10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,599 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 BMW 525 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2006 BMW 525 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #76

Feb 012021

525

  • 112,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525I. The contact stated that the air bags warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer passport BMW (4730 auth pl, suitland-silver hill, md 20746, (301) 423-2700) where it was diagnosed with needing a bolt tightened. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 17V428000 (air bags). The vehicle was previously repaired under recall however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

- Bowie, MD, USA

problem #75

Dec 152019

525

  • 188,000 miles
Red airbag light and red seat belt light came on and there was a chime going off. Passenger seat occupancy mat is giving a fault code and disabling the passenger side airbag

- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA

problem #74

Aug 152019

525

  • 180,000 miles
I was on my way to work and had driven only 4 1/2 miles at 6:55am on Thursday, August 15, 2019. I was about 1/2 from work on a city street when smoke began coming out the air vents and steering column. A smell of plastic, electrical filled the car and I pulled into the nearest place when the smoke was quickly increasing. My son and I jumped out of the car and called 911. The fire department arrived almost immediately, and upon pulling up, before they could get out of the truck, the driver's side curtain airbag exploded, the firemen heard the explosion. By the time they pulled their hoses and lifted the hood, smoke was heavily coming from the car. When the airbag exploded, a large piece of plastic shrapnel was blown to the passenger side of the car and stuck between the windshield and the window and stuck into the edge windshield frame. The firefighters tried for several minutes to get the source under control and finally was able to when they disconnected the battery. I had my car towed to BMW columbus, they "repaired the recall" and said that the fire was not a result of the recall. I believe that if the firefighters did not respond as quickly as they did because they were nearby, then my car would have gone up in flames.

- Lagrange, GA, USA

problem #73

Jun 082018

525

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My passenger seat belt restraints and airbag warnings light comes on. I saw that this year was included in my model 525I, but BMW of honolulu said my bin shows no recall" I'm confused and upset on how BMW can risk such a safety issue by not including all affected by this especially my year and model class because it's obviously an issue we all are having around the same exact time. Is there a solution or should I give up on BMW for such neglect for my safety and yours"

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #72

Oct 012018

525

  • miles
Passenger air bag restraint light is activated.

- Memphis, TN, USA

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problem #71

Aug 302018

525

  • 126,525 miles
I recently started getting passenger restraint system warning message appearing. After searching online, I discovered 2006 525I vehicles have a recall on the same issue. However when I contacted BMW, I was told based on VIN number my vehicle is not under any recall even though I have same issue with the vehicles under recall and referenced NHTSA campaign number: 17V428000 (air bags). Currently, the passenger airbag will not deploy and can cause serious harm to the passenger if involved in any type of accident, therefore, my vehicle should be part of the recall.

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #70

Apr 232018

525

  • 140,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Warning light pass. Restraint system fault in passenger restraint system affecting airbag belt tensioner etc

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #69

Apr 022018

525

  • miles
I recently started getting passenger restraint system warning message appearing. After searching online, I discovered 2006 525I vehicles have recall on the same issue. However when I contacted BMW, I was told based on VIN number my vehicle is not under any recall even though I have same issue with the vehicles under recall. As is, the passenger airbag will not deploy and can cause serious harm to the passenger, therefore my vehicle should be part of the recall.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #68

Jun 142017

525

  • 105,000 miles
My BMW appears to the have an issue with the passenger air bag sensor, but the VIN isn't include in the recall list. Kindly request recall, as the vehicle hasn't been in an accident, but passenger air bag light remains on.

- Culpeper, VA, USA

problem #67

Dec 212017

525

  • 143,000 miles
Was dropping off a passenger and when I parked on a city street.he took his seatbelt off and opened the passenger door. When he got off the seat I noticed two lights come on in the dashboard. Then the notification came up on my menu screen displaying restraint austen malfunction. I've looked up my 2006 BMW 525I to notice it happening to allot of the same year make and model as mine.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

problem #66

Oct 282017

525

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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

- East Greenwich, RI, USA

problem #65

Jul 062017

525

  • 158,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 525I. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to BMW of houston North in houston, tx where it was diagnosed that the passenger detection mat was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 17V428000 (air bags). The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #64

Jun 212017

525 6-cyl

  • 74,000 miles
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).

- Reston, VA, USA

problem #63

Feb 262014

525

  • 69,000 miles
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.

- Huntington Station, NY, USA

problem #62

Nov 152016

525 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 300,000 miles
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

- St. Joseph, MI, USA

problem #61

Sep 072016

525

  • 250,000 miles
I get seat belt/airbag communication fault

- Saint Joseph, MI, USA

problem #60

May 112016

525

  • 40,000 miles
Seatbelt not retracting and warning light stating seatbelt and airbag may not function in crash. Initially intermittent but now steady warning lights. * extreme fading of paint on hood, roof, deck lid.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #59

Nov 092016

525

  • 165,000 miles
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.

- Dearborn, MI, USA

problem #58

Jan 012016

525

  • 134,000 miles
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.

- Skillman, NJ, USA

problem #57

Jun 252016

525

  • 170,000 miles
Vehicle was in motion during these events. Electric warning malfunction, alert passenger restraint system malfunction. A message right low beam headlight was malfunctioning. Electronic control sudden malfunction of the windshield wipers.

- Yazoocity, MS, USA

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