2006 BMW 5 Series Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT WENT ON. THR DEALER , BMW OF CHARLOTTESVILLE REPLACED THE FAULTY PASSEBGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT AT A COST OF $867.05. I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM YOU AND YET MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT SHOW UP. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS TO ME? IT LOOKS LIKE I SHOULD BE COVERD GIVEN THE MODEL YEAR AND GIVEN THAT MY CAR CLEARLY HAD THE DEFECT. IT APPEARS MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AND THST BMW SHOULD REIMBURDE ME.
FAULT IN PASS RESTRAIN SYSTEM AFECTING AIRBAG BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER
I HAVE A 2006 BMW 525I AND RECEIVING PASS. RESTAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AFFECTING THE AIRBAG. THIS IS A PROBLEM BMW SHOULD SERVICE AS THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR THESE MALFUNCTIONS. IT IS DANGEROUS AND ITS RUINS THE INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE.
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND SUDDENLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IT IS RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN #13V564000. I CONTACTED BMW AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE AS MY SYMTOMS ARE THE SAME AS LISTED IN THE CAMPAIGN.
THE PASSENGER AIG BAG/SEAT BELT RESTRAINT ERROR AIR BACK WILL NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE IT THINKS THERE IS NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION AND AIRBAG FAULT SENSORS HAVE BECOME ACTIVATED. BMW CLAIM MY VIN IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXISTING RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND SUDDENLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS EXPIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO FOR APPARENT REASON AND STAY ON EVER SINCE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SOME CARS WERE ON THE RECALL AND SOME WERE NOT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL BMWS AND A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURE.
I WENT TO BMW OF NORTH HAVEN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CVANT DO NOTHING FOR ME CONCERNING THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM THEY TRICKED ME INTO GETTING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID IF IT WAS THAT THEY WOULD HELP ME REPLACE IT AFTER THE FOUND OUT IT WAS THE MAT THE DECLINED ON FIXING IT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND EFFECTS MOSTLY ALL BMW 530XI AND IT WAS REPLACED AFTER THE CAR WAS 4 YEARS OLD NOW IT HAS TO BE RPLACVED AGAIN AND BMW OF NORTH HAVEN IS TRYING TO CHARGE ME $1200 TO FIX AND ITS A RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTION ON HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS
FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WARMING ON I-DRIVE AND AIR BAD LIGHT LIT ON DASH. PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAILURE. FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAG,BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER.FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. ON 24-7. FROM THE MOMENT YOU START THE CAR TILL THE MOMENT YOU SHUT IT OFF.
PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAULTY, AIRBAG DISABLED. FAULTS ARE SHOWING, AND WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND BMW USA, BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE AN ISSUE BUT INSIST MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. THE VIN IS NOT ON THEIR ROSTER. BMW RECALLED 200,000 CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM, IN THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. I NOW HAVE THE ISSUE, AND IT IS A CLEAR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANY OF MY LOVED ONES WHO MIGHT RIDE IN THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MAT REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ; UPDATED 04/30/18*JB
AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPATION MAT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
PASSENGER AIRBAG FAULTS HAS SHOWN UP ON MY 2006 BMW 525I. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IT SHOWS UP. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED WITH THIS FAULT AND WILL NOT PROTECT PASSENGER IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. FIRST TIME, I HAD TO FIX IT MYSELF BECAUSE MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE SENT BY BMW. NOW IT IS HAPPENING FOR THE 2ND TIME. I HAD IT CHECK AT A SERVICE STATION AND IT IS BECAUSE OF ANOTHER ISSUE IN THE SAME SYSTEM. EACH REPAIR COSTS APPROX. $1000. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS.
GOT AN ERROR CODE SAYING - "FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER." IT SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS RECALLS SURROUNDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I CALLED BMW OF NORTH HAVEN CT THEY SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THIS. *TR
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT HAS STARTED SHOWING ON MY BMW, THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL REPORTED ON THE SAME COMPONENT "STATEMENT ON VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS - AUGUST 13, 2008". I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING UP IN THE RECALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER AND DEALER SAYS ITS EXACTLY THE SAME PART BUT I AM NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAG). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 550I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO AN ANIMAL, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE NECK AND RIGHT WRIST FROM THE AIR BAG CHEMICALS. THE CONTACT ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
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Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2006 BMW 5 Series has 134 Air Bags complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.