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).
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.
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. …
My drivers side seat ( cushion) caught on fire when I turned on the heated seats. I first smelled a burning / plastic smell. Then I felt my glutes and hamstring getting warm. I looked down ( I was driving) and saw an orange ember on the seat. I pulled over as soon as I could, hot out of the car, and saw that the seat was actually burning. Luckily I had a bottle of water in the car and put out the flame and turned off the seat. I called the dealer- got a quote to repair. BMW will not take responsibility for this. I have a small burn on my leg, and a good size hole in the seat. I like my heated seats living in the northeast during winter months. Very disappointed that BMW refuses to address this dangerous issue.
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've recently (less than 24 hours ago), purchased a 2006 BMW X5 with heated seats. Just this morning on my way to work, with the outside temperature less than 30f, I turn on the heated seats to the number ii position and after about 5 minutes, I start seeing smoke/steam rising up from my pelvic area. I could smell it was almost like plastic burning. I turned off the heated seats and pulled over immediately and after inspection, the lower seat left side bolster had a burn mark in it. I couldn't believe it. Although the car comes with only a 90day/3000 mile powertrain warranty from the purchasing dealer, I have not yet contacted them about it but I certainly plan to but with the expectation that they will deny coverage for any repairs.
Started X5 up and turned on driver 's seat warmer. Let car warm up for 5 minutes and commenced to drive away. One minute down the road I smell smoke like an electrical fire. I feel my left hip getting hot at the same time. I stop car and look down and see a dull red glow from the seat. Immediately turn off heater and get out of car. The driver seat warmer had shorted and burned a hole through the leather seat along the left side of the seat. How hot was it! My pants had been burnt and had a small red mark on my skin. Think goodness I was not severely burned due to the area of my pants that was burnt was also the left back pocket area so the interior pocket fabric help protect me. Wow! Will BMW fix this?????
When pulling into my driveway I noticed a burning sensation on the left side of my butt burning my coat. I stopped the BMW and jumped out . With the courtesy light on I could see that the leather seat had a burn hole where I could see the electricity like Mini lightening. When I turned off the seat heater and the burning stopped. Had I been on the highway, serious injury could had occurred. BMW referred me to have the problem evaluated and determined that they were not responsible and repair would cost about $1400. BMW is aware of their seat heater problem as see by numerous blogs online but refuses to recall the affected vehicles. I have not yet contact my insurance company.
The heaters in both the driver's and front passenger seats overheated to the point that it was too hot to touch and melted the leather seats. We are not sure if the heaters were even engaged at the time. We brought the car to the local BMW service department and were denied any assistance or warranty coverage. We then called the national BMW customer service number and were also turned down. The costs to fix this very dangerous issue would be close to the value of the vehicle. We are still pursuing this with local management but at this time, despite recalls in previous years for this same safety problem, we have been denied any assistance or relief.
Tl contact owns a 2006 BMW X5. The contact stated that the electric seat heater on the driver's side caught fire. While at a stop light, he noticed that the seat was smoking and his leg was burned. The seat heater was activated prior to noticing the failure. He took the vehicle to the dealer, where it currently remains. The manufacturer stated that they were aware of the issue; however, the failure was a result of the risk of having seat heaters. They also stated that they would repair the vehicle for free. The current and failure mileages were approximately 27,000.
The driver side heated seat overheats and becomes too hot to touch. I have experience discoloration in some of my clothing due to the excessive heat, and I experienced a slight burned on my thigh when the heated seat is turned on. The issue occurs while the car is in motion or stationary. The leather most affected by the heated seat malfunction is thinning. I have contacted the local BMW dealership twice about the issues, and I have been ignored when I requested a quote on the repair and why the safety issue has not been addressed.
Seat complaints in other X5 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2006 BMW X5?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the seats of the 2006 BMW X5, 15% of the model year's 195 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 BMW X5 seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2006 BMW X5, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 BMW X5 seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 8 fires and 10 injuries to seats 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.