Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 BMW 525I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AFTER HAVING AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SCAN MY VEHICLE WITH AN ADVANCED SCAN TOOL, THE ERROR THAT CAME UP WAS FOR THE "PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR". THIS FAULT HAS CAUSED BOTH THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT TO REMAN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I HAD THE CODE RESET. BUT AFTER A PERSON SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ERROR CODE CAME BACK WITH THE SAME FAULT CODE.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS FAILED. REAR LEFT HAND BRAKE/BACKUP LIGHT IS PROBLEMATIC AND INTERMITTENTLY WORKS, USUALLY ONLY SHOWS UP ON CAR'S DASHBOARD WHILE IN REVERSE, BUT SOMETIMES WILL STAY ON-SCREEN DURING DRIVING. FRONT ASHTRAY OUTLET/CIGARETTE LIGHTER DOESN'T WORK.
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 02/16/17*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,712. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ *JS
WHEN THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED IN THE CAR, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION, NOR HAS IT BEEN IN ANY KIND OF WRECK. AN AIRBAG LIGHT AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHT IS NOW ON. BMW SAYS IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL.
WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER, THE PASSENGER WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE SENSOR IS BAD. I CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA CONCERNING THE VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN #08V384000, BUT THEY SAID MY SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL THAT COVERED MY MODEL, MANUFACTURE DATE AND THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 94,400 MILES.
I OWN A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHICH SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
THE FIRST DAY I GOT MY BRAND NEW 2005 BMW 525I WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2004 AND I WAS DRIVING IT AND A EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, TO PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO GET MY BRAND NEW CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A CYCLE OF EVENTS THAT NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY HONDA ACCORD, MERCEDES, ACURA, BLAZER OR SATURN. MY SCREEN LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE ALL THE TIME WITH ALL KINDS OF STRANGE WARNINGS THAT UNLESS YOU ARE AN ENGINEER MIGHT AS WELL BE IN SWAHILI. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT STAYING ON AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. I HAVE HAD A FLAT TIRE LIGHT COME ON (IT'S ON RIGHT NOW) WHEN THERE IS NO FLAT TIRE. THE WOOD PANELING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS 3 HUGE CRACKS THAT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T OPEN BECAUSE THE HANDLE BROKE OFF. MY SUNROOF COVER FLIES BACK INTO THE BACK OF THE TOP OF THE CAR AND GETS LOST BACK THERE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REACH IT. THE LIGHTER (WHICH I NEED FOR A CHARGER FOR MY PHONE) MALFUNCTIONS AND THE WOODEN PANEL COVER DISAPPEARED INTO THE INTERIOR COMPONENT OF THE CAR AS I WATCHED HELPLESS LEAVING A BIG UGLY GAPING HOLE. I AM SO CAREFUL WITH MY CAR AND CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT I GOT FOR $50,000. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT A 1972 VOLVO MIGHT DEAL WITH BUT MY 2005 BMW? THE REPAIRS AND SERVICE ARE OUTLANDISHLY EXPENSIVE AND TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE FRONT DRIVER FLOOR MAT GETS STUCK UNDER THE PEDALS ALMOST MAKING ME WRECK! I'M EMBARRASSED WITH HOW MY BRAND NEW BMW HAS TURNED INTO A "GHETTO" RIDE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD ABOUT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. THE SEATBELT SIGNAL AND AIRBAG SIGNAL REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. RECORDS SHOW THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS REPLACED AUG 21, 2007 AT FIRST OWNERS EXPENSE. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WERE TOLD THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR OUR VIN #. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE TIME SPAN OF THE RECALL THAT BMW ISSUED IN 2008 (WHICH HAPPENS TO BE AFTER THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE). WHY IS THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL? WHY IS THE REPLACEMENT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILING FOR A 2ND TIME? *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAIN ON. AUTO SHOP REFERRED ME TO BMW TO HAVE RECALL ON PASSENGER MAT SENSOR ERROR. BMW DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON 7/3/2009, SO IT IS NOT COVERED AND I NEED TO PAY REPAIR PRICES. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK NOW. *JS
A PASSENGER ENTERED MY CAR AND SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER, A WARNING CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD ABOUT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. THE SEATBELT SIGNAL AND AIRBAG SIGNAL REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD THEREAFTER...EACH TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I READ AN ONLINE NOTICE FROM 2008 SAYING THAT BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, UPON ENTERING MY VIN NUMBER ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY SAID THERE ARE NO KNOWN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS RESET UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS RESET AGAIN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE 102,000.
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR CAME UP TWO DAYS AFTER BUYING THIS SERVICED BMW AT BMW OF FAIRFAX, VA, PRE OWNED DEALER. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE PASSENGER SAT IN PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND KEPT STAYING ON SINCE. IN REFERENCE TO THIS THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL 04-06 5 SERIES FOR A FAULTY SEAT MAT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000) AND I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED NHTSA BY PHONE, REFERENCE # 521-787. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEIR RESPONSE WAS THE SAME, THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT SINCE MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION. WHEN ASKED WHY MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED (SINCE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME FAULTY DEVICE) I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT SOME CARS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT SINCE OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE EXCLUDED (I AM ALSO REFERRING TO THE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA FOR THE SAME REASON). THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT RIP OFF OWNERS BY CHARGING THEM OR FORCING THEM TO RELY ON EXPENSIVE WARRANTY FOR ALREADY HEAVILY OVERPRICED WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO REPLACE FAULTY PARTS THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN. THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS LOOPHOLE WHERE THEY CLAIM THAT NOT ALL THE VINS ARE INCLUDED WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY DEVICES THEY PUT IN THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. *TR
I WAS LEAVING THE BOWING ALLEY AND NOTICED THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OFF. I CALLED THE COMPANY IN REFERENCE TO A RECALL ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THAT MY VIN # ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL ID # 73379 OR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000. IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO SAVE UP AND BUY YOUR DREAM CAR TO ONLY HAVE IT TO MALFUNCTION IN A MONTHS TIME. I DON' T HAVE ANY FAITH OR TRUST IN THE BMW COMPANY AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE. THEY ARE NOT LOYAL TO THEIR CUSTOMERS AND FAIL TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. I WILL GO BACK TO FORD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WARNING LIGHT OFF, BUT THE LIGHT LATER ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/09/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY CENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 12/16/11 *BF UPDATED 12/22/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES. ANOTHER LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAG FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.
TL*THE DRIVER OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000, AIR BAGS FRONTAL; HOWEVER, HIS VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
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.
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