Vehicle Data Hub

2006 BMW M5 problems

The 2006 BMW M5 has 55 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (47%) concerns air bags. After that come seat belts (13%) and engine (9%).

At a glance

Complaints
55 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Air bags 47% of complaints
Crashes and fires
3 and 0
Injuries and deaths
3 and 0
Typical mileage
62,000 miles 54 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Air bags 47%
  • Seat belts 13%
  • Engine 9%
  • Drivetrain & axles 7%
  • Electrical system 5%
  • Seats 5%
  • Transmission 4%
  • Cruise control 2%
  • Fuel system 2%
  • Lighting 2%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2006 BMW M5 Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 62,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 4 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 6 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 15 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 16 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 10 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 3 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 62,000 miles
Based on 54 complaints that include mileage. 46% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles4
20k to 40k miles6
40k to 60k miles15
60k to 80k miles16
80k to 100k miles10
100k to 120k miles3
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 54 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 62,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 63,000 miles (25 complaints with mileage).

Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported.

It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

For about a 1.5 months, I have been having major issues with smg. In the morning on startup. I put the car in reverse, it shows (r). I step on the gas and it revs and doesn't do anything. You then hear a loud clunk and it pops back to neutral. Same thing with drive in which there is a huge delay even when it shows 1. Extremely scary when you have traffic coming up behind you and you can't get into gear.

Reported at 6,300 miles, December 2006

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 BMW m5. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrumental panel in february 2011. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who informed the contact that the passenger occupancy sensor had failed and in the event of a crash, the air bags would not deploy. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised him that the his vehicle was not included in any recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

Reported at 77,000 miles, February 2011

There is a message reading passenger restraint system malfunction. I found out it is the seat sensor in the seat that turns the airbag on and off when someone is sitting in the seat, so the airbag is always off regardless if someone is on the seat or not. I know there was a recall with a bunch of other 2006 5 series but the dealer is saying mine is not included. I believe the 2006 m5 should also be included in the recall if it is having the same issue as the other vehicles in the recall.

Reported at 52,000 miles, December 2010

This error appears on the console every time I turn on the vehicle; exact error message is : pass. Restraint system , affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt-force limiter. Continue to wear the safety belt. The passenger air bag passenger light is permanently on both the display console and dashboard. Took in for service at braman BMW dealership in miami on 9/20/2010 but the repair was rejected under the current recall (air bag seat sensor mat involving of 8/13/2008).

Reported at 54,000 miles, September 2010

The vehicle warning system displayed a passenger restraint fault which disables the passenger air bag deployment. The problem was initially intermittent, but within one week is now permanently displayed. A diagnostic scan by my dealer indicates a fault with the passenger seat occupancy sensor(s). This same problem resulted in a recall for other models/years, but apparently not this one for some reason. The dealer quoted $2500 for the required repair/replacement.

Reported at 110,000 miles, June 2014

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