BMW X5 2006 — Reported problems

I put a new battery and I need to unplugged the negative every time I turn it off. If I don’t do this, the next day, the battery would be dead. I checked with the Ancel OBD2 and there’s nothing wrong. It doesn’t detect anything bad.

Anytime I have a passenger in the car the seatbelt warning light goes off. My passenger is wearing the seatbelt. I put the car in park and tell my passenger to take the seatbelt off then back on. It's off for a bit then the light for the seatbelt comes by on.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was an electrical burning odor inside the vehicle. The ABS, brakes, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was driven to the residence. On another occasion, the contact had to redirect the steering wheel into a different lane while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who changed the oil and replaced the alternator; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic and was diagnosed with multiple electrical failures. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was pending. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to increase in speed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who suggested that the failure was possibly related to a power train failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was aware of the failure and confirmed the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V504000 (Power Train). The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 274,000.

When I switch on my driver seat for the heated seat it became so hot that the coils burned through my seat and make two round burn holes in the seat and burned my leg

I have recently received a message from my city’s social media page stating that bmw vehicles 17-22 years or older with over 99,000 miles have had complaints of default airbags exploding which are injuring/killing people out of nowhere and was told to get it changed at no cost at all!.

The brake vacuum pump has leaked a small amount of lubricating oil into the hose. This contamination resulted in a loss of power assist braking. The loss of power assist in braking has increased stopping distance and lead to a near vehicle crash. No indicator lights were present. Repair: Replacement of the brake vacuum line with one that contains a check valve, eliminating the possibility that oil will reach the brake booster; as well as the brake booster and brake master cylinder will also be replaced.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated that he initially received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V384000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the recall repair was performed. Three years later, with the passenger’s side front seat unoccupied, the passenger’s side air bag light illuminated and a warning chime was audible. The passenger’s side seat belt had to be engaged to correct the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred the contact back to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Was driving at 35-40 mph when suddenly where locked and the car stopped causing skid marks. Car had to be dragged out of the road by tow truck. Car will not move in neutral, reverse or drive but engine is on.

This car has relatively few miles (85k), and has always been operated by a single person. The passenger seat cushion has a sensor mat that activates the passenger airbag. With relatively fewer miles and very few passengers, the passenger seat didn't experience the normal use as likely modeled by BMW. However, during the fall of 2020, (during the height of covid), a warning light stating the passenger air bag had a malfunction. We were in the midst of nursing and the warning light then went out during the first three months of 2021. When it came on again in May, 2021, I asked BMW about it as was told, "That's Campaign 13V-564. The front passenger airbag seat occupancy sensor mat isn't working. This means, if there's an accident, the airbag protecting the passenger won't deploy." Apparently there as a "safety check" on this in 2014 and the recall closed as of January 2021....so, I was four months past the expiration date of their safety check for this important malfunctioning seat cushion. As advised by a BMW representative, I requested "goodwill assistance" with covering all or some of this repair (estimated at approx $2k). I was just told that BMW will not provide any goodwill assistance with this and there is apparently no one within BMW Customer Relations I can escalate this to. So, I am reaching-out to the NHTSA in hopes someone can assist me in navigating this. It seems to me, an important safety item such as a passenger sensor for airbag deployment on a car with fewer miles (and passengers) than average, experiencing a brief warning that didn't repeat during covid when we were unable to get to a BMW dealership, and for a "safety check" issue that just ended prior to us contacting BMW to repair is something I don't think BMW should be able to dodge.

The contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side air bags warning lights were illuminated. The contact had initially notified the dealer about the defect and was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer informed the contact that there were no recalls on the Vin. The contact was referred to the dealer for the repair. The contact was informed that he might be entitled to a reimbursement if the Vin gets added to a recall. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V564000 (Air Bags) however, the vin was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Airbag light on, passenger airbag off light illuminated. Diagnostic scan showed faulty Front Passenger seat occupancy detector. BMW Issued recall campaign 13V-564 for vehicles manufactured from DEC 05 to sept 06. My vehicle was manufactured 06/06 and is displaying all the symptoms from recall 13v-564 yet BMW USA claims my vehicle is not effected.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICHMOND BMW (8710 W BROAD ST, RICHMOND, VA 23294) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 214,000.

MY HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED ME AND MY COAT. I VERY RARELY USED IT AT ALL. I STARTED USING IT AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE 10TH TIME I USED IT WHEN IT OCCURRED.

MY VEHICLE WENT ON LIMP MODE I'M PRETTY SURE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOOKS LIKE THE AIR BAG WANTS TO POP OUT.

MY VEHICLES BATTERY KEEP DRAINING WHEN NOT DROVE FOR TWO DAYS. I HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL WONT FIRE AFTER 2 DAYS. I SAW THE RECALL ABOUT MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLES POSITIVE CRANK CASE VENTILATION VALVE HEATER AND THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH MY VEHICLE CAUSING MY BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. HOWEVER, I FIND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALLED LIST. IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO THIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY WHEN APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,932. *DT

TAKATA RECALL WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM EXHAUST PIPES WHEN DRIVING AND FILLS THE STREETS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS IN TRAFFIC AND AT IDLE. OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME CAN'T SEE DUE TO THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.

THE BRAKES PEDAL BECOMES HARD AND IS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. IN ADDITION THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD WHILE STATIONARY AS WELL

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. WITHIN ONE MINUTE I HAD TO PRESS AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP, I PUMPED THE BREAKS AND THE PEDAL WAS SO HARD THERE WAS NO GIVE. I PLOWED THROUGH A RED LIGHT ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERAL CAR PILE UP, AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, I WAS TOLD THE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL EVERYWHERE BECAUSE IT WAS BUSTED, THE OIL WAS BACKING UP INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HAD MIXED WITH THE BREAK FLUID AND THE BREAK BOOSTER WAS BAD. I AM HAVING TO PAY 2400 FOR THE SERVICE WHEN IT WAS JUST PURCHASED 3 DAYS AGO. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AT TIME OF PURCHASE WHICH WOULD HAVE KEPT ME FROM PURCHASING WITH CASH. THERE ARE STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS ALTHOUGH I HAVE TAKEN DOWN SEVERAL BUSHES BECAUSE THE X5 WOULD NOT STOP AND ALMOST CAUSED A HEAD ON COLLISION BECAUSE THE X5 WOULD NOT STOP AGAIN. THE 2007 X5 HAS BEEN RECALLED TO THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THE EXACT SAME DIAGNOSIS AND SYMPTOMS, THE 5 SERIES FROM THAT YEAR WAS ALSO RECALLED. JUST NOT THE X5 DUE TO AN OBVIOUS OVERSITE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE WHEN IT IS OPERATED WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED. THE VACUUM PUMP, BREAK BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER ARE ALL PART OF THE RECALL, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT A BMW CERTIFIED MECHANIC STATED NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON MINE. I

MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG COMPLETED. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME BACK FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE SRS. WHY CAN'T BMW FIX THIS RECALL ONCE AND FOR ALL?

OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR FAILURE AFTER RECALL CAMPAIGN 17V-605 COMPLETED. THE SENSOR MAT FAILED WITHIN 16 MONTHS OF THE REPAIR WHICH MEANS THE PARTS USED FOR THE CAMPAIGN ARE FAULTY AS WELL. BMW REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY AS SO STATED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL CAMPAIGN.

WHEN USING THE HEATED DRIVER SEAT, IT BEGINS TO SMOKE AND GIVE OFF A BURNING SMELL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE, I TURNED IT OFF AS SOON AS I REALIZED IT WAS THE SEAT BURNING AND SMOKING. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND JUST THOUGHT THE SEAT WAS A BIT WORN IN THAT SPOT. I CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THIS YEAR AND THERE AREN'T ANY. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN THIS OCCURRED, PARKED IN A PARKING LOT.

SUDDEN LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION AND LEAKING BRAKE FLUID DURING NORMAL WEATHER AD ROAD OPERATIONS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH THERE IS A LARGE GROUP OF SIMILAR YEAR MAKE AND MODEL WITH THIS SAME ISSUE.

FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MAT SENSOR WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEFECTIVE MAT SESNOR HAS BEEN REPLACED AND SERVICE AT BMW OF LAS VEGAS ON 2 SEPARATE OCASSIONS AT 44,794 AND 67845 MILES 6-15-2011 AND 5-14-2014 RESPECTIVELY UNDER WARRANTY AND AT OWNERS COST. THIS VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED ON 8-22-2006 BUT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 130,000 MILES.

WHEN DRIVING A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE BACK EXHAUST PIPES AND FILLS THE STREETS UP WITH SMOKE WHY PASSENGERS CARS ARE BEHIND ME IN TRAFFIC. OTHER CARS CAN NOT SEE AND IT'S VERY DANGEROUS. THIS IS DUE TO CAR HAVING A UNSAFE BAD ENGINE VALVE SEAL LEAK. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY FAIL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM UNTIL SOMEONE DIES DUE TO THE VALVE SEALS LEAKING AND CAUSING SMOKE IN TRAFFIC.

BMW X5 BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK NEEDED MORE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE THE LONGER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE PEDAL BEGAN TO RISE AND THE TRUCK WOULD BEGIN TO CREEP FORWARD UNLESS MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE PEDAL. I DROVE TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A RECALL PERFORMED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT. DURING THAT VISIT I INFORMED THE SERVICE WRITER OF THE BRAKE ISSUE AND ASKED IF IT WOULD BE CORRECTED UNDER A RECALL AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY OTHER RECALLS. I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND THAT SOME BMW X5'S WE'RE EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND WERE BEING RECALLED BUT NOT MY VEHICLE. I ORDERED ALL NECESSARY PARTS AND REPLACED THEM MYSELF. WHICH CONSISTED OF A NEW UPDATED PUMP, ALL UPDATED OEM LINES WITH CHECK VALVES AND A NEW TRW OEM BRAKE BOOSTER. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ENGINE OIL VAPOR TRAVELS INTO THE LINES AND UP TO THE BOOSTER WHICH CAUSED THE RUBBER DIAPHRAM TO FAIL IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THESE ARE ALL THE SAME PARTS MENTIONED IN THE RECALLS ON OTHER BMW X5'S COVERED BY THE RECALLS.

THE CAR SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANY FAILURES, NO WARNING OR SERVICE LIGHTS, AND AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A CROWDED PARKING LOT THE CAR STARTED EMITTING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF BOTH TAIL PIPES AND STALLED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND I HAD TO PUSH IT BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER 10 MINUTES AND AGAIN EMITTED CLOUDS OF HEAVY WHITE SMOKE. AT THIS POINT I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK CASE VENT VALVE APPARENTLY FROZE UP AND NEEDS REPLACING. THIS PART ALSO CALLED PCV VALVE HEATER IS UNDER RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS 2007-2011. MY CAR IS A 2006 AND FROM ONLINE SEARCHES IT APPEARS OTHER 2006 AND OLDER BMW X5S ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL (17V-683, ISSUED IN DEC 2017). I AM TOLD THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE IF CONTINUED IN OPERATION AND EVEN AT IDLE OR OFF. HOW CAN THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER IMPACTED MODEL YEARS?

HELLO, I HAVE A 2006 BMW X5 [XXX] THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT HAS STARTED BY ROLLING ON HILLS AND SHIFTING FUNNY BOTH IN CITY AND ON HIGHWAY. IT THEN STARTED NOT MOVING MUCH WHEN ACCELERATING AS I WAS COMING OFF A HIGHWAY EXIT AND CONTINUED THROUGH TOWN. IT HAS 120,000 MILES. HAVING DONE RESEARCH, ATTACHED BELOW IS A LINK TO 4 RELATED RECALLS. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHICH RECALL THIS IS AND HOW TO PROCEED TO GETTING IT REPAIRED. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. THANK YOU, [XXX] HTTPS://WWW.TRANSMISSIONREPAIRCOSTGUIDE.COM/BMW-X5-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED WHILE STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS

MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE DUE TO MICRO CRACKS IN THE WEIGHT SENSOR MAT.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER, CYLINDER, AND VACUUM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES). IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED A YEAR AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE VIN AND THAT IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NAVIGATION DISPLAY REBOOTS CONSTANTLY. WORKS PERIODICALLY. THIS DISPLAY GIVES ME ACCESS TO ALL OF THE CARS FEATURES INCLUDING WARNINGS AND MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE VEHICLE. IF THE DISPLAY WORKS WHEN THE CAR IS ON IT MAY NOT WORK IF YOU TURN OFF THE CARD AND TURN IT BACK ON.

HEAD LIGHTS ANGLE LIGHTS WIRES GETTING VERY DRY FROM THE HEAT OF THE LIGHT AND THE INSULATION COMING OFF THE OPTICAL WIRES, LIGHTS GO OUT, POSSIBLE SHORTING AND BECOME VERY UNSAFE.

MY HEATED SEAT CATCHED ON FIRE. DRIVER SIDE SEAT LEFT SIDE REAR. I GOT BURNED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A PARKING LOT. I REALIZED THAT MY PANTS HAVE A WHOLE AS WELL AS OF THE SEAT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT RAINED AND WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND CREATED MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING WAS RELATED TO THE WATER ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC INDEPENDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

1) THE AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF. IT STAYS ON. AIR BAGS ENGAGE BUT LIGHT IS JUST AS BRIGHT AS CAN BE. 2) IGNITION SWITCH SECURITY LATCH DOES NOT RELEASE. HAVE TO SMACK STEERING WHEEL AFTER TURNING OFF ALARM TO PLACE KEY INTO IGNITION SLOT.

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS GONE OUT FOR THIRD TIME IN THE NINE YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED WHILE CAR SHOPPING THAT MY 2006 BMW X5 HAS A RECALL FOR THE SEAT BELTS BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT RECALL. I AM DISAPPOINT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SEEM TO BE TAKING THIS RECALL LIGHTLY BUT LIVES ARE AT RISK. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE?