2006 BMW X5
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 101 of 195 complaints (52%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 82 in 2005 to 195 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,850 | 4,850 | 4,850 | 4,300–4,850 | 4,300–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16–18 | 16–18 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 13–14 / 19–20 | 13–14 / 19–20 | 13–14 / 19–20 | 14–15 / 19–21 | 14–15 / 19–21 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 555 | 555 | 555 | 494–555 | 494–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 64 | 82 | 195 | 130 | 235 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 13 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 10 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 12 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW X5 have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 BMW X5?
Airbags & Restraints: 101 of 195 NHTSA complaints (52%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 BMW X5 get?
EPA rates it 16 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 BMW X5?
EPA estimates $4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 13 mpg (low) | 20 mpg (high) | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 14 mpg (high) | 19 mpg (low) | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.4L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 14 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 8 | 4.8L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 14 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 22 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Brakes | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 101 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 35 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION · Campaign 13V564000 · Nov 18, 2013
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 sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
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 model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 05V504000 · Nov 3, 2005
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.