The Lemon Index2006 BMW X5.
The 2006 BMW X5 has too few complaints to score: 12 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 16 mpg combined. The best BMW X5 year is 2010.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 195 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every BMW X5 year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 59K to 108K miles on the car (153 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 56K–100K miles
- seats complaints mostly came at 58K–106K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 91K–138K miles
Recalls 2
- airbags 2013
The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue an.
- transmission & drivetrain 2005
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems BMW told dealers about
BMW sent dealers 107 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Trunk lid grip water ingress - intermittent trunk lid (lift gate or rear hatch) unlocking…
- Fuel pump failure after refueling with ethanol fuel blend
- Install hood latch corrosion resistant clip
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedBmw airbag light illumination2008
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $5000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2006 BMW X5 reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 12 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2006 BMW X5 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (25%), brakes (25%) and seats (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW X5 have?
2 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 BMW X5 get?
16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 BMW X5 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 59,400 and 108,000 miles. The middle report was at 85,000 miles, from 153 complaints.
Does the 2006 BMW X5 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2006 BMW X5 cost in fuel a year?
About $5000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 BMW X5 have?
3.0L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl, 4.8L 8-cyl.
What BMW X5 year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2010, 2016 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works