YearToAvoid

2006 BMW 5 Series Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 23 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2006 BMW 5 Series, 27% of all 85 complaints for this model year. That is the highest electrical complaint count among 9 5 Series model years. These complaints report 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 51,287 miles.

Electrical System complaints
23
27% of 85
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
51,287 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2006 BMW 5 Series electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 17, 2006, latest May 8, 2017.

2006 BMW 5 Series electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2006Nov 2006Apr 2009Dec 2009May 2012May 2014Apr 2017
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2006 to May 2017; peak Apr 2006 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2006 BMW 5 Series

  1. NHTSA 12V126000Mar 26, 2012Electrical System367,682 vehicles

    Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables

    Bmw is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 5-series, model year 2004-2010 6-series, model year 2006-2010 m5, and model year 2007-2010 m6 vehicles. The insulated bulkhead connector for the positive battery cable may have been incorrectly attached to the trunk floor panel, which can lead to a loosening of the bolt connection. As it loosens, an increase in electrical resistance at this cable connection is possible and could cause the cable connection to overheat.

    Risk: Overheating could lead to a fire, even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.

    Remedy: Bmw will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the battery bolt cable connection as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on april 30, 2012. Owners may contact bmw customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417.

Electrical System complaints by 5 Series model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20054 (19%)
  2. 200623 (27%)
  3. 20073 (23%)
  4. 200818 (17%)
  5. 20092 (25%)
  6. 20101 (17%)
  7. 20116 (7%)
  8. 20120 (0%)
  9. 20230 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 BMW 5 Series have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 23 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2006 BMW 5 Series, 27% of all complaints for this model year, including 2 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 51,287 miles.
Which BMW 5 Series year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2006 BMW 5 Series has the most electrical complaints (23), compared with 23 for the 2006.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2006 BMW 5 Series?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2006 BMW 5 Series concerns the electrical: 12V126000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.