NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
168 reports55,800 miles · Aug 11, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
1. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IN 2006 BMW X5 ON 8/1/10. 2. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, ON INSPECTION THEY FOUND "BOTH FRONT AXLE -CV BOOTS SPLIT AND SPRAYING GREASE ON BRAKE CALIPERS". THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TO BMW STANDARD 3. ON 8/11/10 THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT- THE BRAKES WAS SLUGGISH AND DID NOT …
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1. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IN 2006 BMW X5 ON 8/1/10. 2. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, ON INSPECTION THEY FOUND "BOTH FRONT AXLE -CV BOOTS SPLIT AND SPRAYING GREASE ON BRAKE CALIPERS". THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TO BMW STANDARD 3. ON 8/11/10 THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT- THE BRAKES WAS SLUGGISH AND DID NOT RESPOND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348854
18,000 miles · Jul 8, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WE HAVE A 2006 BMW X5 THAT WE HAVE HAD 5 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED FOR WARPING. WHEN THE ROTORS WARP YOU GET A SEVER SHAKE IN THE FRONT END WITH HIGH SPEED BRAKING THAT MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY CONFIRMED THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE BUT SAID …
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WE HAVE A 2006 BMW X5 THAT WE HAVE HAD 5 SETS OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS REPLACED FOR WARPING. WHEN THE ROTORS WARP YOU GET A SEVER SHAKE IN THE FRONT END WITH HIGH SPEED BRAKING THAT MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY CONFIRMED THEY KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE BUT SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY WILL ONLY OFFER A 2 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE ROTOR SO IT WILL NOT COST THE CUSTOMER TO REPLACE IT. THESE PARTS FAIL AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES. MY WIFE HAS ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY DUE TO THIS ISSUE. IT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10342051
51,000 miles · May 17, 2010
SeatsInjury
WE OWN A 2006 BMW X5. WITHIN THE LAST WEEK WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON, THE LEFT SIDE OF HE SEAT HEATED UP ALMOST INSTANTLY, AND BURNS THE LEFT THIGH AND BUTTOCKS AREA OF THE DRIVER. MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A 3 INCH BURN ON MAY 15,2010. FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS I WAS AWARE THAT AN AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BURNIN…
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WE OWN A 2006 BMW X5. WITHIN THE LAST WEEK WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WARMER WAS TURNED ON, THE LEFT SIDE OF HE SEAT HEATED UP ALMOST INSTANTLY, AND BURNS THE LEFT THIGH AND BUTTOCKS AREA OF THE DRIVER. MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A 3 INCH BURN ON MAY 15,2010. FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THIS I WAS AWARE THAT AN AREA OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BURNING ME, AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE WARMER OFF. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON OUR CAR IN DECEMBER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330857
51,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Seat BeltsVehicle Speed Control
1) CRUISE WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACTION WHEN LESS THEN 15 MPH--- AND YOU HAVE TO BE IN ACCELERATE TO ENGAGE CRUISE- CAUSES PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL ZONE. ESPECIALLY TO SET THE CRUISE AT 19MPH IS A CHALLENGE. 2) SEAT BELT WARNING EVEN AFTER I HAVE THE SEAT BELT ON. AND THE BEEP COMES AFTER I DRIVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS ...SO I HAVE TO TAKE OFF T…
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1) CRUISE WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACTION WHEN LESS THEN 15 MPH--- AND YOU HAVE TO BE IN ACCELERATE TO ENGAGE CRUISE- CAUSES PROBLEMS IN SCHOOL ZONE. ESPECIALLY TO SET THE CRUISE AT 19MPH IS A CHALLENGE. 2) SEAT BELT WARNING EVEN AFTER I HAVE THE SEAT BELT ON. AND THE BEEP COMES AFTER I DRIVE ABOUT 2 BLOCKS ...SO I HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE BELT AND PUT IT BACK ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10313610
12,476 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Service Brakes, ElectricCrash
TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB IN A PARKING LOT AND HIT THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURI…
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TL* THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OF ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB IN A PARKING LOT AND HIT THE WALL OF A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. IN NOVEMBER 2007, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE HIT A WOODEN POLE IN ANOTHER PARKING LOT. THERE WAS ANOTHER REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER CITED THE BRAKES AS THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURES DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND GAVE HIM THE VEHICLE BACK WITH NO REPAIRS MADE. THE CONTACT THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR A NEWER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME THE CONTACT SOLD THE VEHICLE WAS 14,776. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,476.
NHTSA ODI #10310913
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2010
Air Bags
DEFECT IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301894
65,000 miles · Jan 13, 2010
Structure
SHATTERING OR EXPLODING SUNROOFS ON BMW VEHICLES. UPON DOING MY ON-LINE RESEARCH, IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT ON SEVERAL MODELS OF BMW VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE X-5, A LARGE NUMBER OF SUNROOFS HAVE SHATTERED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IN THE CASE OF THE VEHICLE OWNED BY MY FIRM, THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED, THERE WERE NO CON…
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SHATTERING OR EXPLODING SUNROOFS ON BMW VEHICLES. UPON DOING MY ON-LINE RESEARCH, IT HAS BECOME APPARENT THAT ON SEVERAL MODELS OF BMW VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE X-5, A LARGE NUMBER OF SUNROOFS HAVE SHATTERED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IN THE CASE OF THE VEHICLE OWNED BY MY FIRM, THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED, THERE WERE NO CONSTRUCTION TRUCKS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE NOR ANY OVERPASSES WITHIN MILES OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SHATTERED. IN THIS INSTANCE, THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHO WITNESSED THE SCENE AND RENDERED ASSISTANCE TO THE DRIVER. DESPITE THE ABUNDANCE OF GLASS IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE, NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY INJURED BY THE FLYING GLASS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10299649
66,000 miles · Apr 17, 2009
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CHIME SENSOR WAS INOPER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM CHIME SENSOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
NHTSA ODI #10265739
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2009
Child Seat
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE SUNSHINE KIDS MONTEREY BOOSTER SEAT MODEL NO. US15000 (WHICH IS NOT LISTED UNDER MAKE AND MODEL CHOICES). THE RED SHOULDER BELT GUIDE HAS A SLOT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE BOTTOM WHERE YOU THREAD THE BELT THROUGH (UNLIKE MANY OTHER BOOSTER SEATS THAT HAVE A SLOT ON THE BACK THROUGH WHICH TO THREAD THE S…
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THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE SUNSHINE KIDS MONTEREY BOOSTER SEAT MODEL NO. US15000 (WHICH IS NOT LISTED UNDER MAKE AND MODEL CHOICES). THE RED SHOULDER BELT GUIDE HAS A SLOT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE BOTTOM WHERE YOU THREAD THE BELT THROUGH (UNLIKE MANY OTHER BOOSTER SEATS THAT HAVE A SLOT ON THE BACK THROUGH WHICH TO THREAD THE SEAT BELT) AND THE SHOULDER BELT OFTEN GETS FOLDED AND STUCK IN THE SLOT, MAKING THE SHOULDER BELT LOOSE IF THE CHILD LEANS FORWARD AND THEN SITS BACK. I OFTEN HAVE TO TELL MY CHILD TO PULL THE BELT TIGHT SINCE IT DOES NOT MOVE FREELY THROUGH THE GUIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10263813
50,000 miles · Dec 31, 2008
Parking BrakeService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
THIS IS ABOUT A LEASED 2006 BMW X5. I WAS PARKING THE CAR, & HAD APPLIED THE FOOTBRAKE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I FLOORED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN, BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, SO I APPLIED THE HANDBRAKE & STILL IT DID NOT STOP. IT CRASHED THROUGH SOME BUSHES, OVER A CONCRETE SIDEWALK & INTO THE STREET WHICH LUCKILY HAD NO…
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THIS IS ABOUT A LEASED 2006 BMW X5. I WAS PARKING THE CAR, & HAD APPLIED THE FOOTBRAKE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I FLOORED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN, BUT THE CAR DID NOT STOP, SO I APPLIED THE HANDBRAKE & STILL IT DID NOT STOP. IT CRASHED THROUGH SOME BUSHES, OVER A CONCRETE SIDEWALK & INTO THE STREET WHICH LUCKILY HAD NO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO SLAM THE GEARSHIFT INTO REVERSE & TURNED OFF THE IGNITION TO STOP THE CAR WHILE AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE LANE MARKERS IN THE ROAD. VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THAT HOUR. I RESTARTED THE CAR, PUT IT INTO REVERSE GEAR & BACKED OVER THE SAME PATH & INTO THE PARKING LOT & PULLED THE HANDBRAKE & TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I CALLED BRAMAN BMW OF W. PALM BEACH TO TOW THE CAR AWAY SINCE I WAS UNWILLING TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE. THEIR HEAD MECHANIC,PRIOR TO INSPECTING THE CAR, DURING A 3-WAY PHONE CALL WITH ME & JOE OF BRAMAN BMW IN W. PALM BEACH, STATED THAT HE CONCLUDED (BEFORE HE EVER LOOKED AT THE CAR) THAT I WAS AT FAULT & THAT I MUST HAVE MISTAKENLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THEY CALLED ME ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, SAID THEY TEST DROVE IT & FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL BMW'S NATIONAL OFFICE & GET BACK TO ME. SO FAR I HAVE HAD NO CALL BACK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253353
Official recalls
2Nov 12, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: 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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Nov 1, 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗