The 2006 BMW 525i has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 263,228 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING19V2730002019-04-04184,505 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence
An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion to recall 17V-683.
AIR BAGS17V4280002017-07-062,158 affected
Defect
BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and…
Consequence
Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
AIR BAGS13V5640002013-11-1276,565 affected
Defect
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i…
Consequence
Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of…
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
42
1fires1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
3fires
SEAT BELTS
6
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
3
ENGINE
3
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
1fires
Total complaints111
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2006 bmw 525i. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v119000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, she noticed the odor of burning plastic. The contact…”
“I received a notice in the mail stating that my vehicle with the matching vin had a recall for the pc value heater. And that it causes the vehicle to over heat and catch fire I contacted the dealership and manufacturer and I was told that there was no remedy available as I started experiencing…”
“I received a notice in the mail stating that my vehicle with the matching vin had a recall for the pc value heater. And that it causes the vehicle to over heat and catch fire I contacted the dealership and manufacturer and I was told that there was no remedy available as I started experiencing…”
“The contact owns a 2006 bmw 525i. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the dealer where it was both diagnosed that the vehicle was leaking fuel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not…”
“Tl* 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, [REDACTED]) where it was diagnosed with needing a bolt tightened. The vehicle was not…”
“The contact owns a 2006 bmw 525i. The contact stated while driving 60-65 mph, the vehicle started to overheat. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and added coolant in the vehicle. The contact then continued to drive. The contact stated…”
“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”
“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”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2006 BMW 525i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.