There are 29 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2006 BMW 5 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BRAKE BOOSTER IS LOOSING VACUUM WHEN SITTING OVER NIGHT CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE ROCK HARD AT STARTUP. THE BRAKES ARE FINE AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTS. I KNOW THAT THE E65 FROM THE SAME YEARS HAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE AND CHECK VALVE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY WHEN APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,932. *DT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL INTO THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS COMPLETED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZED IN BMW VEHICLES. THE DEALER (GLOBAL IMPORTS BMW, 500 INTERSTATE N PKWY, ATLANTA, GA 30339, (800) 294-1853) WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HEAR BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING (STALLING) AFTER FULLY STOPPING AND REAPLYING BRAKE AT A LOWER SPEED. BRAKE PADEL IS BECOMING VERY HARD AND EVEN WITH ALL FOOT FORCE BRAKE PADEL IS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I READ IT ONLINE SIMILAR PROBLEM ACCURED IN OTHER BMW MODEL AND RECALL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS AND I'M WILLING TO LET INVESTIGATORS CHECK MY VEHICLE IF THEY WISH TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
ENGINE OIL FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY ENTER THE BRAKE VACUUM LINE, POSSIBLY ALLOWING OIL TO ENTER THE BRAKE BOOSTER. IF ENGINE OIL ENTERS THE BRAKE BOOSTER, IT MAY DAMAGE THE INTERNAL RUBBER MEMBRANE, CAUSING IT TO DEVELOP LEAKS AND POSSIBLY IMPAIR THE BRAKE POWER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM. THE BRAKES WILL THEN ONLY FUNCTION WITH INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE.
THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH AND LOST FLUID VERY QUICKLY AS I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A GARAGE, DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY. WHY ARE THE BRAKE LINES MADE OF A MATERIAL WHICH RUSTS? THE GARAGE TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE COST WAS $491.88.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ALTOUGH MY 2006 BMW 550I V8 IS HARD TO STOP AND FALLS UNDER BMW BRAKE VACUUM PUMP RECALL RELEASED NOVEMBER 2010, FOR SOME REASON MY VIN DOESNT BRING UP THE RECALL. BMW REFUSED TO FIX.A WASTED 1 HOUR TRIP AND DAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOOSTER VACUUM WAS TURNED AT THE VACUUM PUMP CAUSING THE BRAKE PUMP TO LEAK OIL AND CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A DELAY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,175.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE COMING TO A FULL STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
A LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE POWER BRAKING SYSTEM,CAUSING A VACUUM LOSS AND CONSEQUENT REDUCTION OF POWER BRAKING ASSISTANCE. MECHANICAL BRAKING IS STILL AVAILABLE TO SLOW AND STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525XI. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP LEAKED OIL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED PRIOR TO COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REGULARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 528XI. THE CONTACT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AND DIAGNOSED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKES FURIOUSLY UNTIL THE BRAKES RESPONDED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND MOTOR OIL INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE VACUUM PUMP. THE BRAKE BOOSTER, VACUUM PUMP AND VACUUM PIPE WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,300.
ON MAY 20 2013, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH MY 5 YEARS OLD DAUGHTER, SUDDENLY BRAKES WENT OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, HE FOUND OUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THE MECHANIC SAW A RECALL FOR BMW 5 SERIES 2004-2010 FOR BRAKE BOOSTER, HE PROCEEDED TO CALL BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY TOLD HIM MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE TOOK THE BRAKE BOOSTER OUT TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION DETAILS ARE OIL IN BRAKE BOOSTER. HE CHANGED IT, GAVE ME A BILL AND THE OLD PART, AND SHOWED ME THE OIL IN IT. I CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA USING THE NUMBER ON RECALL NO LUCK KEPT GETTING RECORDER WITH INFO EVERY TIME I PRESSED 0 AS INSTRUCTED TO TALK TO A PERSON I WOULD GET HANG UP ON. I FOUND OTHER NUMBERS ON THE WEB AND FINALLY ONE OF THE NUMBERS WORKED WHERE I TALKED TO A LIVE PERSON. AFTER 15 MINUTES OR SO, SAME ANSWER YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE MAKE MODEL YEAR AND THE PROBLEM FIT THE RECALL DESCRIPTION, ALL I RECEIVED WAS SORRY THIS IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR YOU VIN NOTHING WE CAN DO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKES HAD NOT PROPERLY WORKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE APPLYING FORCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THREE REPAIR SHOPS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WHILE DRIVING NEAR HOME ON A RAINY DAY ON 10/18/2012 WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AT A ROAD CURVE, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND I HIT A SIDEWALK, DAMAGING THE REAR BUMPER ON ITS RIGHT HAND SIDE (PASSENGER'S SIDE). I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR BRAKE FAILURES ON MY 2006 BMW 550I AND FOUND A RECALL ID #87954, RELATED TO A "COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING, OR UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST...". WHEN I CALLED BMW NUMBER SHOWING IN THE RECALL NOTICE, THEY TOLD ME MY CAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FACTORY RECALL. A TOTAL OF POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED IN THE RECALL WAS 198,352, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ! I'M REQUESTING NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS CASE AND EXTEND THIS RECALL TO ADDITIONAL VIN NUMBERS, INCLUDING MINE TO GET POWER ASSIST BRAKING SYSTEM REPAIRED ON MY VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. ALSO, THIS SHOULD PREVENT CRASH ACCIDENTS ON THIS MODEL CAR. *TR
BRAKES BECAME HARD TO PRESS AND STOPPING TAKES MORE EFFORT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONDITION LISTED AS RECALL 10V-446 BY BMW . *TR
Showing 1–20 of 29 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026