RoadVitals

2006 BMW 525XI Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Mar 29, 2023
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 24, 2012

What this page shows

Our database holds 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 BMW 525XI. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 28 · page 1 of 2

Electrical
Filed Mar 29, 2023
Fire reported

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525xi. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the contact smelled the odor of burning coming from the vehicle, and the contact noticed smoke coming from the trunk of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and notice that smoking was coming from the battery. The contact was able to stop the smoke. The vehicle would not restart, and the vehicle was towed to the contact's home. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 154,000.

NHTSA ID
11514500
Incident
Mar 26, 2023
Mileage
154,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 4, 2023

PCV issue UNKNOWN

NHTSA ID
11510178
Incident
Aug 25, 2022
Engine
Filed May 9, 2022

The engine overheated on January 27, 2022 and a warning appeared on the dash to pull over and turn off the engine. It was then towed to a repair facility, where it was determined that overheating caused the failure of radiater hoses, loss of coolant, and other damages. Repairs cost $2574.56 on January 29, 2022. When I contacted BMW and the dealer, I was told that did not want to hear about it until they have determined what remedy was available for the recall, and they told me they would noot listen to any complaints about damages until then.

NHTSA ID
11463936
Incident
Jan 27, 2022
Engine
Filed May 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525XI. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating while driving. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the thermostat and radiator were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V273000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID
11463023
Incident
Feb 18, 2022
Mileage
119,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 12, 2022
Fire reported

Driver side Seat mysteriously burned. Not sure how. Seat warmers were not on at the time.

NHTSA ID
11447261
Incident
Jan 12, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2019

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH SPEED LIMIT 70 MPH, A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED TRANSMISSION FAILURE & REDUCE SPEED. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ITSELF WHILE ONGOING TRAFFIC APPROACHED EXTREMELY FAST. MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO THE 5TH OR 6TH GEAR. I HAD TO I GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AS QUICKLY AS I COULD. IN A PANIC I CALLED AAA TO TOW MY CAR. THINKING THERE WAS TRULY SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH I KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS MESSAGE THAT POPPED UP WAS INCORRECT. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
11176619
Incident
Jan 28, 2019
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Nov 17, 2017

COMPUTER DRAWING DOWN BATTERY AND CAR WILL NOT START SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT'S DAMP AND RAINING THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON BMW WOULD LIKE $2500. TO REBOOT COMPUTER I THINK ITS A SCAM

NHTSA ID
11047100
Incident
Oct 28, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS LOW SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10967976
Incident
Mar 14, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 10, 2017

MY BMW WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT IN OVERLAND PARK, KS, AT LUNCH TIME ON MARCH 7, 2017. AUTO WAS LOCKED AND ALL WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHT WERE CLOSED. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AFTER LUNCH, THE CAR WAS UNLOCKED AND ALL WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHT WERE OPEN. THE KEY WAS IN MY PURSE AND WAS UNTOUCHED. POSSIBLE THEFT ATTEMPT?

NHTSA ID
10959991
Incident
Mar 7, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE AN OCCUPANT WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT WERE INOPERABLE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT DETECTION MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000. UPDATED 03/03/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID
10939625
Incident
Nov 15, 2016
Mileage
300,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 24, 2016

THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LOST FLUID VERY QUICKLY AS I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A GARAGE, DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY. WHY ARE THE BRAKE LINES MADE OF A MATERIAL WHICH RUSTS? THE GARAGE TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE COST WAS $491.88.

NHTSA ID
10937338
Incident
Dec 20, 2016
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Dec 23, 2016

I GET SEAT BELT/AIRBAG COMMUNICATION FAULT

NHTSA ID
10937259
Incident
Sep 7, 2016
Mileage
250,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 22, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR OF BURNING RUBBER AND THE ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE POWER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START WITHOUT RECEIVING A JUMP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY WERE BURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10937114
Incident
Dec 19, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 13, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10884620
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
134,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 7, 2016
Fire reported

MCM BURNED UP GOT WET AND STANK UP WHOLE TRUNK BECAUSE OF DESIGN FLAW BY BMW WE WERE DRIVING AS IT BURNED UP TILL WE HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE OF THE AWFUL SMELL

NHTSA ID
10863706
Incident
May 3, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 21, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10860724
Incident
Mar 21, 2016
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10850716
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE COMING TO A FULL STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10731313
Incident
May 15, 2015
Airbags
Filed Jun 11, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10724766
Incident
May 18, 2015
Mileage
125,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP LEAKED OIL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ID
10632794
Incident
Aug 30, 2014
Mileage
114,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 28, 2014

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ALARM CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. BMW SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE, A 2006 BMW 525XI IS NOT CAPTURED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL 13V564000, WHICH FIXES THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10629216
Incident
Aug 25, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE AIR BAG ALARM SOUNDED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID
10606963
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
168,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN TO ORDER REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE PARTS DELAY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,800.

NHTSA ID
10604692
Incident
Jan 16, 2014
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10579197
Incident
Jan 6, 2014
Mileage
99,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2013

MESSAGE APPEARS THAT THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND REMINDED PASSENGER TO WEAR SEAT BELT UNTIL IT IS LOOKED INTO. ALSO A WARNING ABOUT THE POWER STEERING SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THESE ARE BOTH SAFETY ISSUES BUT BMW HAS BEEN OF NO HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10503773
Incident
Mar 20, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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