2006 BMW 5 Series Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 8%of 85 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 101,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 BMW 5 Series, 8% of the 85 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 101,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I noticed just short of 49,000 miles on my 2006 Bmw 530i the brakes were very hard to push at slower speeds and when approaching traffic stops. Through tests of my own and of Bmw service, the cause is brake booster failure. I was told by the dealer that they have seen a lot of these cars with this problem and the heat in this area was partially to blame. I've owned a lot of cars in this area and I've never heard of this happening. The brake booster needs replaced, but as of this date has not been done yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10340862, filed 2010-06, 48,800 miles“Brake vacuum pump has leaked lubricating oil into brake booster, causing booster to fail, causing power assist braking to be compromised, making braking difficult to impossible.”
NHTSA complaint #10386918, filed 2011-03, 101,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11209794, filed 2019-05, 104,932 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10562749, filed 2014-02, 122,000 miles“The contact owns a 2006 Bmw 5 SERIES. After starting the vehicle one morning, all of the instrument panel indicators illuminated. The dealer stated that the vehicle needed a new szl module, which controlled most of the computer functions in the vehicle. The dealer did not have the part available, but assured the contact that the vehicle was safe to drive. Three weeks after the incident, while driving 15 MPH, the steering and brakes failed. The failure lasted less than a minute, but during this time he was unable to stop or steer the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10265617, filed 2009-04, 7,000 milesRelated recalls
- 10V446000Oct 1, 2010Bmw 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…Covers: BMW 5 Series 2004–2010, 7 Series 2002–2008, 6 Series 2004–2010
Related service bulletins
- 10032849Nov 1, 2007Bmw vehicle: dsc disabling function. Due to revised dme, dsc and ccc software, the mdm (m dynamic mode) button located in the center console switch cluster (szm) now has triple…
Brakes: other model years
Other parts of the 2006 BMW 5 Series
36 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsTires
4 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 BMW 5 Series
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology