repaired · 2015 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
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.
2006 BMW X5Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 169 owner complaints about the 2006 BMW X5, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 13V-564 the manufacturer reports only 45% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 BMW X5 has problems
169 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
83Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
25Seats12 crash/fire/injury
21Service brakes1 crash/fire/injury
20Electrical system6 crash/fire/injury
8Seat belts
7Engine and engine cooling
7Engine
7Power train
6Service brakes, hydraulic
2713 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 83 | 2 |
| Seats | 25 | 12 |
| Service brakes | 21 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 20 | 6 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 0 |
| Engine | 7 | 2 |
| Power train | 7 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 6 | 1 |
| 13 other systems | 27 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2006 BMW X5 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
70kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 60 air bags complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles47under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other X5 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the X5 median. How we score
'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2006 BMW X5 safety ratings
2006 BMW X5 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 BMW X5, and the recalls they led to.
- BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONLed to recall 08V-384
In owners' words
What X5 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I have recently received a message from my city’s social media page stating that bmw vehicles 17-22 years or older with over 99,000 miles have had complaints of default airbags exploding which are injuring/killing people out of nowhere and was told to get it changed at no cost at all!.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated that he initially received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V384000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the recall repair was performed. Three years later, with the passenger’s side front seat unoccupied, the passenger’s…
This car has relatively few miles (85k), and has always been operated by a single person. The passenger seat cushion has a sensor mat that activates the passenger airbag. With relatively fewer miles and very few passengers, the passenger seat didn't experience the normal use as likely modeled by…
Own a 2006 X5?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.