2004 BMW 5 Series Complaint Log

CONSUMER IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 328I AND A 2004 525I BMW. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE MESSAGE IN VEHICLE AND SEAT SENSOR MAT. CONSUMER EXPRESSED DISCONTENT CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR REPAIRS *TGW WHILE EXITING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A MESSAGE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE APPEARED AS ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, THE WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE DOING SOME RESEARCH , THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL IDENTIFYING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MATS IN BMW MODEL YEARS 2004-2006. IT ALSO STATED BMW EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT TO SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING THE CONSUMERS 2004 MODEL. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT IN THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AN UPDATED SEAT MAT AND THEREFORE, HE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,242.78. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE UPDATED SENSOR MAT WAS JUST AS FAULTY AS THE NON-UPDATED MAT AND FAILED AFTER 6 YEARS UNDER NORMAL USAGE. *JB

I HAVE MY CAR ROUTINELY SERVICED WITH A CERTIFIED BMW TECHNICIAN AT A BMW SERVICE CENTER. RECENTLY MY TECHNICIAN TOLD ME MY CAR GAVE A CODE FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILURE. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS. CURRENTLY I HAVE A "FAULT DETECTION" OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR. IF SOMEONE WERE TO SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND IF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED ANY FRONT END DAMAGE, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. AS OF NOW THE VEHICLE CANNOT DETERMINE IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. THIS FAILURE WILL NOT ALLOW THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN A COLLISION. BMW IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. INFACT, THEY HAVE STATED THAT CRACKS ARE CAUSED DUE TO GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AS A RESULT, THE AIRBAG SENSOR FAILS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS CODE HOWEVER, BMW CLAIMS MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. THE YEAR, MAKE, MODEL AND SEAT ALL QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL. SAFETY IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN AND I CANNOT SEE HOW THIS CANNOT BE COVERED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND LEFT A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING PADS OVER HEATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,700.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 540 FIVE I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING INTO THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). AFTER REPAIRS, OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK INTO THE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT WATER ENTERED THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) BUT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE HE NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THE DRIVERS SEAT CATCH FIRE FROM SEAT HEATER ON BMW 525I FROM YEAR 2004 . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATED SEAT TEMPERATURES WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEATING MAT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V575000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER) AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

BMW 2004 545I ACTIVE STEERING PROBLEM. MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACTIVE STEERING LIGHT WENT ON. NOW THE CAR DRIVES STRAIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TILTED TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY VOLTAGE DROP. CAR STARTS TO SHUT DOWN MAJOR COMPONENTS ACTIVE STEERING, TRANSMISSION, NAVIGATION, AND I-DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS THE WHOLE CARS ELECTRONICS. SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE A 8 MONTH OLD KID IN A CAR. *TR

DRIVER'S SEAT ON A 2004 BMW 530I E60 ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO HEATED SEATS FEATURE. I TURNED THE HEAD SEATS ON AND AFTER 5 MINUTES I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE. THE FIRE MADE A SMALL HOLE ON THE SEAT. I STOPPED THEN TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY AND I WAS NOT DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CRACKS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON AND PREVENT AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING IN A CRASH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 08V384000, AIR BAGS, FRONTAL WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,000.

AIR BAGS PROBLEM ON THE 2004 BMW 530I, IT INDICATES PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING AND LIGHT COME OUT. YEAR AGO I GOT BRING TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF I GOT RECALL ON MY CAR. *TR

THE HEATED LEATHER SEAT FOR MY BMW 2004 530 I MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE FROM A SMALL FIRE THROUGH THE SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO USE HIS SUBMITTED EMAIL AS THE ACTUAL COMPLAINT. OUR 2004 BMW 530I HAD THE DRIVER'S HEATED SEAT CATCH FIRE. I AM NOT GETTING MUCH HELP FROM BMW ON THIS MATTER. TO ME, THIS IS ONE HELLUVA OF AN EASY WAY TO CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ONLY BECAUSE OF MY PARTNER'S QUICK THINKING AND TURNING OFF THE HEATER WAS SHE ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE. IT WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT IT MELTED THE FOAM (TOXIC I AM SURE) IN THE SEAT. SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING WHILE YOU ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. EITHER WAY A MAJOR ACCIDENT CAN HAPPEN. NOT TO MENTION THAT A PERSON COULD BE SEVERELY BURNED. WHILE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THIS SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR WEIGHS IN AT ABOUT 120 POUNDS. FROM CHECKING THE INTERNET THERE SEEMS TO BE A QUITE A NUMBER OF SUCH INSTANCES. THANK YOU SCOTT THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

04 BMW 545 ELECTRICAL FAILURE MPM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MAT WHICH HOLDS THE SENSOR CRACKED. THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS:FRONTAL (08V384000) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. PREVIOUSLY THE CONTACT HAD THE AIR BAG SENSOR REPLACED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IN 2006 AT 33,000 MILES BUT THE SEAT HAD MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

HAD MY CAR 2004 545I (78,250 MILES) SERVICED AT BMW DEALERSHIP IN LONG ISLAND FOR A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN LEAKING AT FLUID. DEALERSHIP REPLACED AND TEST DROVE BEFORE I PICKED IT UP BUT ALSO DENOTED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ATTRIBUTED TO VACUUM PUMP/VANOS SEALS WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AS I WAS DRIVING IT BACK TO NJ FROM LONG ISLAND DEALERSHIP I NOTICED A TRANSMISSION 'KICK/JERK/SURGE' AS CAR DECELERATED SEVERAL TIMES. DROVE THE CAR TO THE MARKET ON SUNDAY (7/25/2010) AND ON THE WAY BACK WARNING ENGINE MALFUNCTION STATING 'ENGINE OPERATING AT REDUCED OUTPUT'. EMAILED THE BMW SA IN LONG ISLAND THAT REPLACED DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PAN/AT FLUID AND HE FELT IT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO OIL LEAK AND BAD VACUUM PUMP/SEALS AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT ASAP. MY LOCAL BMW SA IN NJ JUST EMAILED ME TODAY (7/28/2010) STATING: "LOOKS LIKE THE TRANS IS BAD WAITING FOR BMWNA TO GET BACK TO US WE SENT THEM ALL THE FAULTS SORRY FOR THE BAD NEWS" REPORTS OF THESE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION 'SURGE' IS NOT ISOLATED TO 2004 545I MODEL BUT TO MANY 5-SERIES UP TO 2008 AS NOTED IN THE FOLLOWING FORUM: HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=401524 THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOT ON A LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT ON A CORPORATE, WITH GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, LEVEL AS IT POSES SERIOUS RISKS TO ALL DRIVERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. HE STATED THAT THE VEHICLES I-DRIVE WOULD MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE RADIO TO FAIL, GPS, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE PHONE CALLS FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO DISPLAYED 0 INSTEAD OF THE ACTUAL MPH THAT WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN TAKING OFF FROM AN ALMOST STOPPED POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD VIOLENTLY. THIS HAS LAUNCHED ME INTO INTERSECTIONS AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST REAR-END SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS OF DAILY DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AT A COST TO ME(VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

MY CAR WAS OUT ON A TEST DRIVE WITH A REPAIR FACILITY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART UNTIL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED BUT WOULD NOT STOP. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC ADVISED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM HAD FAILED. MILEAGE 60,000. *TR

1. I IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 BMW 545I WHICH I HAVE. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE, WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN BELOW (IN SECTION 2 AS REQUESTED), ONLINE, AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FOUND THAT IN SOME INSTANCES, BMW CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE, HOWEVER IN MANY INSTANCES, THEY DID NOT (IN SECTION 3, AS REQUESTED). 2. "THE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO 5TH GEAR & THEN BETWEEN 35-40MPH AT A VERY LOW 1200RPM OR SO I WOULD GET THE SURGING OR SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS A VERY LIGHT REPETITIVE HESITATION. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE ELECTRONICS WERE TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER IT SHOULD STAY IN 5TH OR SHIFT BACK TO 4TH BECAUSE OF LOW RPM'S. IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH AN EXTREMELY LIGHT ACCELERATOR PRESSURE. IF YOU GAVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS IT WOULD GO AWAY. A COUPLE TIMES I'D GET A REALLY HARSH SURGE ALMOST LIKE THE "SLAM". THE MANNER THAT THE CAR BEHAVES CAN REALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH THE SURGE IN THE TRANSMISSION, & THE DISTRACTION THAT IT CAUSES TO THE DRIVER. IT HAS BECOME A DISTRACTION TO ME, BEING THE DRIVER, & ALSO NOTICED BY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN THEY FEEL THE CAR SURGE, & THEIR IS ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALERSHIP, & DESCRIBED THE ISSUE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR (REPRESENTATIVE) STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, AS THEY HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AS WELL. HE SAID THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO DO A SOFTWARE UPGRADE, OR REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK, & WAS TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS UPGRADED, & TO TAKE THE VEHICLE AND SEE HOW IT DROVE. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, & THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. THE REPAIR INVOICE SAYS THE SOFTWARE WAS NOT UPDATED. IT ALREADY HAD THE LATEST VERSION. I TOOK THE CAR BACK, AND THEY STATED THE OPERATION OF THE CAR IS NORMAL. IT IS NOT NORMAL. YOU MAY REFERENCE HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=401524 FOR OTHER WHO HAVE HAD THE ISSUE. THE MECHATRONICS UNIT WAS REPLACED ON SOME, AND ALWAYS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. *TR

I OWN A 2004 545I AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING IN THIS CAR. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND IT SHOWED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FAULTY. WHEN I RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR WHICH SPECIFICALLY FIT MY 2004 545I BMW. WHEN I CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP THEY CLAIMED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $1200.00 TO FIX! HOW CAN THIS BE WHEN THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF MY VEHICLE? PLEASE HELP!! *TR

I AM REPORTING A PROBLEM WITH THE SRS PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM OF MY 2004 BMW 530I. THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE MESSAGE ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN STATES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE 'PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM'. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE OPENED THE TRUNK IN THE RAIN THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE MICROPROCESSOR (MPM), LOCATED UNDER THE SPARE TIRE WELL. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR, I-DRIVE AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

MY NAVIGATION AND RADIO SYSTEM JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THE CAR COMMUNICATIONS COMPUTER TO GO BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR 1300.00 AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS COMMON THAT THE PART WENT BAD THAT OFTEN WAS CONFUSING AND I THINK SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THAT PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I (NA). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MALFUNCTION CONTINUED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

CAR SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY LUNGES FORWARD FROM A STOP, SLOW SPEEDS OR WHEN AT LOW RPMS. IT OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY AND IT FEELS AS IF BEING REAR ENDED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED HER A 50% PERCENT DISCOUNT TOWARDS REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,805 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HAD A PASSENGER SITTING NEXT TO ME WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT HAS STAYED ON AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2004 BMW 530I WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES (6 YRS OF OWNERSHIP) - ON SUNDAY MORNING, MY ENGINE WON'T START ON 1/31/2010 ALL OF SUDDEN. - CALLED AAA FOR BATTERY CHECK AND JUMP START BUT IT WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE PER AAA. - TOWED MY CAR TO MY BMW DEALER FOR CHECK UP - BMW DEALER CHECKED AND TOLD ME MY ENGINE IS DEAD AND NEED TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ENGINE. IT WOULD COST $13,000 (THIS IS RIDICULOUS.) - I TOLD THEM IT MUST BE ENGINE DEFECT AND CHECK THIS FOR ME AND TELL BMW HQ - MY DEALER CHECKED MY MAINTENANCE RECORD WITH THEM AND THEY ARE TRYING HELP AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND EITHER. - DEALER IS STILL TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY MY ENGINE DIED WITH A GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD AND ONLY 54,000 MILES (NO FLOOD INVOLVED) - DEALER IS TRYING TO REPORT TO BMW HQ WITH THEIR FINDING IF BMW HQ IS WILLING TO HELP. NO UPDATE FROM BMW DEALER YET. NOT SURE IF BMW HQ IS WILLING TO HELP. - PLEASE KINDLY INVESTIGATE THIS BMW ENGINE FAILURE DEFECT ISSUE BECAUSE YOU DON'T EXPECT TO BUY A CAR THAT CAN LAST ONLY 54,000 MILES (6 YRS). THIS IS CRAZY! - MY FRIEND HAS 3 SERIES BMW AND HE TOLD ME HIS ENGINE STOPS MULTIPLE TIMES ALMOST EVERYDAY. BMW ENGINE HAS A MAJOR ISSUE. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS WERE LIT ON MY 2004 BMW 530I. THIS IS THE SAME SYMPTOM AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 / NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA08001. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM BMW. I LEARNED ABOUT THE RECALL IN FEB / 2010 AND TOOK THE CAR TO BMW DEALER. I WAS TOLD MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND I WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR MAT (PART # 52-10-9-142-348). I BELIEVE MY CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 530I CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WITH 29,000 MILES ON IT. IT CAME WITH A AUTOMATIC TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. I DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP. I NOTICED WHEN I USED THE SPORT MODE AND DOWN SHIFTED INTO FIRST WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE CAR WOULD JERK OR SLAM INTO 1ST GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (LAUDERDALE BMW OF PEMBROKE PINES) BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I DROVE FOR ANOTHER 50 MILES OR SO AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT AND IT GAVE AN ERROR ON THE MAIN SCREEN THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A FAULT DRIVE MODERATELY. IT ALSO STATED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT THE DEALER. SO I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND AGAIN THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS GETTING ANNOYED. I DROVE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER 30 MILES AND THE FAULT CAME BACK BUT THIS TIME IT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL AND I COULDN'T DRIVE OVER 35 MPH. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS FAIRLY NEW. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A BRAND NEW FACTORY ONE AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY THE SAME SENARIO AS ABOVE HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN, I HAD ABOUT 85,000 MILES ON THE NEW TRANSMISSION AND I NOTICED THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS. I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE CAR AFTER EACH ERROR UNTIL LAST WEEK. THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY FAILED AND WENT INTO THE FAIL SAFE MODE AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE OVER 35 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. I AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE COST WILL BE AROUND $6,000 TO REPLACE. I FEEL THESE TRANSMISSIONS FAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE NEVER SERVICED AT 50,000 LIKE ALL OTHER TRANSMISSIONS. BMW CLAIMS THAT THE FLUID INSIDE IS A LIFE TIME FLUID THAT NEVER NEEDS CHANGING. *TR

SEAT HEATER ON 2004 BMW 530I (E60) OVERHEATED AND BECAME VERY HOT. SMELL OF BURNING. RESULTED IN BLACK CHARRING TO THE LEATHER SEAT. NO ACTUAL FLAMES FROM OVERHEATING. SEAT HAD PREVIOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH SMOLDERING SEAT MATERIAL. ENTIRE SEAT WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST, 2005, AFTER PRIOR RECALL REMEDY (NHTSA ID NUMBER 04V575000) WAS SUPPOSEDLY COMPLETED. *TR

I HAD MY 2004 BMW 525I IN THE DEALER FOR THE AIR BAG SEAT MAT RECALL IN MARCH '09 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS BEFORE WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BEFORE THIS RECALL WAS PERFORMED. ON DECEMBER 23, 2009 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A LOCAL MALL WHILE WE WERE DOING SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. COME OUT FROM SHOPPING AND START THE VEHICLE TO FIND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON CLUSTER, AND THEN THE I-DRIVE STATED FAULT IN PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AS THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE ONLY COMPLETED 9 MONTHS AND 4K MILES AGO, VEHICLE HAS 62K ON IT NOW. DEALER STATES FRONT CRASH SENSORS ARE BAG AND THE BILL WILL BE $700. THE REPAIRS REQUIRED THE REMOVAL OF THE BUMPER, REMOVE AND REPLACE AIR BAG SENSORS, AND PROGRAMMING. UNDER THE RECALL NHTSA STATES BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR 10YRS UNLIMITED MILEAGE, THINK AGAIN BECAUSE I HAD TO PAY THIS BILL OUT OF POCKET. THE EXTENDED RECALL ONLY COVERS THE SEAT MAT I'M TOLD. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO WAS NO HELP AT ALL WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING MYSELF AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS FAILING IN THESE VEHICLES AND WONDERING WHEN THIS WILL BE LOOKED INTO BY NHTSA? IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM EMAIL ME. *TR

THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY DRIVER SEATS AND ALSO A HOLE IN MY PANTS. IF I HAD A PIECE OF PAPER OR SOMETHING IN MY BACK PAPER, IT WOULD HAVE SET IT ON FIRE. *TR

APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO, THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE ID# 73368 - AIRBAGS: FRONTAL, BUT HAVE BEEN REFUSED BY THE LOCAL DEALER AND BY THE PHONE SUPPORT AT BMW. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY BMW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED; AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. ADDITIONALLY, PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN REGARDS TO A BURNING ODOR AND A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,100.

THE HEATED SEAT ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE CONTINUOUSLY GOT HOTTER AND HOTTER, UNTIL IF FINALLY BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. MY CLOTHING WAS BURNED AND SO WAS MY HAND WHEN I REACHED DOWN FEEL THE SEAT. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I MY CAR TO NOB_BMW IN ROCKVILLE. THIS IS WHERE I PURCHASED AND MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE. THE DID REPAIR IT FOR FREE, BUT CHARGED ME A FIFTY DOLLAR WARRANTY FEE. *TR

FAILURE OF THE "VEHICLE CENTER SATELLITE MODULE". *TR

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30AM I TURNED ON MY DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER APPROX. 2-3 MINUTES I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT AND FOUND MY SEAT HAD A HOLE BURNED THROUGH IT ON THE LOWER LEFT HAND SIDE (DOOR SIDE). THE HOLE WAS RED FROM HEAT SO I LOOKED AT THE BACK OF MY SHIRT AND IT HAD A HOLE BURNED IN IT, I THEN LOOKED AT MY PANTS AND FOUND A HOLE HAD STARTED BURNING THRU THE HIP POCKET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE ONE I JUST EXPERIENCED. I ALSO NOTICED ON THE INTERNET ON A LAW FIRMS WEB PAGE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO MY MODEL CAR, 2004 BMW 530I. I PLAN TO CALL BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TOMORROW (10-5-09) TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I CAN SEND A PICTURE OF THE CAR SEAT AND MY CLOTHES IF YOU WANT. *TR

I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I WITH 92,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. I EXPERIENCED MY CAR CUTTING BACK AND THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO STATED I DIDN'T NEED A TUNE UP. HE REQUESTED THAT I BRING THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP. THE NEXT WEEK I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN LOSING ACCELERATION. THE MESSAGE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN STATED "TRANSMISSION FAULT". CAR WILL LOSE ACCELERATION AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO INTO "REVERSE". FAILSAFE STATUS..DRIVE MODERATELY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE PUT THE CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND STATED NO CODE WAS INDICATED. IT DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I FOLLOWED UP BY MAKING A CALL TO A LOCAL BMW DEALER. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS DEVASTATED. I CALLED BMW NA AFTER I READ THAT NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE AND ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW NA WAS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE ENGINE'S AT BMW DID NOT AGREE THAT THE "NO REVERSE" TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL ON 9/22/09 FROM BMW NA RESTATING THE FACT THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I FEEL THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINEERING OF ALL BMW TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

2004 525I BMW WITH 70,000 MI HAD TRANSMISSION GO OUT SUDDENLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IT IS NOTHING THAT I DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED, BUT THE REPAIR BILL IS ~7,000.00. *TR

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL DRIVING. THE RIM HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AFTER 50K MILES. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE CRACKS IN THE RIM AND CAN PROVIDE THESE IF NEEDED. I'M HAVING THE RIM REPAIRED BECAUSE THE COST IS TO HIGH TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A GENUINE BMW RIM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE DRIVER STATES FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS HE HAS BEEN HAVING AIR BAG PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE OWNER WAS CHARGED $100.00. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS TURNED OFF BUT IT TURNED BACK ON A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND IT HAS REMAINED ON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90,000. AR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE WHEELS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY SPECULATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE WHEELS TO FAIL. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

RADIO,NAVIGATION,CD,PHONE,NOT WORKING. I DRIVE IS BLINK. CAR HAS 93,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON MAY 18, 2009. THE LIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED AS WELL AS THE RESTRAINT FOR THE AIR BAG. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,000.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON MY 2004 BMW 530I REGARDING THE SEAT WARMERS BURNING THE LEATHER AND DRIVER. HOWEVER, THE RECALL COVERS THE BACKREST AND NOT THE SEAT BOTTOM. AFTER TALKING TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, THEY SAID THE SEAT BOTTOM WAS NOT COVERED. CAN YOU MAKE THEM INCLUDE THE SEAT BOTTOM IN THE RECALL? THE SEAT WARMERS ARE BURNING THROUGH THE SEATS IN BOTH PLACES, AND IS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THE DRIVER IN BOTH PLACES. *TR

DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING UNIT BECAME VERY HOT AND SINGED THE SEAT COVERING. DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT. *TR