 BMW 1 Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 1 Series years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 1 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE DOOR CHIME ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME, LOOKED IN THE TRUNK, AND NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FILLED WITH WATER. THE SUN ROOF LEAKED WATER ONTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 1 SERIES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE DOOR CHIME ACTIVATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME, LOOKED IN THE TRUNK, AND NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FILLED WITH WATER. THE SUN ROOF LEAKED WATER ONTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
AUTO LOCKS FAIL. SEVERE DANGER. LOCKED INSIDE OF CAR. *TR
THE RED FAILURE SYMBOL HAS LIT UP ON MY CAR WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND A LOCK. APPARENTLY THIS SYMBOL MEANS THERE'S AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT IT SHOULD BE LOCKED UP AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT START. BUT MY CAR STARTS ANYWAY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE…
Read full complaint
THE RED FAILURE SYMBOL HAS LIT UP ON MY CAR WITH A STEERING WHEEL AND A LOCK. APPARENTLY THIS SYMBOL MEANS THERE'S AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT IT SHOULD BE LOCKED UP AND THE ENGINE SHOULD NOT START. BUT MY CAR STARTS ANYWAY. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I ASKED WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS PART BE DEFECTIVE, AND THEY SAID WITH TIME AND USE. BUT THE CAR ONLY HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT! THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM LIES EITHER WITH THE SENSOR ON THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN (FAULTY SENSOR), OR IN THE SOFTWARE ITSELF. EITHER WAY, CONSIDERING HOW OFTEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN BMWS WITH LOW MILEAGE, SUCH A PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAID OUT OF POCKET BY THE CUSTOMER. *TR
A RELATIVE OF MINE OWNS A 2006, BMW, X5, 3.0I. I WAS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD ABOUT, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, A CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY RELATIVE ENTERED THE VEHICLE, STARTED IT, TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT TURN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR …
Read full complaint
A RELATIVE OF MINE OWNS A 2006, BMW, X5, 3.0I. I WAS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD ABOUT, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, A CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY RELATIVE ENTERED THE VEHICLE, STARTED IT, TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE TIRES DID NOT TURN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR (THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY). THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED MY RELATIVE THAT A "BOLT" HAD BROKEN IN THE STEERING MECHANISM; THIS PREVENTED THE WHEELS FROM TURNING. MY RELATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER PRODUCED ANY PAPERWORK DOCUMENTING THE VEHICLE REPAIR. THIS PEEKED MY CURIOSITY, SINCE I AM A FEDERAL AGENT. SHOULD THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR AGENCY? IF MY RELATIVE HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE, IT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.