2004 BMW 5 Series Airbags Problems

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA ID

11169884

Incident

Jun 18, 2018

Mileage

81,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT/AIRBAG WARNING MALFUNCTION. THIS WARNING HAS BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUSLY THE COMMON SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILURE. AND IT WOULD APPEAR THAT EITHER MY VIN ISN'T ON THE PREVIOUS RECALL OR IT HAS EXPIRED FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL. BUT MY WIFE SITS IN THAT SEAT AND IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND HER AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WHOSE FAULT WILL THAT BE?

NHTSA ID

11130543

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

Mileage

175,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10672002

Incident

Apr 6, 2013

Mileage

92,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10629275

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10614605

Incident

Oct 23, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10573629

Incident

Mar 18, 2014

Mileage

143,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10538134

Incident

Apr 18, 2013

Mileage

86,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10531553

Incident

May 6, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10515663

Incident

May 27, 2013

Mileage

79,000 mi

MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT HAS CRACKS IN IT AND DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. MY FRONT AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THAT PART FOR MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR BUT BMW NORTH AMERICA CLAIMS THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE LIST EVEN THOUGHT MY MAKE MODEL AND YEAR IS A PART OF THE RECALL. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL OTHER RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND AGAIN MY VIN IS NOT ON THE LIST BUT I HAVE THE ISSUES LISTED IN THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483810

Incident

Sep 19, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10455361

Incident

Apr 14, 2012

Mileage

102,000 mi

RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449031

Incident

Feb 22, 2012

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR TRIGGERS THE SAFETY WARNING LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. IT MAY AFFECT THE AIRBAG OPERABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND WAS SUBJECT OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL PROGRAM IN 2008 BY BMW. DESPITE MANY OTHER CAR OWNERS (AS EVIDENCED BY COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA AND ONLINE CAR FORUMS), INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVING THIS ISSUE AS DESCRIBED WITHIN THE RECALL PROGRAM FOR CARS OF THE MAKE AND YEAR OF THE PRODUCTION, ONLY 200K WITHIN A SPECIFIC VIN RANGE WERE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448044

Incident

Jan 16, 2012

BMW REFUSED TO FIX THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA08001 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 08V384000 FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440042

Incident

Nov 10, 2011

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH BOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,200.

NHTSA ID

10396937

Incident

Feb 9, 2011

Mileage

78,000 mi

WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING, MY AIRBAG FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD TRIPPED THREE TIMES. THE THIRD TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, I RESEARCHED ON A RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SENSOR. I PRINTED OUT THE PAGE FROM SAFERCAR.GOV, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN# DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY. THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY STATED FOR MY BMW 545I 2004. I AM NOT HAPPY DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU BUY A CAR AND FOR SOMETHING THAT CANNOT WEAR OUT BRAKES... *TR

NHTSA ID

10396845

Incident

Apr 19, 2011

Mileage

109,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10368359

Incident

Apr 6, 2010

Mileage

91,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10356333

Incident

Jun 8, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10298801

Incident

Dec 23, 2009

Mileage

62,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10292383

Incident

Oct 14, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10269485

Incident

May 18, 2009

Mileage

46,000 mi

I OWN A 2004 BMW 545I SEDAN AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR A WHILE ALREADY, AND I READ ABOUT THE RECALL ON YOUR WEBSITE AND CALLED BMW NA AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. AND TOLD ME TO BRING IT TO ONE OF THE BMW DEALERS TO GET IT FIX WHICH I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR. I CHECKED AT ONE OF THE BMW DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TOLD ME IT WILL COST ME MORE THAN $1000.00 TO FIX THE PASSENGER\'S SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT UNDER THEIR RECALL LIST WHEN MY CAR MATCHES THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL THEY ARE HAVING?! PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10266328

Incident

Jan 21, 2009

Mileage

73,000 mi

THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO WHEN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF LAMP ILLUMINATED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN WENT OFF, ALL WITH THE PASSENGER PRESENT IN THE CAR WITH THE SEAT BELT ON. A FEW DAYS AGO THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON/OFF LAMP ILLUMINATED WHILE THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE MESSAGE INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT WORK... THESE SYMPTOMS LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN ONE OF THE RECALLS FOR THIS CAR; HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED BMW, THEY INDICATED THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256107

Incident

Jan 19, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. IT INDICATES THAT THE SEAT BELT LOCK AND/OR AIRBAGS MAY NOT WORK IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I CALLED BMW, THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AND IT WILL DEPEND ON MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IF I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255774

Incident

Jan 19, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR DISPLAYED "PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE." THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THE FAILURE WOULD EXCEED $1,400. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 55,000. UPDATED 01/07/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/08/09. *JB

NHTSA ID

10251836

Incident

Dec 2, 2008

Mileage

55,000 mi