2006 BMW 525i Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Sensor › Occupant classification
  5
• Frontal
  3
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  1
• Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  38%
• 50k–75k
  513%
• 75k–100k
  1232%
• 100k–150k
  1232%
• 150k+
  616%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 BMW 525i owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

I was on my way to work and had driven only 4 1/2 miles at 6:55 am 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. …

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, [phone]) 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.

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.

Passenger airbag faults has shown up on my 2006 BMW 525i. This is the 2nd time it shows up. The front passenger airbag is deactivated with this fault and will not protect passenger in case of an accident. First time, I had to fix it myself because my VIN was not included in the voluntary recall notice sent by BMW. Now it is happening for the 2nd time. I had it check at a service station and it is because of another issue in the same system. Each repair costs approx. $1000. BMW north America has to take responsibility for this.

Tl* 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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 525i. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the passenger side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V564000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 40,000.

Passenger restraint system fault light has started showing on my BMW, there has been a recall reported on the same component "statement on voluntary recall involving front passenger seat sensor mat on U.S.A. Model bmws - August 13, 2008". I have the same problem but my VIN is not showing up in the recall. I took the car to dealer and dealer says its exactly the same part but I am not covered under recall warranty.

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.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 525i. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag and seat belt light continuously illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the technician diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 525i. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag light remained illuminated on the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 162,000.

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other 525i years