ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
2005 BMW 5 Series
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 BMW 5 Series, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and brakes categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 55 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 2 |
| Feb 2007 | 2 | 4 |
| Dec 2007 | 1 | 5 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 6 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 7 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 8 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 9 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 10 |
| Dec 2011 | 1 | 11 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 12 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 13 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 14 |
| May 2014 | 2 | 16 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 17 |
| Mar 2015 | 2 | 19 |
| Jan 2016 | 1 | 20 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 21 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Airbags1038.5%
- Electrical415.4%
- Brakes311.5%
- Interior & seats27.7%
- Powertrain (other)27.7%
- Visibility13.8%
- Seat belts13.8%
- Steering13.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
5 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.
BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION
IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP.ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS WARN THAT AN OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR.WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR.THESE ARE THE MY 2004 5-SERIES, 7-SERIES AND X3, THE MY 2004 THROUGH 2006Z-4 SERIES AND MY 2006 3-SERIES, 6-SERIES AND X5 VEHICLES.AN IMPROVED SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2005 FOR THE MID-MY 2006 PRODUCTION.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, BMW PROVIDED 1,172 OWNER REPORTS AND 28,238 WARRANTY CLAIMS.INITIAL REVIEW OF THE DATA INDICATE THAT 280 NON-DUPLICATING OWNER REPORTS AND 13,051 NON-DUPLICATING WARRANTY CLAIMS MAY BE RELATED THE SUBJECT DEFECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESTHIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-001).
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THERE ARE 3 RECALLS REPORTED FOR MY YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF A CAR I JUST PURCHASED THAT AT GIVING ME PROBLEMS AND I'M RECEIVING WARNING MESSAGES ON MY NAVIGATION BUT MY VIN IS NOT REGISTERING WITH DEALERSHIP FOR BEING ELIGIBLE FOR RESOLUTION PLEASE REPLY BACK WITH STEPS TO REPAIR
- NHTSA ID
- 10981311
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2017
- Mileage
- 80,000 mi
BMW I-DRIVE CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND BLINKS OR REBOOTS. WHILE DRIVING HOME IT CUT OUT, AND WOULD NOT STOP BLINKING. THIS DISTRACTION AND MALFUNCTION IS DANGEROUS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10819539
- Incident
- Jan 10, 2016
- Mileage
- 177,777 mi
ON THE MORNING OF 3/18/2015 AT 8 AM. I STARTED THE CAR AND RECEIVED A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING ON THE DISPLAY. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10701763
- Incident
- Mar 18, 2015
- Mileage
- 29,500 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10695334
- Incident
- Mar 16, 2015
- Mileage
- 71,000 mi
TRANSMISSION JERKS AS IF YOU ARE MISSING A SPARK OR IT IS TRYING TO FIND A HIGHER OR LOWER GEAR WHILE CRUISING IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN 32-40 MPH. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10628590
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2012
HELLO, I'VE GOT AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO ON MY BMW E60 530I 2005. THE BOARD COMPUTER IT SAYS: "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" MALFUNCTION. I WENT TO THE DEALER IN VEGAS AND HE TOOK THE LIGHT OFF, AFTER ONE WEEK IT CAME OUT AGAIN. I'M WONDERING ABOUT MYSELF SAFETY AND MY PASSENGERS AS WELL. I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP ME TO FIX THAT PROBLEM AS SOONER AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10593897
- Incident
- Mar 14, 2014
- Mileage
- 106,240 mi
2005 BMW 525I. PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. CONCLUSION FROM MECHANIC WAS THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT MAT WAS BROKEN PER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA08001. TOOK VEHICLE TO IRVINE BMW FOR REPAIR UNDER EXTENDED SEAT MAT WARRANTY. IRVINE BMW SAID THAT PASSENGER SEAT MAT DID NOT CAUSE MALFUNCTION. REPAIRS WOULD COST $1,075. REPAIRS WERE DECLINED BECAUSE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WOULD CHARGE $400. IRVINE BMW CHARGED A $170 DIAGNOSIS FEE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10587630
- Incident
- May 2, 2014
- Mileage
- 72,025 mi
SAME ISSUE AS EVERY OTHER 2005 530I OWNER HAS HAD. MY BATTERY WAS LOW AND NEEDED REPLACED AND AFTER A NEW BATTERY WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE FAULT LIGHT CAME ON THE I-DRIVE SYSTEM FOR THE AIRBAG. BMW DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AS MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON A FAULTY SYSTEM WHY THIS SHOULD NOT BE REPAIRED, OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW THAT THE ISSUE IS THERE BUT DO NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FIX THEIR ISSUE. SO MUCH FOR THE GERMAN ENGINEERED ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. WITH ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMES ALL OF THE ISSUES IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A MANUFACTURER STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR FOR A CHANGE.......IF I FAILED TO MAKE A PAYMENT THEY WOULD HAVE SURELY REPOSSESSED IT......FUNNY HOW WE CANNOT GET SOMETHING FROM THEM WHEN THEY FAIL. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10525709
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2013
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicleâÂÂs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE; LANE DEPARTURE; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer complaints.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 31.2 |
| 2011 | 81 | 4 | 0 | 46.7 |
| 2010 | 6 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 8 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 105 | 4 | 0 | 48.3 |
| 2007 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 39.7 |
| 2006 | 85 | 8 | 2 | 55.9 |
| 2005Viewing | 21 | 5 | 2 | 58.8 |
| 2004 | 64 | 8 | 1 | 58.9 |
| 2003 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 49.5 |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.