2004 BMW 5 Series Complaint Log

PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRE "JACKET" IS BRITTLE AND FLAKING OFF, CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS IN PARKING LAMP "HALO" DUE TO EXPOSED COPPER WIRES. ALSO, HIGH-BEAM HALOGEN LIGHT WIRING HAS EXPOSED COPPER WIRING. WIRES GET HOT TO THE TOUCH AND CAUSE A "PASSENGER PARKING LAMP MALFUNCTION" TO APPEAR INSIDE THE CAR. PROBLEM SEEMS LIKE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD TO SAY THE LEAST. MANY ONLINE FORUM MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED THE SAME ISSUE. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT BOTH THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MANUFACTURER, HELLA, AS WELL AS THE CAR MANUFACTURER, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA; BOTH COMPANIES DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. PROBLEM EXPANDS OVER MANY MODELS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I HAVE EVEN HEARD OF HEADLAMPS CATCHING FIRE, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. EVEN IF THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO PURCHASE A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR ~$1,500, THE WIRING WILL LIKELY STILL CAUSE THE SAME ISSUE A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THE HEADLAMP BULBS ARE HIGH VOLTAGE XENON GAS BULBS THAT HAVE OVER 20K VOLTS FEEDING THEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,520. ....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF UPDATED 2/23/2016*JS *CN

THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PRODUCED BY HELLA CONTAINS APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE WIRING. THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE HIGH BEAM BULBS AND THE PARKING LIGHT BULBS DETERIORATES AND CRUMBLES OFF LEAVING EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. MOVING THE WIRES DURING REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF BULBS CAUSED THE INSULATION TO BREAK OFF COMPLETELY. THE PROBLEM WAS JUST DISCOVERED, BUT WAS OBVIOUSLY IN A STATE OF DECAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AGGRESSIVELY. IT HAPPENS ON UP-SHIFT 1-2 AND DOWNSHIFT 2-1. IT HAPPENS LIKE 4 TO 5 TIMES IN A WEEK. ALSO SOMETIMES I GET A BIG SLAM ON BOTH UP-SHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT... WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGE POPS UP AND REDUCES MY MOVEMENT TO SAFE-MODE, UNLESS I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE. IF YOU TAKE TIME TO GO ON BMW FORUMS AND BLOGS, EVERYONE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH THIS 5 SERIES... PLEASE DO SOMETHING.. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINT ERROR POPS UP EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT SEATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO.. ALMOST EVERY BMW OWNER HAS THIS PASSENGER ISSUE...

THE AIR BAG WARNING CAME ON IN THE INFORMATION CENTER ABOUT A MALFUNCTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER SAID SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT.

THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT BUT IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE MAY NOT BE PROTECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEFAULT MESSAGE IN MY CAR. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST .THANK YOU

I OWN A 2004 BMW 530 I MY DAGHTER JUST CAME BACK FRO WORK SHE PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY AND SHE CAME INSIDE SHE HAD DIINNER AND WE GOT READY FOR BED AT APPROXMENTLY 11PM WE GET A NOCK ON THE SIDE WINDOW WERE FROM THE POLICE DEPT SAY TO EVECUATE AND TO COME OUT NOW WHEN WE CAME OUT THE CAR WAS IN A FIRE AND THE SAINT CLOUD FL MARSHAL SAID THE FIRE START CAUSE DUE TO THE BATTERY OR THE WIRE IN THE TRUNK I CALLED BMW COPPERT OFFICE TO LET THEM KNOW AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NEED TO PICK UP THE CAR TO HAV ENGINER TO LOOK AT THE CAR WAS TOTTLED BMW AFTER THEY TOOL 40 DAY FOR EVALUATION THEY CALLED ME TODAY AND ONLY OFFERED TO PAY $5000.00 TOWARD A CERTIF USED OR NEW BMW I TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I TOLD THEM I WILL CALL YOUR COPANY AND THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY OWNER OUT THERE NEED TO KNOW THIS CAN HAPPEN TO THEM AND THAT RECALL THAT BMW HAD BY REPLACING THE ONLY ONLY A RUBER PART ON THE RED WIRE IN THE TRUNK DOES NOT HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME RECOVER MY MONEY ON THE CAR.I DID NOT HAVE FULL COVERGE I ONLY HAD LIBLTY INSURANCE SO THIS DID NOT HELP I HAVE BEEN DOING MY HOMEWORK AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 1.2 MILLION BMW RECALL AND ONLY 1 FIRE MY CAR IS THE 2ND AS I READ MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ALSO FOUND SOME NEWS COMPANY SUCH NBC HAD A ARTICLE ON THIS ISSUE .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,500.

I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT SIGN CAME ON FEW WEEKS BACK. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NOT COVERED BUT NHTSA SITE INDICATES IT IS COVERED ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. THIS DEALER IS ESTIMATING A $650.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO SEE WHAT NEED TO BE DONE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE? MY LAST OPTION IS THE JUNK YARD, AND NEVER BUY A BMW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHTING WIRES WERE ZIP TIED TOGETHER AND THE CASING WAS MISSING. AS A RESULT, THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP IN THE GARAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE BATTERY CABLE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONTACT'S HOME WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CHAPMAN BMW IN PHOENIX, AR) WHERE A RECALL REPAIR OF THE BATTERY CABLE WAS PERFORMED. THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE SEAT FELT VERY HOT ON MY LOWER BACK. WHEN I GOT TO WORK NOTICED THAT THE LEATHER WAS BURNED THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS LEFT SIDE. YOU CAN SEE THE EXPOSED WIRING. VERY DANGEROUS. BMW WOULD NOT REPLACE. IN SEARCHING ON LINE, I SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION ON THE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT.

BATTERY CABLE/TERMINAL MELTED. CAR WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER SITTING ...THEN CAR WOULD START. RANDOM START. ALSO, RADIO WOULD COME ON ALL BY ITSELF. CALL HAS JUST OVER 100K MILES (101,200). ALSO CODES RECEIVED FOR CAM SHAFT AND AIR PUMP WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED.

I OWN BMW 525I 2004 SINCE 2004. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGN TURN ON IN 2010 AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT "STATING THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED ITEM". I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE WHICH HAS THIS BMW RECALL ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. I CALLED INTO THE DEALER AGAIN AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT THEY STILL REFUSE TO SERVICE AND STATED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED FOR YOUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THIS SITE MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT AS IN CASE OF ANY INCIDENT, AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE HELP ME AS YOU ARE THE SAFETY GRAIL FOR AUTOS. *TR

STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING TO LET IT WARM UP AND TURNED ON SEAT HEATER. GOT IN CAR 5 MIN LATER TO HEAD TO WORK AND SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH SEAT MATERIAL ON DRIVER SEAT. SEAT HEATER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH LEATHER AND BURNT ME AND MY CLOTHES. BURNT LEFT HAND THUMB AND INDEX FINGER TRYING TO PUT FIRE OUT. FROM SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO DEALERS OR MANUFACTURE OF CAR DOING ANYTHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT AND THE SEAT BELT SENSOR LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ALONG WITH A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,800.

LOW SPEED CRASH IN FEBUARY 2015 AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON BUT DIDN'T DEPLOY. THIS ITEM HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO RECALL IN 2011 AND BMW SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR SEAT MAT THAT MALFUNCTIONED AND TO BE PUT IN. NO PASSENGER IN CAR DURING IMPACT I WAS ALONE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE MY PROBLEM OR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SAID PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW AND RECALL DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAG, AND BELT TENSIONER/BELT FORCE LIMITER WARNING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION SURPASSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AFFECTING AIR BAG BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER" DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY GIRLFRIEND TO WORK WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM MY SURROUNDING AREA, NOT MY CAR. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE NOT THINKING TOO MUCH OF IT. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE SMELL GOT STRONGER. I DECIDED TO PULL OVER AT A CONVENIENCE STORE JUST AS PRECAUTION. WHEN I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS NO SMELL, I OPEN THE HOOD, EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO SMELL. I CONCLUDED THAT THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. I TURN OF THE HEAT, IT WAS VERY COLD THAT MORNING, TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEATS, AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. TEN MINUTES LATER, I ARRIVED AT MY GIRLFRIEND WORK PLACE, THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER HEAT. WE WHERE SHOCKED TO SEE THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER SEAT HAD A TWO INCH BURNT MARK IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I DECIDED TO DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THAT MATTER, AND FIND OUT THAT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS VEHICLE. LUCKY FOR US, MY GIRLFRIEND WAS WEARING JEAN, A COAT, AND HAD HER CELL PHONE IN HER BACK POCKET THAT MORNING. IF THAT WAS NOT THE CASE SOME SERIOUS INJURIOUS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. SHE HAD TO GET RID OF THE HER COAT, JEAN, AND CELL PHONE CASE, BUT THAT'S FAR BETTER THAN GOING TO THE HOSPITAL. I NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEATS. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES DUE TO A FAULT. IT WOULD JUMP OR BUMP EVERY TIME I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND IT DOWNSHIFTS INTO 1ST GEAR. I ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE BECAUSE I DID NOT FULLY STOP YET AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. IT FINALLY WOULD GO INTO FAIL SAFE MODE OR LIMP MODE AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT 120,000 MILES WHICH IS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE NEW TRANNY. I NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED EVEN ONE TIME LET ALONE TWICE AND THEY WERE ALL INEXPENSIVE CARS/TRUCKS. I WILL NEVER BUY A BMW AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. 2 TRANSMISSIONS WITH THE EXACT ISSUES THAT WON'T EVEN MAKE IT TO 100,000 MILES. I ALSO SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND VEHICLE. SHAME ON YOU BMW NA FOR NOT OWNING UP TO THIS ISSUE AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. YOU HAVE LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER FOR LIFE AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO STEER CLEAR OF YOUR PRODUCTS (PUN INTENDED). *JS

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 545I. ON THE SECOND TIME HAVING A PASSENGER IN THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I WAS ALERTED BY A CHIME AND MESSAGE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG / SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAD FAILED. ALSO NOTICED WAS THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER, THE SEAT GOT VERY HOT IN ONE PARTICULAR SPOT- ON THE LEFT SIDE NEAR MY HIP (HOT ENOUGH THAT I RECEIVED A MINOR BURN ON MY LEG THROUGH A PAIR OF JEANS). I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AS I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS FOR THE SAME REASONS, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR EITHER ISSUE ON MY MODEL. THE REPRESENTATIVE SIMPLY EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT FIXING THE ISSUES WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT COULD AFFECT MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. *TR

VERY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE WITH THE DECISIONS OF BMW UPON THIS CAR AND ITS HEADLIGHTS. ANY CAR OF THIS CHASSIS E60 FROM THE DATES 2004-2010 HAVE ROTTING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. ASKING AROUND DID NOT HELP MY SITUATION ONE BIT AT ALL. ALL THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED SINCE THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THEM HAVE BEEN DEGRADED DOWN. CAUSING SHORTS, MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, ETC. GOOGLING THIS FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FRUSTRATED ALL ACROSS ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, YOU CANNOT DRIVE ON THESE FOR TOO LONG. MY ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS FAILING PUT MY SECURITY AT RISK WHEN I RELIED ON THEM TO HELP ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNING MATTER RAPIDLY INCREASING IN THE CAR, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SHARP BURNING SENSATION IN MY RIGHT THIGH. WHILE HALF-STANDING I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER MY CAR TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. (WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SAFELY, GIVEN THE TRAFFIC WAS DENSE AND MOVING WITH HIGHWAY SPEEDS.) AFTER I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT, I NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER, EXACTLY WHERE MY THIGH WAS WHEN IT GOT BURNED. IT SEEMED THAT THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. I VENTILATED THE CAR FROM THE BURNING ODOR, WHICH GAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE SEAT TO COOL DOWN. AFTER GETTING TO A SAFER LOCATION I TESTED MY THEORY BY TURNING ON THE SEAT WARMER ? THE ISSUES WAS REPRODUCIBLE. I WENT TO STEVENS CREEK BMW DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS. THEY CHARGED ME $210.88 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND QUOTED WITH AROUND $1,500 FOR THE REPAIRS, IMPLYING THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE AS ?A GOOD WILL? SINCE MY CAR IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES ON IT AND THAT IT HAS NONE OF THE WARRANTIES LEFT. I STILL THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT AS "A GOOD WILL" SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SEAT WARMER. THE SEAT WARMER SHOULD HAVE FAILED IN A FAIL-SAFE WAY BY NOT WARMING OR AT LEAST BLOWING A FUSE (AND AGE & MILES HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH POOR ENGINEERING). *TR

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. DUE TO FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLES UNDER RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY - FOR UNCLEAR REASONS MY CAR NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (CHECKED BY VIN AND WITH DEALER) BUT WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. SPOKE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. FAILURE OCCURRED 2 MONTHS AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V384000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WARMER, OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE CONTACTS CLOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATED ELEMENT WAS FRACTURED CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THINKING THAT IT WOULD BE A SAFE CAR FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING AND AN EXCESSIVELY HARSH 2-1 DOWNSHIFT OCCURS WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP. ALSO, TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL OR A "ROLLING" STOP. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES ON A DAILY BASIS. ONE TIME IN SPECIFIC I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD NIECE AND IT CAUSED HER TO BECOME ALARMED AS WELL AS INJURE HER NECK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE, THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME AN RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO UPGRADE THE SOFTWARE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A "NO CHARGE" REPAIR OR FIX SEEING THAT NO CAR SHOULD BEHAVE IN THIS MANNER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE, AS I AM NO LONGER DRIVING THE CAR AND TAKING THE BUS IN FEAR OF CAUSING ANY INJURY TO MY LOVED ONES. *TR

ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK TO 89,151. HTTP://SFBAY.CRAIGSLIST.ORG/SBY/CTO/4622086070.HTML SELLER'S AD: I HAVE THIS BM. IN GREAT SHAPE AND SUPER CLEAN IN AND OUT V8 89300 MILES ALL,POWER IN SIDE NAVIGATION ,CD STEREO SUNROOF LEATHER SEATS MORE INFO PLEASE CALL ME OR EMAIL ME THANKS. SE HABLA SPANOL[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

EVERYTIME, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, TRANSMISSION HAS A NOTICEABLE "BUMP"/ROUGH SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR, PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. NOW, APPROXIMATELY OVER A YEAR LATER, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ON, TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE. BMW DEALER STATES, TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE DUE TO 3-2-1 DOWNSHIFT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY AT THE SAME BMW DEALERSHIP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.

DRIVER'S SEAT BURNED, LEAVING A CHARRED HOLE IN THE LEATHER APPROX 1" X 5 " NEAR DRIVERS LEFT HIP AREA ON SEAT BACK, MOST LIKELY BY SEAT HEATING ELEMENT MALFUNCTION. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE IN MARYLAND - - WHERE IT IS HOT. I DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT HEATER ON. THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THIS IS VERY STRANGE AND DESERVES INVESTIGATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY THE DRIVE CONTROL MALFUNCTION ALERT APPEARED, A FEW SECONDS LATER, ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION ALERT OCCURRED. IT DID NOT AFFECT MY DRIVING AT ALL, SO I CONTINUED UNTIL ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND TURN THE CAR OFF, WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, BOTH ALERTS CLEARED. NEXT DAY, AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 MINUTES IT HAPPENED AGAIN, ONCE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON, ALERTS DISAPPEARED AGAIN. SOME DAYS DOES NOT COME ON AT ALL, BUT NOTICED IT OCCURS MORE FREQUENT WHEN WEATHER IS HOT. I LIVE IN PHOENIX, AZ THE TEMPS ARE IN 105-109 RANGE. WHEN COOLER WEATHER THE ALERTS DO NOT COME ON. I AM TOLD IT WILL COST OVER $2000 TO REPLACE BOTH SENSORS. THAT IS NUTS... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IN MY CAR, AS WELL AS SEAT BELT LIGHT. IT APPEARS THE AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT THE PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED WITH VERY LOW MILES, AND VERY LITTLE USE. ALL OF THESE CARS WITH THESE PADS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL TO REPOSITION THE PAD OR SOMETHING TO AVOID CRACKING, BUT THESE SAFETY RELATED PARTS ARE CLEARLY JUNK THAT WERE INSTALLED WHEN NEW WEATHER THEY WERE REWORKED, OR REPOSITIONED IN THE SEAT. BMW SHOULD BE REPLACING ALL THESE SEAT SENSOR PADS UNDER RECALL AND SOON, MANY OF THESE CARS NOW HAVE NON WORKING AIRBAGS DUE TO THIS ISSUE, AND IT AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CAR ALL TOGETHER. MODEL YEARS AFFECTED ARE 2004 2005 2006 2007 AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEAMS AFTER READING EXTENSIVELY ON THE ISSUE. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON A BMW 525I 2004. NO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD, IN FRONT OF A BAKERY, DURING THE FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT A REASON, GOING OVER THE BUMP STOP. THE CAR ENDED UP IN THE SIDEWALK, NO INJURIES (FORTUNATELY NO PEDESTRIANS WERE ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME). LUCKILY THE DRIVER HAD THE FOOT ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND COULD TAKE ACTION PREVENTING A CRASH WITH THE BUILDING'S DOOR AND AVOIDING HITTING THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE SHOP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WILL UNDERGO TESTING. SERVICE ADVISER CLAIMS NO ISSUE LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, ONLY IN TOYOTA'S. NOT TRUE AT ALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PUMP, BRAKE BOOSTER PUMP SEAL, AND THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 01/20/15*JB

MY 2004 BMW 530I HAS BOTH THE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON DISPLAY AT ALL TIMES ON MY DASHBOARD. THESE LIGHTS ON ARE CAUSED BY A FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT WHICH BMW HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON. AFTER DROPPING MY CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED ROUGHLY 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND I CANNOT HAVE THIS WORK PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CHARGED ME $140 FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1050 OUT OF POCKET TO GET REPAIRED. I IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM OF MY SITUATION AS THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS HOPING THEY COULD FIX MY CAR IN GOOD FAITH AS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE OR EVEN PROVIDE ME WITH A DISCOUNTED REPAIR. UNFORTUNATELY TWO MONTHS WENT BY WITH NO RESPONSE. WHEN I REACHED OUT AGAIN THEY SAID NO THIS IS NOT THEIR HEADACHE AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS AND REPAIRS RELATED TO THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION WHICH I AM SURPRISED IS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IT SPECIFICALLY STATES IF BOTH WARNING LAMPS ARE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY, BMW RECOMMENDS NOT TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED. ALSO, THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE SAYS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON SUCH A SENSITIVE MATTER IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

OUR CARS BRAKES FAILED AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP WE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND SENSORS AND TESTED THE CAR AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AS THE OLD PADS WERE STILL OVER 60%.WE TOOK THE CAR TO BMW OF ARLINGTON TEXAS FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND TOLD US THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THEY ORDERED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND AT THAT TIME THE QUOTE WAS A LITTLE OVER $1000.THEY CALLED US BACK AND SAID THAT WHEN THEY TOOK OUT THE MASTER CYLINDER THEY NOTICED THE BRAKE BOOSTER SERVO HAD OIL IN IT AND THE DIAPHRAGM WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NOW THE QUOTE WENT UP OVER $2000 THEY INSTALLED ALL THE PARTS AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO US SAID EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. WE WENT ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POUNDING NOISE,PULLED OVER ON THE FREEWAY AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE BRAKING IT WAS THE SAME AS WE HAD ORIGINALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT .WE TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COVER WAS MISSING I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS FINE EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES SO THEY KEPT THE CAR IN THE SHOP AND ORDERED THE MISSING PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM FOR NO CHARGE. THEY DELIVERED THE CAR BACK TO US FRIDAY APRIL 10TH NOW NEARLY 3 WEEKS LATER WE LEFT THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND USED OUR OTHER CARS AS IT WAS LOW ON GAS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REFILL IT. TODAY APRIL 12TH MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO GET IT GASSED UP AND READY FOR MONDAY. SHE DROVE OFF AND TRIED TO STOP AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND SINCE SHE WAS REALLY SLOW THE CAR DID STOP BUT WAY PAST THE STOP SIGN ALMOST HITTING THE CURB. THE BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THEY RELEASED AN UNSAFE MOTOR VEHICLE ON THE STREET WHEN THE BRAKES WERE CLEARLY NOT REPAIRED TO STANDARD I HAVE PAID OVER $2000 AND I HAVE A CAR THAT IS STILL BROKEN PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS. *TR UPDATED 10/3/2014 *JS

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE CAME ON THE SCREEN OF THE IDRIVE OF THE CAR WHEN MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS PLACED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER RETURNING TO THE PARKING LOT AFTER HER DOCTOR VISIT: "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". IT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,000.

I STARTED MY CAR AND TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON LOW. APPROX 5 MINS LATER, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH BECAUSE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED TWO HOLES IN THE LEATHER AND SMOKE HAD CIRCULATED IN MY CAR. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SMOKE CLEARED. I HAD CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND BMW NA IN DEC 2012 BECAUSE I FELT THE SEAT HEATERS WERE GETTING TOO HOT - THE DRIVERS SEAT REGISTERED 132 DEGREES AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT HEATER AND BMW NA NEVER RESPONDED, OUTSIDE THE STANDARD FORM EMAIL TELLING ME THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. TODAY, THE SEAT HEATER FINALLY BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN BURNED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, WITH MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS STILL ON (EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT). I WENT TO THE STEVENS CREEK BMW DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT THE REASON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IS BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS NOT SENSING A PASSENGER DUE TO CABLE CORROSION. THAT SEEMS ODD, GIVEN I KEEP MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND IT NEVER HAD ANY WATER DAMAGE. ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A POOR ENGINEERING ON BMW'S SIDE, SINCE IN CASE OF CORRODED CABLE OR FAULTY SENSOR THE DEFAULT BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE TO ALWAYS KEEP THE AIRBAG "ON". IT IS BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY AND (IN CASE OF ACCIDENT) DEPLOYING AN AIRBAG WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IS BETTER THAN NOT DEPLOYING AN AIRBAG WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER... THIS IS A CASE OF "POTENTIALLY SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE" VS "POTENTIALLY SAVING A FEW DOLLARS"... *TR

WHILE DRIVING, A SMELL OF BURNING MATTER RAPIDLY INCREASED IN THE CAR, THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SHARP BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT THIGH. I STOPPED THE CAR, GARBED MY EXTINGUISHER AND LOOKED AROUND THE SEAT FOR ANY SIGNS OF FIRE. THEN I NOTICED A BLACK BURNED HOLE ON THE SEAT BOTTOM LEFT BOLSTER EXACTLY WHERE MY THIGH BURNED. IT SEEMED THAT THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED, AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. TURNING ON THE CAR AND WARMER AGAIN FOR COUPLE SECONDS, RESULTED IN SPARKS APPEARING THROUGH THE HOLE. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR IS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY ANYMORE, AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE SEATS ISSUED FOR MY CAR. TO CONTACT MY BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND THAT THEY MIGHT COVER A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. CHECKING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA, I AM SURPRISED BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SEAT HEATERS FOR OUR CARS, SPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR, I PARK THE CAR AND CHECK, MY SEAT WAS BURN, I TURN OFF THE HEATING AND I'M NOT BE ABLE TO USED AGAIN THE DEALER ON PARK AVE IN SOUTH HACKENSACK NJ DON'T GET BACK TO ME. PLUS NOW LAST WEEK MAY 31 THE PASSENGER SAFETY LIGHT CAME ON WE ARE THINKING THE CAR IS CURS.EVERY REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

MY VEHICLE IS A 530I WITH A PRODUCTION DATE IN MARCH 2004, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL RCDNN-04V575. DESPITE THE DECEMBER 2004 NOTICE TO NTSHA INDICATING THAT 100% OF VEHICLES WITH THE SEAT HEATING OPTION PRODUCED BETWEEN JUNE 17TH 2003 AND APRIL 30TH 2004. BMW INSISTS THAT MY VEHICLE (PRODUCTION DATE IN MARCH 2004 AND CONTAINING THE SEAT HEATER IN QUESTION) IS, ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY WILL NOT RELEASE TO ME, NOT IN FACT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. THE MALFUNCTION DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE HAPPENED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED, BURNING A HOLE THROUGH MY DRIVER SEAT SIDE BOLSTER. DESPITE AGREEING TO REMEDY THE DRIVER SIDE DAMAGE TO MY SATISFACTION, BMW CONTENDS THAT THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER, WHICH I CONTEND IS DEFECTIVE AND WAS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. I HAVE EMAILS FROM BMW STATING MY VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NO RECALL REPAIRS HAD OCCURRED THEY ARE CLAIMING I AM NOT ENTITLED TO VIEW THE INTERNAL DOCUMENTATION THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOWS THAT THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. WHAT I FIND INEXPLICABLE AND BEYOND BELIEF, IS THAT THEY WOULD ISSUE A NOTIFICATION TO NTSHA IN NOVEMBER 2004, A FULL SIX MONTHS AFTER ALLEGEDLY REMEDYING DEFECTS IN CARS PRODUCED FROM MID-MARCH 2004 THROUGH APRIL 30TH 2004 WITHOUT CORRECTING THOSE DATES IN THE NOTIFICATION LETTER. BMW REFUSES TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER HEATING ELEMENT DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT IT IS IN FACT DEFECTIVE AND SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE THAT PROBLEM REMEDIED AS PRESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OR DEFINITIVE PROOF PRODUCED THAT THE REPAIR WAS CONDUCTED OR ALTERNATIVELY THAT THE REDESIGN WAS IN PLACE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER BEFORE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AS THE HEAT BECAME ABNORMALLY HOT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BURNS TO THE BACK AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,219.

I AM AFRAID TO HAVE ANYONE SIT IN MY CAR BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT WORK! I WORK WITH THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND I OFTEN TRANSPORT CHILDREN. BMW ISSUED THE BELOW RECALL BUT THEY DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN...BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! --------------------------------- STATEMENT ON VOLUNTARY RECALL INVOLVING FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT ON U.S.A. MODEL BMWS - AUGUST 13, 2008 TODAY, BMW ANNOUNCED A VOLUNTARY RECALL REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR MAT INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MODEL YEAR 2004-06 VEHICLES. AFFECTED ARE CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 3-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-06 5-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-06 X3 VEHICLES, DEPENDING UPON SEAT TYPE. BMW HAS FOUND THAT THE SENSOR MAT MAY BECOME DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE USAGE DEPENDING UPON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT. BMW WILL BEGIN SENDING CUSTOMER LETTERS IN LATE SEPTEMBER 2008. AFFECTED OWNERS MAY CONTINUE TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES; HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR BMW CENTER IF THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP, AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ''ON-OFF'' LAMP ARE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. IN THIS SITUATION, BMW RECOMMENDS CUSTOMERS NOT TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED IMMEDIATELY. AT THE PRESENT TIME, WE ARE UNAWARE OF ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIS AN UPDATE OF NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10557262. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT MY CAR DID HAVE A FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT THAT WAS COVERED BY RECALL FOR SOME CARS MY MODEL YEAR BUT NOT MINE. WHAT WAS UPSETTING IS THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS PART WAS REPLACED IN 2007. THE RECALLED WAS ISSUED IN 2008 BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. NOW, THE SENSOR MAT IS BAD AGAIN...YET MY VIN DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME RECALL PROBLEM? I UNDERSTAND BMW NA COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THIS COST AND AFTER OWNING 4 BMW(S) THIS MAY BE MY LAST. I SPOKE TO BMW ON THE PHONE...AND I MIGHT AS WELL BEEN TALKING TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY OFFERED NO HELP WITH COST OR SERVICE...FOR AN AIR-BAG MALFUNCTION. IF THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT MY PASSENGER'S LIFE.....I DO CARE ENOUGH TO LET THEM KNOW HOW UPSET I AM WITH THEM. *TR