2006 BMW 325XI — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 109 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: AIR BAGS (47 complaints · 43.1%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 1
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 1
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2005 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution AIR BAGS appears in 47 of 109 owner complaints (43.1%) in this vehicle snapshot. AIR BAGS: 47 complaints, 43.1% of reports AIR BAGS 47 · 43.1% STEERING: 14 complaints, 12.8% of reports STEERING 14 · 12.8% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 9 complaints, 8.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 · 8.3% · 1 fire reports SEAT BELTS: 8 complaints, 7.3% of reports SEAT BELTS 8 · 7.3% ENGINE: 5 complaints, 4.6% of reports ENGINE 5 · 4.6% VISIBILITY: 3 complaints, 2.8% of reports VISIBILITY 3 · 2.8% SERVICE BRAKES: 2 complaints, 1.8% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 1.8% STRUCTURE: 2 complaints, 1.8% of reports STRUCTURE 2 · 1.8% SUSPENSION: 2 complaints, 1.8% of reports SUSPENSION 2 · 1.8% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 26 complaints, 23.9% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26 · 23.9% · 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
AIR BAGS 47 43.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 14 12.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9 8.3% 0 crashes · 1 fires
SEAT BELTS 8 7.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 5 4.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 3 2.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 2 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 2 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 2 1.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 26 23.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2010; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2013. 2010-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2011-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2013-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2014-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2010 Jan 2026 Recall campaign 13V564000 ◆ Recall campaign 13V564000 Recall campaign 17V428000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V428000 Recall campaign 17V676000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V676000 Recall campaign 19V273000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V273000 Recall campaign 20V017000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V017000 Recall campaign 24V513000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V513000
  • Campaign 13V564000 was reported 1,267 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V428000 was reported 2,599 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V676000 was reported 2,442 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V273000 was reported 2,670 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V017000 was reported 3,522 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V513000 was reported 5,153 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 4
2011-Q1 Owner reports 4
2011-Q2 Owner reports 5
2011-Q3 Owner reports 2
2011-Q4 Owner reports 4
2012-Q1 Owner reports 6
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 2
2013-Q1 Owner reports 5
2013-Q2 Owner reports 5
2013-Q3 Owner reports 2
2013-Q4 Owner reports 2
2014-Q1 Owner reports 12
2014-Q2 Owner reports 7
2014-Q3 Owner reports 4
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 3
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
2016-Q2 Owner reports 3
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2017-Q4 Owner reports 5
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2022-Q2 Owner reports 1
2022-Q3 Owner reports 2
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 13V564000
Recall campaign 1 17V428000
Recall campaign 1 17V676000
Recall campaign 1 19V273000
Recall campaign 1 20V017000
Recall campaign 1 24V513000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 13V564000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V428000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V676000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    Consequence:
    Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V273000

    Report date
    Component:
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V017000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 24V513000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 109 complaints · page 1 of 5

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EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources