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2006 BMW 7 Series problems

The most common problem on the 2006 BMW 7 Series is airbags. It has 3.6 times the complaints of a typical 7 Series model year.

Typical year3.6x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
29
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
30
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
16mpg

The worst 2006 BMW 7 Series problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Airbags
    7
  • Engine
    7
  • Transmission
    7
  • Brakes
    5
  • Electrical
    3

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Airbags
    7
  • Engine
    7
  • Transmission
    7
  • Brakes
    5
  • Electrical
    3
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Seats
    2
  • Acceleration
    1
  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Locks
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Suspension
    1
  • Tires
    1

Recalls 2

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuumReported October 1, 2010 · 198,352 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Bmw is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 5-series, 6-series, and model year 2002-2008 7-series vehicles. A check valve of the brake vacuum pump may leak a small amount of lubricating oil. Over time this could result in contamination of the brake booster.
Risk
Power assist braking performance could be adversely affected. In extreme cases there could be a complete loss of power assist braking. An unexpected reduction or loss in power braking assist may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Bmw will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on november 24, 2010. Owners may contact bmw at 1‑800‑525‑7417.

Recall number 10V446000 · Recall details

Suspension: rear: shock absorberReported July 26, 2006 · 11,640 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles, the lower rubber mount of the rear shock absorbers may not have been manufactured to specifications and may not adhere correctly to its housing within the shock absorber.
Risk
The bushing could loosen and over time could separate from its housing. The driver will experience impaired vehicle handling and control increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear shock absorber free of charge. The recall began on september 13, 2006. Owners may contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.

Recall number 06V277000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 2006 BMW 7 Series

Defect investigations

Vehicle RollawayOpened April 10, 2012, closed January 24, 2013

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑502 to the federal safety agency identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access Option.The Comfort Access option allows the driver to start and stop the engine (by pressing the engine start / stop button) without inserting the key fob into the vehicles key slot in the instrument panel.Subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option require the key fob be inserted the key slot to start the engine.Upon removal of the key from the key slot the vehicle will automatically shift to Park if the driver has not done so using the gearshift lever.Sunject vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access option are designed such that when the vehicle is stopped with the service brakes applied and the transmission in Drive or Reverse, the driver can push the engine start/stop button one time, stopping the engine and automatically shifting the transmission to Park.In its DIR, BMW identified a condition such that if the driver depressed the start-stop button multiple times in rapid succession, the transmission could shift to Neutral instead of Park.With the transmission in neutral, depending on the slope of the road, the vehicle could rollaway if unattended.In review of data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and of reports submitted to BMW, ODI identified 20 reports alleging vehicle rollaway involving vehicles equipped with Comfort Access.The vehicles identified in these reports are all subject to recall 12V‑502.Ten of these reports were identified as likely related to the defect described in recall 12V‑502.Two of the reports are likely related to other mechanical failures.The remaining 8 allegations of vehicle rollaway could not be associated with a specific cause.There are 32 reports alleging vehicle rollaway in the subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option.A vehicle based safety defect trend was not identified in these reports.Subject vehicles not equipped the Comfort Access option will automatically shift to Park once the key fob is removed from the key slot.In this regard these vehicles behave similarly to those with traditional mechanical keys where the key cannot be removed from the ignition unless the vehicle is shifted to Park.The difference between these vehicles and the subject vehicles with the Comfort Access option is that in the Comfort Access equipped vehicles, the engine can be started and stopped without the key fob in the key slot.ODI reports 10429922 and 10419177 noted in the EA opening resume were determined to be vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option and ODI did not identify a vehicle based safety defect associated with these incidents.This investigation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10185770

EA12002

Vehicle RollawayOpened August 5, 2011, closed April 23, 2012

In response to the Office of Defects Investigation's (ODI) Information Request (IR) for PE11-025, BMW provided ODI with 1 complaint and 46 field reports relating to either incidents of unattended vehicle rollaway or vehicle movement after the driver expected the vehicle gearshift to automatically shift to park. ODI's analysis of the data provided by BMW identified 14 crashes and 5 alleged injuries. ODI has also identified 3 additional reports in its database alleging vehicle rollaway incidents of which 2 resulted in crashes.The subject vehicles are all equipped with push-buttons (Start/Stop button) to control starting/stopping the engine and Shift-by-Wire gearshift systems controlled by a column mounted selector lever behind the steering wheel. The Start/Stop button also controls switching the ignition and the radio ready state On and Off. Shift-by-wire systems replace the traditional mechanical connection (e.g., cable or linkage) between the gearshift and automatic transmission with an electronic connection controlled by a computer module. When parking the vehicle, the driver has the capability to manually shift the vehicle to park by pressing the Park button on the end of the electronic gearshift lever. However, the instructions for engine shutoff provided in the owner's manual state that pressing the Start/Stop button serves the dual function of switching off the engine and automatically shifting the transmission to Park.In response to ODI's information request for PE11-025, BMW described several circumstances where the subject vehicles may shift to neutral when the driver may expect it to automatically shift to park. First, for Comfort Access System (CAS) vehicles, if the transmission is in neutral when the key fob is in the ignition slot and the Start/Stop button is pressed to shut-off the engine, the transmission will remain in neutral. This is referred to as the Carwash mode and is a normal operating feature of the vehicles that is described in the owner's manual. BMW also described two circumstances that are not normal operating features and are not described in the owners' manual: (1) with the transmission in drive or reverse and the engine running, if the Start/Stop button is pushed 2 or 3 times within a 0.3 second to 0.5 second interval, the engine will stop and the transmission will shift to Neutral; and 2) if the Park button on the gearshift lever is pressed at the same time that the gearshift lever is actuated (i.e., toggled up or down) to select drive, reverse or neutral; the transmission will shift to neutral or remain in neutral.Beginning in model year (MY) 2005, BMW introduced CAS as an optional feature package for the subject vehicles.The key for CAS equipped vehicles is an electronic code that is sent to the engine control module by a remote transmitter (key fob). An optional docking port (key slot) is provided for driver convenience or to put the vehicle into Car Wash mode, which allows for engine shutoff in neutral. BMW sold approximately 45,000 subject vehicles with CAS and approximately 94 percent of the CAS equipped vehicles were produced from MY 2006 through 2008. Non-CAS subject vehicles were produced from MY 2002 through 2008 and require the remote control to be in the ignition slot located next to the Start/Stop button to start the engine.The 50 incidents identified by ODI's analysis of complaints and field reports include 18 involving CAS vehicles (39.6 incidents per 100,000 vehicles) and 32 involving non-CAS vehicles (42.0 incidents per 100,000 vehicles). Because the incidents are considered random events, the failure rates were also adjusted for vehicle exposure, resulting in rat

PE11025

Bmw airbag light illuminationOpened January 4, 2008, closed December 31, 2008

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. In addition, bmw will extend the warranty coverage of the passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat to 10-year/unlimited mileage on approximately 120,000 remaining my04-06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05. The specific vehicles included in the extended warranty are my 06/ 6 series, my 06/ 3-series with standard seats, my04-05/ z4, my04-06/ 7 series, my 06/ x5, and my04-06/ 5-series with comfort seats.the average frequency of failures among the extended warranty groups was less than 1/7th of the recall vehicle groups.please see bmw's 08v‑384 recall notification for further detailsdepending on seat configuration and vehicle geometry, the occupant detection mat can fatigue during use depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit.specifically, over time, micro-cracks could develop in the side flanks of the mat causing a broken circuit.a brokencircuit can lead to the deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air bag light.

EA08001

Bmw airbag light illuminationOpened September 4, 2007, closed January 4, 2008

In certain my 2005 through my 2006 bmw vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) for the passenger frontal airbag may malfunction and render the passenger airbag inoperative.in june 2006, bmw issued a technical service bulletin (si b 72 02 06) regarding the illumination of the airbag warning light and the passenger airbag status lamp.illumination of these lights warn that an open electrical circuit may be present within the passenger seat mat sensor.when both of the lights are illuminated, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy in a frontal crash.certain bmw vehicles in addition to the subject vehicles contain the same seat mat sensor.these are the my 2004 5-series, 7-series and x3, the my 2004 through 2006z-4 series and my 2006 3-series, 6-series and x5 vehicles.an improved seat mat sensor was introduced in december 2005 for the mid-my 2006 production.in response to odi's information request letter, bmw provided 1,172 owner reports and 28,238 warranty claims.initial review of the data indicate that 280 non-duplicating owner reports and 13,051 non-duplicating warranty claims may be related the subject defect issue on the subject vehiclesthis preliminary evaluation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea08-001).

PE07045

Technical service bulletins for the 2006 BMW 7 Series 30

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 30 bulletins for the 2006 BMW 7 Series

2006 BMW 7 Series fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
6.0L 12‑cylRWD132116

What 2006 BMW 7 Series owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jun 24, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 10,200 miles · CA · 1 injury

Doors dont always latch and a person was thrown from car, have called dealer ship and they said no recall but my car is doing it and there is a recall for this problem , I need my car added to recall list asap

Filed Mar 18, 2019 · Engine · 85,000 miles · MN

Blows out while/bluish smoke, shifts into park when in drive or reverse, won't go forward. Transmission fault light on. I have to constantly put oil in it. There is no reason why I should be having all these problems, I see that millions of people that have or purchased this same car have the same problems. I truly believe bmw needs to be accountable for these problems. It's terrible that one would pay so many ch for a luxury car for it to have all these problems.

Filed Aug 30, 2018 · Brakes · 106,781 miles · CA

Brakes have no power almost had accident recall #10v446000 was in freeway all sudden lost brakes look on line this what I found call manufacture dealer they denied service

Filed May 18, 2017 · Airbags, Seat belts · VA

I purchased the car from a dealer in virginia. Maybe a few weeks later the airbag waarning light came n the screen. I have not been able to drive it becasue when I went to take it to get looked at by a bmw repair person told me that there was a recall on that same issue and the dealer should not have sold me the car without telling me that information. He then told me it is the ( seat occupancy detector passenger side and resistence to high firing circuit , belt tensioner passenger side. He said to call bmw so I did and they told me that the recall repair time expire a year before I purchased the car . No one ever shared this information with me and now it is not safe to have my kids or husband in the passenger seat because of this problem.. Bmw should have extended that if it was never done when they originally sent out the notice to whom ever had the vehicle before. If something isnt done from the reall knowing its a safelty issue then it should be extended until repaired. It is not safe to drive the vehicle and its a large bill for me to repair something that was already recalled

Filed Apr 2, 2017 · Airbags · 103,000 miles · SC

Takata recall air bag warning light issues, car was stationary

Filed Mar 7, 2017 · Airbags, Seats · CA

Trouble light shows-- passenger restraint system. My mechanic diagnosed it as a defective seat module sensor in the front passenger seat. His cost of repair is $1,200 with no assurances that the problem will be resolved due to the takata air bag response to this sensor.

Filed Aug 5, 2016 · Brakes · 66,000 miles · NJ

While stopping, the brake pedal became extremely hard and went to the floor, just barely avoiding a catastrophe. This happened with no warning whatsoever, and this could have been a multiple death accident. I contacted bmw of na and they informed me that my VIN number was not included in the recall. I clearly should be, because I know I am not the only one this problem.

Filed Mar 3, 2016 · Airbags · CA

"takata recall" the passenger air bags are not functioning it pop up on my cluster when I was starting up my vehicle from home. I recieved a recall letter from the federal safety agency when I took it to the bmw dealer it wasnt on the system so they couldnt replace my air bags for the passanger side

Filed Nov 17, 2015 · Driver assistance, Lights · 93,000 miles · AL

The front light bulbs have blown on the left side twice. The harness wire connection is faulty. Also the dynamic drive inactive while the transmission jerks when you accelerate after vehicle stops.

Filed Jan 4, 2015 · Acceleration, Transmission · 109,891 miles · TX

I had been feeling some powerful her king when I begun to stop and accelerate a couple times.. And then one day it just stop going into gear period. .

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Questions about the 2006 BMW 7 Series

Is the 2006 BMW 7 Series reliable?

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 2006 BMW 7 Series, 3.6 times a typical 7 Series model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2006 BMW 7 Series?

Airbags, with 7 complaints. Next is engine (7).

How many recalls does the 2006 BMW 7 Series have?

2 recalls, covering service brakes, hydraulic and suspension.

What gas mileage does the 2006 BMW 7 Series get?

Official estimates for the 2006 BMW 7 Series range from 16 mpg combined. The most efficient version (6.0L 12-cyl, RWD) gets 13 city and 21 highway.

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