Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2006 BMW X5. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Front Seat Occupant Protection Mat Defect
- Summary
- 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
- 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.
PARK PAWL GUIDE PLATE
- Summary
- CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (195)
195 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 195 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 98 | 50.3% |
| Service brakes | 35 | 17.9% |
| Seats | 31 | 15.9% |
| Electrical system | 22 | 11.3% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 4.6% |
| Engine | 7 | 3.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 3.6% |
| Power train | 7 | 3.6% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 3.1% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 2.6% |
How 2006 compares with other X5 years
Best and worst X5 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 102 | 4 |
| 2003 | 100 | 4 |
| 2004 | 64 | 5 |
| 2005 | 82 | 2 |
| 2006 | 195 | 2 |
| 2007 | 130 | 13 |
| 2008 | 235 | 13 |
| 2009 | 157 | 16 |
| 2010 | 143 | 19 |
| 2011 | 287 | 17 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 16 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $5,150
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 555 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 16 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 / 20 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 19 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 20 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
| 4.8 L 8-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 20 / 16 | $5,150 | 555 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2006 X5 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2006 BMW X5 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW X5 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 13V564000 (air bag), 05V504000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2006 BMW X5 problems?
Owners filed 195 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (98), Service brakes (35), Seats (31) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2006 BMW X5 get?
EPA rates the 3 L 6-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 13 city, 20 highway and 16 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2006 X5 compare with other years?
Among the 2002–2011 BMW X5 model years at least five years old, the 2004 drew the fewest complaints (64) and the 2011 the most (287). The 2006 drew 195. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.