Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 BMW X5 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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!.
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. …
The passenger side air bag off warning light came on and stays on. The dealer reset the computer. Light went off. The failure recurred again in a few months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor needed to be replaced. I was informed that my VIN did not meet the recall for replacing the failed mat sensor although other 2006 BMW x5s were recalled for that same failure. The warning light is presently on. I have read of many examples of the same problem. The aging mat become brittle and cracks breaking the circuit. BMW needs to send me a letter and replace my passenger seat mat sensor for free before I have an accident and the passenger is injured.
Recall listed for seat sensor mat for several model year BMW. I have a 2006 BMW X5 and the air bag light comes on intermittently(more on than off actually. I have read the recall notice for seat mat failure, however my VIN is not listed. I have read several similar complaints on your site from other BMW owners saying there VIN was not included either. How many complaints have to be filed before the recall is expanded? Is the recall by seat sensor model? Since my 2006 BMW X5 is not listed( others are), was a different seat sensor used in mine? Where can I find information on the seat sensor used in my model?
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. While operating the vehicle, the air bag light would illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag detection mat was defective. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred approximately 4 1/2 years later. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V564000 (air bags). The contact indicated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The failure mileage was 49,407.
Tl contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. While driving 3 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front side quarter panel of the contact's vehicle. The other vehicle was driving approximately 20 MPH. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle came equipped with side air bags. There were no warning indicator lights present. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene and has not yet been inspected. The driver was taken to the emergency room in an ambulance because her head hit the door window. The current and failure mileages were 19,000.
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.
Related recalls
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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…
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…
NHTSA investigations
BMW airbag light illumination
BMW is conducting a safety recall campaign on approximately 200,000 my04 through my06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05 to correct the front passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat. The specific vehicles included in the recall aremy04- 06/ 5-series with standard and sport seats, my04-06/ x3-series and my06/ 3-series with sport seats.
Airbag complaints in other X5 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 BMW X5?
NHTSA has 98 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 BMW X5, 50% of the model year's 195 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 BMW X5 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-564 (occupant classification, Nov 12, 2013). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 BMW X5 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.