2004 BMW 5 Series Complaint Log

OBD WARNING , FAULT WITH PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT , PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS OFF , POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH BELT TENSIONER. *TR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE COMPUTER INDICATED A FAULT IN THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO SWITCH LANES AND THE TRANSMISSION FAUT CAME ON AND IT ALSO STATED TO DRIVE MODERATELY. THE CAR ALSO WENT INTO A SAFE MODE TO WERE I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND IT WOULDN'T SWITCH OUT OF THIRD GEAR. CAR THEN WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AND CODE FAULT WENT ALWAYS , TWO WEEKS LATER SAME THING POPPED UP TRYING TO GET ON HIGHWAY AND NOW WON'T GO AWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WHILE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE SEAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM THE SEAT OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,779.

PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT. *TR

DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR HAS A FAULT WHICH INCAPACITATES THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE PASSENGER SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE BMW SBSR SYSTEM SHOWS FAULT 0095B8. THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE IS A KNOWN BMW PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL, BUT BMW HAS INDICATED MY VIN IS NOT COVERED FOR THIS ISSUE FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. *TR

CUSTOM ORDERED 545I IN 2004 AS STILL ORIGINAL/EXISTING OWNER. HAVE HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL ERRORS ON I DRIVE "DYNAMIC DRIVE FAILURE PROCEED WITH CAUTION AS THE STEERING HAS BEEN EFFECTED AND SEE YOUR BMW AUTHORIZED REP," "ELECTRICAL FAILURE SEE YOUR BMW AUTHORIZED REP. IMMEDIATELY PROCEED WITH CAUTION, "PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAULT PROCEED WITH CAUTION EFFECTING BELT AND BELT FORCE LIMITER, STALLING AT VERY LOW AND AS HIGH RATES OF SPEED AS HIGH AS 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING." SOMETIMES THE CAR LOGS THE ERRORS AND MANY TIMES IT DOESN'T FULLY THAT IT TAKES BMW NA'S COMPUTER TO ACCESS THE EXTENDED RAM IN THE CAR TO RETRIEVE PER BMW NA THAT THE DEALERSHIPS CAN'T. I EVEN HAVE PICTURES OF THE ERRORS THE CAR DOESN'T LOG SO THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. BMW ENGINEERS IN GERMANY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED AS THE CAR REFUSED TO REPROGRAM TWICE FOR THE DEALERSHIP. THIS CAR IS COMPLIANT W/ALL RECALLS PER THE DEALER AND HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 16 TIMES W/ONLY 70K MILES. THE DEALER AND BMW NA CAN'T DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS EXCEPT TO SAY THEY THINK THEY'RE BEING TRIGGERED BY LOW VOLTAGE AND ITS HAD 3 BATTERIES AT LESS THAN 70K MILES, ISN'T DRIVEN MUCH, AND BMW NA NOR THE DEALERSHIP CAN PERMANENTLY RESOLVE THE ERRORS AND STALLING AND/OR STOP THEM. BMW NA AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE REPLACED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AT 13K MILES, HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AFTER QUALIFYING AS A LEMON UNDER THE LEMON LAW SINCE BEFORE 10K MILES AND BEEN GIVEN MULTIPLE EXCUSES FOR ALL OF THE ERRORS THEY CAN'T RESOLVE. THEY KEEP TELLING US TO BRING IT BACK EVERY TIME, BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT $6K TO CONTINUALLY SERVICE ELECTRICAL AND STALLING/RUNNING ROUGH ISSUES THEY CAN'T FIX UNDER ORIGINAL FACTORY WARRANTY. THEY'RE NOT REPORTING SERVICE TRIPS TO CARFAX AND REFUSE TO RELEASE DOCUMENTATION ON THE CAR REGARDING THE PROBLEMS TO US OR OUR ATTORNEYS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THERE IS A COMPONENT CALLED MPM(MICRO POWER MODULE) BENEATH THE SPARE TIRE AND IS COMPLETELY BURNT DUE TO SOME WATER IN THE TRUNK. THE PLASTIC CASE WHICH COVERS THE COMPONENT IS BURNT AND THERE IS CLEAR INDICATION OF FIRE. SPOKE TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ADVISED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE . PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS ISSUE AS THIS MAY BE HAZARDOUS. *TR

BMW HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE UNDER RECALL OF THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT DEALING WITH THE SEAT MAT/SENSOR THAT DEVELOPS CRACKS OVER TIME FROM REPEATED ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL AND THIS CAR IS CLEARLY EFFECTED BY IT BUT BMW SAYS IT IS NOT. AS THE VEHICLE WAS JUST PURCHASED TO REPLACE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD ACTUALLY HAD AN ACCIDENT, THE SAFETY RELATED EQUIPMENT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. BMW ADMITS THERE IS A RECALL(ID# 76546) BUT CLAIMS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. THIS COULD EFFECTIVELY END MY OWNERSHIP OF ANY BMW IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT FIX PROMPTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE VALVE STEM SEALS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

IDRIVE IS TOTALLY BLACK, INCLUDING ALL DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS, NO WIPERS OR POWER TO WINDOWS, ONLY MY ENGINE RUNS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT WATER GOT INTO THE SUNROOF AND LEAKED TO THE TRUCK NEAR TIRE AND CAUSE TWO GASKETS TO BURN OUT. I AM TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPAIR IS $1650 OR $2950 DEPENDING ON WHICH OPTION I CHOOSE. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY RETURN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUED BUT THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR COST, EVEN THOUGH THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR

I HAD A BULB FAILURE WARNING ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. I BOUGHT THE PARKING LIGHT BULB, WENT TO REPLACE IT, AND FOUND ALL OF THE WIRING INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING CRUMBLING TO BITS. THERE WERE LITERALLY BARE WIRES CROSSING ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER, WHICH IS CLEARLY A FIRE HAZARD. WHEN I ASKED MY BMW DEALER ABOUT THIS, THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM, IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND I HAVE TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHTS. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF INTERNAL HEADLIGHT WIRING BEING CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM, BUT BMW SAYS OTHERWISE. I HAVE A 30 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ALL OF ITS WIRING INTACT; THIS BMW HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT HAD HIT 10 YEARS OLD. I SPENT APPROXIMATELY $2000 FOR NEW HEADLIGHTS. CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, AS IT PRESENTS A CLEAR FIRE HAZARD. I DO KNOW OF ONE PERSON WHO EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO THIS DEFECT IN A '05 525I. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TURN ON CAR AND WAS WARMING UP WHEN AIRBAG LIGHT WHEN ON AND A ERROR CODE SAID FAULTY PASSENGER AIRBAG RESTRAINTS. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW 530I. AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE-WAY, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION LIGHT APPEARED AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, BEFORE I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL, AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I PLACED MY PURSE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER SEARCHING HIS DATABASE, HE TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR IT. I WOULD BELIEVE THIS IF MY VEHICLE WASN'T A 2004 AND I HAVE BEEN PLACING MY PURSE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 2004! *TR

WHEN I GOT UP OUT THE SEAT THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT INDICATOR CAME ON AND IS STILL ON. IT SAYS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AND IT WILL NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS. ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OIL LEAKS IN THE ENGINE. *TR

IN MARCH PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AIR BAG LIGHT TURN ON FOR NO REASON. I HAVE SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND COME TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FROM BMW FOR 2004 525I SERIES. I CALL LOCAL DEALERSHIP BMW OF PLANO TEXAS AND PROVIDE THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND OTHER INFORMATION AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED. EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOTED ON NHTSA SITE THAT 100K OR 10 YRS THIS RECALL IS COVERED. NOT SURE WHAT CAN I DO AS THIS IS REAL SERIOUS ISSUE WHERE AIR BAG WILL NOT BE ENABLED EVEN IF A PASSENGER SIT IN THE SEAT

WHILE TRAVELING AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN INTO A BUSINESS, THE CAR BESIDE ME (LEFT OF ME) MAKES A QUICK FAST U TURN AND ENDS UP HITTING MY CAR. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HITTING ME INTO MY FACE/HEAD VERY HARD. I HAVE BEEN IN TREATMENT SINCE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MAJOR SURGERY ON MY NECK, STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AND MAY NEED MORE SURGERY. MY NECK WILL NOT BE THE SAME AND ALWAYS IN PAIN. I HAVE LOUD RINGING IN MY EARS THAT IS PERMANENT. I HAVE HEADACHES WITH SINUS PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. I FEEL LIKE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE NOT DEPLOYED UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I NOW SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION, CAN'T WORK DOING WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW AND ANYTHING ELSE VERY LONG WITH OUT BEING IN PAIN IN MY NECK. I AM VERY UPSET OVER THIS. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON AND IT BECAME VERY HOT, BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. *TR

THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ARE ON IN CAR, BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS MANUFACTURE FAULT, WHEN I CALLED BMW DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME MANUFACTURE FAULT. I THINK BMW MANUFACTURER IS AT LIBEL AT PRESENT, LET'S JUST HOPE NOTHING HAPPENED TO MYSELF AND FAMILY WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I WANT BMW TO ADD MY CAR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S SEAT MAT SENSOR EXTENDED WARRANTY REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. ...UPDATED 07-24-13 *BF

BMW RECALLED 2004 BMW 525I AND OTHERS FOR THE SEAT MAT SENSOR. I HAD CALLED THEM (2012-13) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE (BASED ON VIN) WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. I INFORMED THEM THAT MY VEHICLE'S MAT SENSOR WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THEM. THEY, BMW USA TOLD ME THAT MINE WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. I STILL CANT UNDERSTAND IF THE REST ARE DEFECTIVE, HOW COME MINE IS CONSIDERED NOT DEFECTIVE WHEN ITS INOPERATIVE AND SAME PROBLEM AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER 2004 525I. *TR

MAIN PROBLEM: VEHICLE EXHIBITS HIGHLY UNSAFE TENDENCIES OF TURNING OFF RANDOMLY, LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER, NO FUNCTIONING GAUGES, NO FUNCTIONING LIGHTS, AND MORE. CAUSE: FAULTY ALTERNATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR. SCENARIO: ON 12/21/2012, A 2004 BMW 545I VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 29,000 MILES ON ITS ODOMETER IS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY DRIVING 70MPH, HIGHWAY IS FLAT AND SPEED IS CONSTANT WITH VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC. WITHOUT WARNING, CAR COMPLETELY TURNS OFF, ALL GAUGES (SPEED, TACHOMETER, AND FUEL) REVERT TO "0" POSITION, RADIO TURNS OFF, LIGHTS TURN OFF, CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS AND HAS NO PROPULSION POWER NOR SPEED CONTROL AT ALL. BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED, STEERING REVERTED TO A VERY FIRM FEELING. ABOUT 10 SECONDS OF COASTING LATER, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONICS RESUME OPERATION. MULTIPLE INCIDENTS WERE TO OCCUR BETWEEN 12/21/2012 AND 1/29/2013 TO VARYING DEGREES OF SEVERITY. ON 1/29/2013, THE VEHICLE FAILED IN A SIMILAR CAPACITY THREE TIMES ON A 21 MILE JOURNEY. ON 1/30/2013, VEHICLE FAILED TWICE. ON 1/31/2013, THE BMW 545I VEHICLE IS AT AN AUTHORIZED BMW DEALER. IT IS DETERMINED THE ALTERNATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR ARE DEFECTIVE. ELECTRICAL POWER WAS NOT CONSISTENTLY BEING GENERATED NOR ALLOCATED TO VITAL VEHICLE COMPUTERS. THESE INTERRUPTIONS IN POWER SUPPLIES, WHICH LAST APPROXIMATELY 7-10 SECONDS, ARE REFERRED TO AS BROWN-OUTS AND THEY VARY IN DEGREE OF SEVERITY. THE MAJOR CASES INCAPACITATED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, SHUTTING DOWN ALL GAUGES, LIGHTS, AND CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS. ON 2/1/2013, THE BMW 545I WAS DELIVERED BACK TO THE OWNER WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR REPLACED. THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF REPAIR WAS ONLY 33,426. NOTE: BMW DEALER NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY OF THE 5-SERIES MODELS IN THE 2004 AND UP YEAR RANGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER ENGAGED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER. SEVERAL MOMENTS LATER, THEY NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE SEAT. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTING THE FAILURE, THE DRIVER DISCOVERED A LARGE BURN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DRIVER WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURRED DURING WET OR ICY ROAD CONDITIONS DUE TO BREAKING TRACTION FROM WHEELS AND ROAD SURFACE. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THOUSANDS OF 5 SERIES BMW'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE RESULT IS A DEFECTIVE MECHATRONICS WHICH COSTS BETWEEN $5000-$8000 TO FIX AND NOT COVERED BY BMW OR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

SUBJECT: 2004 BMW 535I ON OCTOBER 30,2012 JUST AFTER HURRICANE SANDY HIT THE EAST COAST OF NEW JERSEY, I HAD OCCASION TO USE MY 535I. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED VARIOUS WARNING AND FAULT LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE CONTROL PANEL, LOSS OF POWER AND THE CABIN BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I MANAGED TO PULL ACROSS SEVERAL LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY I WAS ON (ROUTE 42N). UPON INSPECTION I FOUND 6-8 INCHES OF WATER IN THE TRUNK WHEEL WELL. UNDER THE SPARE TIRE I OBSERVED A BURNING AND SMOKING MSM POWER MODULE. I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER IN TURNERSVILLE, NJ. THE DEALER REFUSED ANY LIABILITY OR FAULT FOR THE $3000 REPAIR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING AND RELOCATING THE MSM POWER MODULE, REPLACING THE RADIO SYSTEM, CLEANING WATER STAINS FROM THE HOOD LINER AND TRYING TO ALLEVIATE THE SMOKE ODOR. I CAME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO RELOCATE THE MSM POWER MODULE HIGHER IN THE TRUNK FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE DEALER LIED AND TOLD ME WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK VIA LOOSE TRUNK RIVETS. I LATER DETERMINED THE WATER ENTERED THE TRUNK FOLLOWING CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAINS. THE DEALER DID NOT DENY THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED BUT REFUSED TO COVER THE DAMAGES. BMW SHOULD BE SUED AS I'VE DETERMINED THIS ISSUE IS NOT ATYPICAL AND COULD LEAD TO A DISASTER. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

ON BMW WITH THE N62 4.4L V8 ENGINE THERE'S AN OIL LEAK ON THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET THAT LEAKS FOR A WHILE UNTIL IT IS INSPECTED AND FOUND IT LEAKS OIL ON THE STEERING COMPONENTS I THINK CAUSING THE STEERING COMPONENTS TO DETERIORATE AFTER A WHILE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. THE OIL LEAK EVENTUALLY HAPPENS TO ALL N62 4.4L V8 ENGINES. *TR

CAR WAS GOING TO BE PURCHASED ON 8/24/2012 WAS TOLD TO DRIVE FOR THE WEEKEND. ON 8/27/2012 AROUND 3:00 IN THE MORNING (AFTER FILLING WITH FUEL THE PRIOR EVENING) WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, THEN FOLLOWED BY FIRETRUCKS AND AMBULANCES. UPON INSPECTION THE BMW IN THE PARKING GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WINDOWS HAD BLOWN OUT. ACCORDING TO FIRE MARSHALL FIRE STARTED AT BATTERY IN TRUNK AND WAS IGNITED BY GASOLINE VAPORS. CAUSED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE TO CAR PARKED NEXT TO IT AS WELL. *TR

IN JUNE 2012, I RECEIVED SERVICE FOR THE BATTERY CABLE RECALL FOR MY 2004 525I AT BEVERY HILLS BMW SERVICE CENTER. ONE WEEK AFTER MY SERVICE A SERVICE INDICATOR ON MY I-DRIVE SAID THERE WAS PASSENGER RESTRAINT/AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THE BEVERLY HILLS BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THIS SERVICE INDICATOR WAS TRIGGERED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL WHICH HAPPENED SHORTLY <1000 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE BATTERY CABLE RECALL. THE RECALL SERVICE DONE AT BEVERLY HILLS BMW WAS RELATED TO THE MOUNTING OF THE BATTERY CABLES TO A CONNECTION IN THE MID-TRUNK, AND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL CABLE THAT CONNECTS THERE RUNS BACK TO THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE TRUNK AND CONNECTS TO THE BATTERY, COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL CAN MALFUNCTION IF ANY CONNECTION TO IT IS LOOSE CAUSING AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN IMPEDANCE IN THE CIRCUIT, OR ON THE CONTRARY CAN BE CAUSED BY BLOWN FUSE RELATED TO A RAPID RISE IN VOLTAGE. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT HEATING OF THE BATTERY CABLE (THE ISSUE THE RECALL EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE), COULD HAVE CAUSED THE BATTERY TERMINAL TO MALFUNCTION, THOUGH THAT DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS PROBLEM WOULD SURFACE ONLY AFTER THE REPAIR WORK. FURTHERMORE, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL IS NOT A WEARABLE PART, SO IT SEEM ILLOGICAL TO THINK THAT'S IT'S MALFUNCTION, TIMED TO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE. BMW OF BEVERY HILLS IS ATTMEPTING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL REPAIR $870.00 EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR FALLED ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE RECALL. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS IS DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP IS ILLUMINATED. THIS ISSUE IS THE SAME AS THE 2004 BMW 5 SERIES FRONTAL AIRBAG RECALL ( #08V384000), BUT FOR SOME REASON WHEN I CONTACTED BMW AT 1-800-525-7417 AND PROVIDED THEM MY VIN NUMBER THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE REVIEW AND RECONSIDER AS THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR, SHORTLY AFTER THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK. THERE WAS A CABLE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY THAT COME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER MODULE TO BURNT OUT. THERE WAS POWER OUTAGE THROUGHOUT THE CAR, THE NOTICEABLE ONES INCLUDED: THE RADIO (THE SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLACK AND THERE WAS NO SOUND); THE CAR ALARM; AND THE BING ALERTING SOUNDS THAT GOES OFF WHEN KEY IS IN IGNITION, SEATBELTS ARE NOT STRAPPED,ETC. WERE NOT WORKING. MY TECHNICIAN CHANGE THE POWER MODULE THEN HE NOTICED THAT THE CABLE THAT CAME LOOSE ONLY DISCONNECTS WHEN THERE IS A CAR ACCIDENTS AS A PRECAUTION, JUST THE SAME WAY THE AIRBAGS DEFLATE. HE ADVISED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO AN EXPLOSION. WHEN I INFORMED BMW CENTER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A DEFECT THAT IT WAS "WEAR AND TEAR", BUT THEN AGAIN THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO DIAGNOSE IT, THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT! *TR

THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR, SHORTLY AFTER THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TRUNK. A CABLE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY CAME LOOSE WHICH CAUSE THE POWER MODULE TO BURN OUT. THERE WAS A POWER OUTAGE THROUGHOUT THE CAR, THE NOTICEABLE ONES INCLUDED; THE RADIO (NO IMAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND NO SOUND); THE CAR ALARM WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BING SOUND ALERTING KEY IN IGNITION, SEATBELT NOT STRAPPED, ETC. WAS NOT WORKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AIR BAG MAT SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS DISABLED THE AIRBAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, ANY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAGS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY2004-2006 BMW 5-SERIES MODELS (ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER MODELS) FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE (PER VIN) IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAULT AS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL ISSUED BY BMW NA. NEITHER MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, OR BMW NA IS WILLING TO COVER THIS FAILURE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. *JS

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR HAS A VERY BAD JERK LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. AND SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND WITH HOW HARD OTHER JERKS ARE. *TR

THE RESTRAINT LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE LIGHT WILL NOT RESET. I KNOW FOR A FACT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT COVER OR SOMETHING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THIS STARTED AROUND 2010 OR 2011 NOT SURE. BUT JUST A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS TOLD IT MAY BE UNDER A RECALL STATUS AS WELL BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS SERVICED. AND THE LIGHT SAYS *PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT. BUT MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM SO IS THIS A RECALL AND WHEN CAN IT BE FIXED, I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR BUT REALLY DO NEED THE BMW COMPANY TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND BACK THEIR PRODUCT AS ONE OF THE BEST, THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, TWO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), HOWEVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

THERE IS A BMW SERVICE BULLETIN SI B 65 75 06 WHERE THEY SAY THEY WILL FIX AN AIRBAG AND SEATBELT ISSUE ON E60, E61 (5 SERIES) VEHICLES PRODUCED UP TO 11/2005. THE BULLETIN SAYS IT IS DUE TO OC3 SEAT MAT FAULT. DUE TO PARTS DEFECT THEY ALSO COVER IT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 10 YEAR WARRANTY ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN. MY BMW 5 SERIES WAS MANUFACTURED IN 08/04 AND CURRENTLY HAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OUTLINED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT I HAVE MICRO CRACKS IN MY OC3 SEAT MAT AND THATS WHY MY AIRBAGS ARE NOW OFF ALL THE TIME WHEN I DRIVE. I CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANY RUNNING AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM DETECTS MICRO CRACKS IN MY OC3 SEAT MAT AND DISENGAGES THE AIRBAGS BECAUSE IT DETECTS THAT SOMEONE IS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ANYMORE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND SINCE IT DISPLAYS IT ON THE MAIN SCREEN AT ALL TIMES I CANNOT EVEN SELL THE VEHICLE SINCE NO ONE WOULD WANT ONE WITHOUT AIRBAGS THAT WORK. BMW SAYS THEY WILL CORRECT THIS ISSUE ON A CUSTOMER COMPLAIN BASIS IN THE RECALL. WHEN I LET BMW DEALERSHIP KNOW ABOUT MY ISSUE THEY SAY THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER AND BMW IS REFUSING TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE A 5 SERIES AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR BULLETIN. I AM WITHIN THE GUIDELINES ISSUED ON SI B65 75 06 DATED FEBRUARY 2009. FROM SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH BMW 545'S WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE RECTIFIED BY BMW. IT IS THE SAME PART AND SAME ISSUE (MICRO CRACKS) THEY NEED TO COVER THIS SO I HAVE WORKING AIRBAGS. *TT

DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

INTERMITTENT HARSH 2-1 DOWNSHIFT (JOLT) WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION. JOLTS AND/OR JERKS FELT WHEN REACCELERATING AFTER COASTING. JUDDER WHEN GENTLY ACCELERATING (MOST NOTICEABLE AT AN ENGINE SPEED BELOW 2,000 RPM). *TR

VEHICLE SLIPS IN AN OUT OF 5TH AND 6TH GEAR WHEN TRAVELING AT CONSTANT 35 TO 40 MPH IN AUTO MODE AND AROUND 60 MPH IN DS MODE. NOTICEABLE OIL LEAKS AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE AND VEHICLE BANGS INTO GEAR ( WHILE DOWNSHIFTING ON OCCASION) ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO CUT OUT FOR A SPLIT SECOND WHILE DRIVING. HEADS UP DISPLAY AND RADIO ILLUSTRATES THIS FINDING AS THEY SHUT OFF FOR A SECOND. THE CLOCK IS ALSO BEHIND A FEW MINUTES / WEEK BECAUSE OF THIS. *TR

I AM WRITING TO SEE IF I CAN OBTAIN SOME ASSISTANCE WITH A PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON MY 530I, SPECIFICALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. EARLY IN 2012 I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY WIFE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHT UNIT WOULD OCCASIONALLY COME ON. IT WOULD NOT STAY ON FOR LONG BUT WOULD COME ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BMW ON MAY 12 TO HAVE THE ISSUE LOOKED INTO. THE CAR HAD 87437 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM AS NO CODES WERE STORED FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS OCCURRING. SINCE THIS TIME THE FREQUENCY OF THE LIGHT COMING ON HAS INCREASED. I RETURNED TO CONCOURS BMW ON MARCH 24, 2014 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT WORK AND TO FIX IT WOULD COST $1724.00. BMW SAID THE SAFETY INFORMATION MODULE WAS BAD. *JS

MY CAR HAS THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION MESSAGE ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN AND ALSO THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ARE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE IS A RECALL FOR SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR BELOW AND AS YOU CAN SEE MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE CRITERIA AS THE CARS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL BUT A VISIT TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVE RECALLS UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AND THE RISK OF BEING SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BMW SHOULD REPLACE IN MY CAR UNDER THE RECALL AS IT HAS THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING PART SUCH AS THE CARS LISTED BELOW. RECALL ID # 57362 - AIR BAGS:FRONTAL RECALL DATE AUG 05, 2008 RECALL DATE: AUG 05, 2008 MODEL AFFECTED: 2006 BMW 3-SERIES SUMMARY: BMW IS RECALLING 200,000 MY 2006 3 SERIES SPORT SEAT, MY 2004-2006 5 SERIES STANDARD AND SPORT SEAT, AND MY 2004-2006 X3 PASSENGER VEHICLES. DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT, SMALL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP WILL BE ILLUMINATED. CONSEQUENCES: IN THIS SITUATION THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCE APPLICATION TO THE SEAT DOES NOT CAUSE A CRACK TO THE MAT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008. BMW WILL ALSO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES TO 10 YEARS FROM FIRST REGISTRATION WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417. POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 200000 NOTES: BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC *JS

THE BATTERY DIED SO I GOT A NEW ONE. AFTER REINSTALLING IT, ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ACTIVE STEERING CAME ON ALSO. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OFF THE LOT, I REALIZED MY STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT BUT I WAS GOING STRAIGHT. NOW I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *JS

DEALER IS TELLING ME A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED.