2006 BMW X5 Sav problems
NHTSA has received 36 complaints about the 2006 BMW X5 Sav, and 50% of them involve air bags. Next are brakes (17%) and seats (17%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 36 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 50% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 100,000 miles 27 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%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 3 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 27 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 100,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 97,000 miles (14 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 1 injury reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the BMW X5 Sav with enough data (7 complaints in that window).
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.
I've recently (less than 24 hours ago), purchased a 2006 BMW x5 with heated seats. Just this morning on my way to work, with the outside temperature less than 30f, I turn on the heated seats to the number II position and after about 5 minutes, I start seeing smoke/steam rising up from my pelvic area. I could smell it was almost like plastic burning. I turned off the heated seats and pulled over immediately and after inspection, the lower seat left side bolster had a burn mark in it. I couldn't believe it.
The power braking system has stopped work ,brake pedal goes to the floor and will not stop the vehicle ,I see that BMW has a recall on the 2007 x5 made the same year and model with the v8 engine, I am a member on my forms and there are hundreds of BMW x5 with the same problem, and some people have had accidents because of the braking system suddenly not working , I had my BMW x5 at the BMW shop and they diagnose was the vacuum pump has failed , vacuum tube is leaking and the brake booster has failed also.
My 2006 x5 BMW 4.4I has recently experienced a failure in the passenger side airbag sensor which fails to identify a passenger in the front passenger seat and thus does not activate the passenger side airbag.
Production date 03/2006 front passenger seat occupant detection mat malfunction. Vehicle was brought to independent shop for code reading to verify that 'airbag light off' illuminated was triggered from seat sensor. Light stays illuminated (indicating airbag is off) with adult occupant on passenger seat,approximately less than 1,000-miles after, driver dash airbag light illuminated permanently also. Vehicle was purchased as a cpo. Airbag/seat sensor code began after cpo warranty expired.
I purchased a 2006 x5 4.4I (n62b44 engine)used with 138,000 miles. Went to leave driveway, car was in reverse, presses brakes to adjust mirrors, let off to keep backing out, had to press again for another adjustment, I looked up and I was driving through the bushes in my front yard. Brakes were pushed but not engaging. I thought that to be odd, so I wanted to run to a certified BMW repair facility. I was in traffic going about 40 and had to utilize the breaks again, the car stopped.