Model year record

2005 BMW 6 Series recalls & problems

The 2005 BMW 6 Series has 4 safety recalls and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (4 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints7filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingAug 10, 2012

Cooling system › Fan

Recall 12E029000585 vehicles

Problem: This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on the fan assembly motor circuit board to overheat and short.
Risk: This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.

Electrical systemMar 26, 2012

12v/24v/48v battery › Cables

Recall 12V126000367,682 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicOct 1, 2010

Power assist › Vacuum

Recall 10V446000198,352 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.

Power trainNov 1, 2005

Automatic transmission

Recall 05V504000240 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM NOT TO ENGAGE, AFTER THE TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN THE PARK ("P") POSITION. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY CONDITION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR AND REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-332-4269.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2005 BMW 6 Series 2-DR w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Air bags	4	0	47,860 mi
Electrical systemWiring; Wiring › Interior/under dash	2	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components	1	1	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery	1	0	—
Equipment	1	0	—
Seat belts	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION.
Oct 15, 2015 · 109,275 miles
Air bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY AND COULD CAUSE A SEVERE INJURY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,721.
May 25, 2011 · 65,721 miles
Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 645. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 02/02/11 *CN
Nov 25, 2010 · 30,000 miles
Air bags
PASSENGER AIRBAG LAMP IS ON AND STAYS ON AFTER TECHNICIAN AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER RESET THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER (CLEARED FAULTS). VEHICLE DID NOT GET INTO SITUATION WHICH WOULD TRIGGER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, BUT POTENTIALLY THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE. *TR
Mar 26, 2010 · 25,695 miles
Electrical system › Wiring
I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 BMW 645I.AND IT HAD COMPUTER PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THE MANUFACTURER USUALLY FIXED PROBLEMS IN 60-90 DAYS. IT HAS BEEN 18 MONTHS AND THE ON BOARD COMPUTER HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT, AND BLUETOOTH. THE COMPUTER CONTINUES TO PLAY CD'S AFTER THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THE DEALER IGNORED THE PROBLEM FOR MONTHS UNTIL I SAID THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE BOUGHT UNDER THE "LEMON LAW'. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY NOW SAY ALL 650 AND 645 MODELS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE ANOTHER VEHICLE WOULD PERFORM WITHOUT PROBLEMS. THE DEALER AND BMW NORTHAMERICA ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
Jan 5, 2005
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
MY BMW 745I HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP REPEATEDLY TO FIX A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS READING MECHANISM. THE CAR TELLS ME THERE IS GAS WHEN THERE IS NONE OR VICE VERSA. TWICE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING HAVING TO BE TOWED. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR JUST STOPPED. THE GAS GAUGE INDICATED I HAD A HALF A TANK OF GASOLINE WHEREAS IT TURNED OUT IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY. I WAS UNDER AN OVERPASS, ALONE WITH CARS ZIPPING BY ON MY LEFT, A WALL TO MY RIGHT AND NO ONE TO STOP ME FROM BEING STRUCK FROM THE REAR! ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE FAULTY PART WAS ALLEGEDLY CHANGED. FIRST TO THE RIGHT SIDE AND THEN TO THE LEFT (WHATEVER THAT MEANS) IT STILL DOES…
Apr 26, 2006
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation componentsCrash
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING . THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE CURB AND HIT A PARKING PILLAR. THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT REPORTS HEARING SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE BRAKES TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SQUEAKING NOISE OCCURRED ONLY WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE DEALER SAID THE BRAKE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS BAD. THE DEALER PLANS ON CONTACTING BMW TO SEE IF THE REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK
Jan 3, 2006 · 8,323 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.