2006 BMW 5 Series Airbags Problems

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THOUGH NOT IN PREVIOUS RECALLS IN SIMILAR BMWS AND SIMILAR YEARS, THE ERROR PRESENTED A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS AND INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY DURING A CRASH. WITH THIS ERROR, I WAS FORCED TO REPAIR THE SEAT MAT AND EXPENDED $1.5K TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS SEAT MAT ISSUE IS A KNOWN BMW PROBLEM THAT BMW AND NHTSA HAVE NOT ADDRESSED. VIN: [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11024085

Incident

Jun 21, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED CASING THE SEAT TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND SENSOR REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BUT MY CAR, AND 2 OF MY FRIENDS CARS WERE NOT INCLUDED ON THE RECALL, MY FRIENDS WERE CHARGED BY THE DEALERSHIP. MY ENGINE LEAKS OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING SMOKE IN THE CAB AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. ON EVERY BM I HAVE EVER OWNED THE RADIATOR LEAKS FLUID WHICH IS ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10939903

Incident

Feb 26, 2014

Mileage

69,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10846358

Incident

Jan 12, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

MY CAR IS NOT ON THE AIRBAG RECALL LIST BUT I HAVE HAD THIS ERROR FOR AWHILE NOW & IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE AIRBAG ISSUE (NOT SURE IF MY CAR HAS A TEKATA.) THE MESSAGE COMES UP ON THE SCREEN- PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM- FAULT IN PASSENGER-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR THE SAFETY BELT. I ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE ERROR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659076

Incident

Nov 18, 2014

I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD AN OIL LEAK, RADIATOR LEAK, DEVELOPED AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION, THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, TAR IS ACCUMULATING ON TOP OF THE SUNROOF EVERY TIME I OPEN IT, THE HEATER FAN MAKES NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION MAKES NOISE AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS IT IS STILL LEAKING OIL. ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO OWN BMW'S HAVE ALSO HAD AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONS. NONE WERE PART OF THE RECALL, ALL PAID $1,300.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. BMW SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THEM. THE PURPOSE OF RECALLING SOME IS TO AVOID A TOTAL RECALL. THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR CARS WITH INFERIOR PARTS SO THAT THEY DO NOT LAST FOR MORE THAN 60,0000 BEFORE MAJOR PROBLEMS OCCUR. ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAS SPENT OVER $10,000 ON REPAIRS TO HIS 2004 X3. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585739

Incident

Nov 16, 2013

Mileage

69,000 mi

I BOUGHT A USED BMW FROM LONG ISLAND AUTO FIND. BEFORE PICKING IT UP I TOLD NICK CERTAIN THINGS NEEDED TO BE DONE THERE WAS A DRAFTY SOUND COMING FROM THE MOON ROOF THE CENTER RIMS WERE CORRODED, BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE VALVE COVER. I WAS CALLED THREE DAYS IN A ROW BY NICK WHO CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS DONE AND THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN I GOT THE RE NOT ONLY WAS THE BATTERY DEAD, NOTHING ON MY LIST WAS DONE! I HAVE SINCE HAD THE CAR 5 MONTH AND I HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 WEEKS SO FAR. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK THAT CAUSED MY EYES TO WATER AND LEAVES A FUNNY TASTE IN MY MOUTH. THIS TOOK THREE DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO FIX. THE CAR MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT 65 MPH. THE CAR JUST DIED WHILE TAKING MY WIFE TO WORK. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP IT DID IT ON THE MECHANIC BUT HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. HE SAID IT WAS SAFE TO TAKE TO FLORIDA WHICH IS THE REASON I BOUGHT IT. IT STALLED IN FLORIDA WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION THEN AGAIN IN DELAWARE AT 3:30 IN THE MORNING AND 13 DEGREES! AND AGAIN ON THE BQE AS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC MERGED INTO ONE.I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR THEY WERE CHARGED $1300 TO FIX THE "AIR BAG MALFUNCTION"EVERYONE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. I AM TOLD THE GASKETS BECOME BRITTLE AND LEAK. ALL OF THESE ISSUE'S SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573900

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

68,000 mi

ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR HAD AN ALERT COME ON THE I DRIVE SAYING THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS MALFUNCTIONING. IT STAYED ON A FEW MONTHS AND THEN WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS. NOW THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573050

Incident

Nov 26, 2012

Mileage

82,000 mi

I OWN BMW 530XI ,I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG , LIGHT STILL ON ALL TIME . I CHECKED IN THE WEB SIDE BMW HAVE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ,BUT I CONTACT BMW ASK ME FOR THE VIN # ,I GIVING ALL NUMBER, BUT LATER THEY SAID TO ME MY CAR NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHY MY CAR NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT PAID $ 1000, FOR THIS.... LET'S BMW DO THIS... THANKS... *TR

NHTSA ID

10554981

Incident

Nov 29, 2013

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10553064

Incident

Jan 18, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY BMW 525I JUST RECEIVED A PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAILURE ERROR. I SAW ONLINE WHERE THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS MATTER. YET, WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BMW USA, I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER.THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! MY FAMILY IS AT STAKE HERE! THE LIVES OF MYSELF AND ANYONE I CARRY AS A PASSENGER RISK HARM. I ASK THAT THIS BE REVIEWED FOR IT IS A KNOWN FLAW WITH THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] OR PHONE AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10542763

Incident

Sep 9, 2013

Mileage

142,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY, ALTHOUGH THE SEAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10509148

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10501933

Incident

Feb 25, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT MAT FOR THE AIRBAG FAILED. BMW HAS BULLETIN SIB 65 75 06, AIRBAG WARNING LAMP FOR OC3 SEAT MAT FAULT, THAT COVERS MY CARS BUILD DATE, BUT BMW STATES MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. THERE IS ALSO A CURRENT RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V-384, BUT BMW STATES MY CAR IS NOT COVERED AND REFUSES TO HONOR THE 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE, AS DIAGNOSED BY A LOCAL BMW DEALERS, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO COVER IT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS AFFECTING MANY CARS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL. THEY ARE MANY PEOPLE POSTING ON VARIOUS BMW FORUMS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FIX ALL THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487726

Incident

Nov 2, 2012

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON, AND THE AIRBAG WAS DISABLED, ALTHOUGH THERE IS PASSENGER SITTING THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487617

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE AIRBAG WARNING LAMP COMES ON PERIODICALLY. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT IT ONLY COVERED TO NOVEMBER 22 OF 2005 PRODUCTION AND MY CAR WAS PRODUCED IN DECEMBER OF 2005. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453189

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

20 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (COMPONENT: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10437729

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

Mileage

91,000 mi

ON MY BMW 2006 530I, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATING A RESTRAINT FAILURE. I SAW A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE (CAMPAIGN ID 08V384000) COVERING THE 2004- 2006 MODEL YEAR BMW 5 SERIES WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN MAY 2005. I CONTACTED BMW USA TO REPORT THE SAFETY FAILURE. BMW SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED AND HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. I ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN WHY IF MY VEHICLE, IS IN THE MIDDLE MODEL YEARS AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, WHY THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY. THEIR REPLY, BMW WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL, IT'S MY PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. PLEASE REVIEW THIS CAMPAIGN ID AND EXPAND OR ISSUE A NEW RECALL. BMW WOULD NOT HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING THIS SAFETY CONCERN, *TT

NHTSA ID

10427919

Incident

Sep 29, 2011

Mileage

72,000 mi

I CONTACTED BMW REGARDING A RECALL (ID # 08V384000) (ACTION # EA08001). THEY TOLD ME THAT MY 2006 BMW 525XI WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. YET, MY CAR EXHIBITS THE EXACT PROBLEMS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL. NAMELY, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. HOW IS IT THAT OTHER 2006 5 SERIES VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED AND MY CAR WAS NOT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10421379

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000, AIR BAGS FRONTAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 157,000.

NHTSA ID

10413683

Incident

Jul 19, 2011

Mileage

157,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10412831

Incident

Jul 4, 2011

Mileage

74,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAGS EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; THEREFORE, HE HAD TO PAY $1,800 FOR THE REPAIRS REGARDING NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000; AIR BAGS: FRONTAL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE NHTSA HOTLINE AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10410001

Incident

Jun 3, 2011

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THE MAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND EXPLAINED THAT A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO CAMPAIGN# 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL); BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10405344

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

57,000 mi

MY 2006 BMW 525I INDICATES A PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. THE DEALER REPORTS THE DIAGNOSIS CODE AS OC3 MAT FAULTED. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR IS $1,095.15. I DECLINED THE REPAIR. WHEN I ASKED FOR A WRITTEN ESTIMATE THEY ALSO SENT ME AN ESTIMATE FOR ANOTHER CUSTOMER'S 2005 BMW 525I/530 THAT HAD THE SAME FAULT, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH REPORTING TO SEE IF IT IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400654

Incident

May 11, 2011

Mileage

65,552 mi

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE ON LINE. I HAVE FOUND THAT BMW HAS A RECALL ON 2006 5 SERIES FOR A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THEY INSIST THAT THE RECALL IS NOT FOR ALL 5 SERIES, BUT IT IS VIN SENSITIVE. MEANWHILE I HAVE THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM ON MY 2006 530XI. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FILED AGAINST THEM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397158

Incident

Apr 22, 2011

Mileage

81,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS ONGOING FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000(AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/25/11

NHTSA ID

10395837

Incident

Dec 12, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi