2003 BMW 530I Owner Complaints

THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 9/4/18, AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE THE ENGINE BAY. CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES TO A STORE. THE PASSENGERS WERE EXITING THE CAR WHEN THEY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN THEY NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES EXTENDING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BEFORE THE DRIVERS SIDE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE INSULATION ON PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS IS COMPLETELY BURNT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ITEMS INCLUDING THE FIBERGLASS BODY. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 215000 MILES ON IT, AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED. NO RECENT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE TO THE ENGINE. NO SMELLS OF GASOLINE, OIL, OR PLASTIC BURNING WERE EVIDENT BEFORE THE MOMENT THE FIRE STARTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNKNOWN TO US AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID

11128749

Incident

Sep 7, 2018

Mileage

215,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY 210 IN THE SECOND LANE NEXT TO FAST LANE, GOING 70-72 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. CAUSING THE REAR TIRES TO SKID, IN TURN CAUSING IT TO START A CLOCKWISE SPIN TWO TIMES. BECAUSE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC I QUICKLY DESIDED NOT TO TRY TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THAT LANE CAUSING A MAYOR CAR PILE UP, SO I DESIDED TO TRY TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF FWY. I MISSED THREE CARS AND A SEMI TRUCK AND ENDED UP STOPPING BEFORE I HIT THE THIRD CAR. I WAS STILL SETTING PART WAY IN THE SLOW LANE, SO I TRIED TO MOVE THE CAR. IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WARD EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE CAR WOULD GO IN GEAR. MY WIFE AND I CAME OUT WITH NO INJURIES AND NO ONE HIT US. WOW AS I THINK ABOUT IT NOW. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND IT STILL SETS IN MY BACK YARD. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES OR THE P/C THAT MAY HAVE CAUSE IT?

NHTSA ID

10969913

Incident

Mar 11, 2017

Mileage

128,784 mi

TAKATA RECALL..RECEIVED NOTIFICATION 6 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE CALLED BMW TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS ARRIVE. THUS WAS 6 MONTHS AGO

NHTSA ID

10937291

Incident

May 11, 2016

NO COMMITMENT YET FROM DEALER TO REPLACE DEFECTED AIRBAG. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V318

NHTSA ID

10934415

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10913795

Incident

Oct 4, 2016

TAKATA INFLATORS NOTHING YET HAS HAPPENED BUT 15 MONTHS AFTER RECALL ISSUED STILL WAITING FOR REMEDY

NHTSA ID

10899852

Incident

Aug 31, 2016

"TAKATA RECALL" - MY 2003 BMW DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE (15V-318) WAS RECALLED IN JULY 2015 AND I CAN'T GET ANY INFO FROM BMW IF THEY WILL EVER FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR ONE YEAR ON THIS, AS I WAS INSTRUCTED TO DO BY BMW, AND THEY STILL WILL PROVIDE ME WITH NO INFORMATION AS TO IF OR WHEN IT WILL EVER BE REPLACED. THEY HAVE NOTIFIED ME THAT THE AIR BAG CAN RESULT IN "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH." I HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON MY NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS BY CALLING EVERY 3-4 MONTHS AS THEY REQUESTED. IT HAS NOW GONE ON FOR ONE YEAR, AND WHEN I SAID TO THE BMW REPRESENTATIVE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, "IT SEEMS LIKE THIS COULD GO ON AND ON AND NOTHING WILL EVER GET FIXED," THE RESPONSE WAS "THAT'S CORRECT." I HAVE READ ON-LINE THAT YOU SHOULD "TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR RIDE SHARE" BUT I LIVE IN L.A. AND REQUIRE A CAR TO ET TO AND FROM WORK. I WON'T LET MY SON DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY. I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. I READ ON-LINE THAT OLDER CARS (MINE IS A 2003) AND HEAT (I LIVE IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA AND IT GETS HOT) CAN MAKE THE AIR BAG MORE DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR, KNOWING IT'S DANGEROUS, FOR A YEAR, AND I AM ALWAYS FEARFUL THAT SOMEONE NEXT TO ME ON THE FREEWAY MIGHT DRIFT INTO MY LANE, WHILE TEXTING, CAUSING THE DANGEROUS AIR BAG TO GO OFF AND SEND METAL SHARDS INTO ME. THIS CAN'T GO ON WITH NO END IN SIGHT. I FEEL LIKE THEY JUST WANT ME TO GET SO FRUSTRATED THAT I DUMP MY CAR. I'M DEFINITELY FRUSTRATED, BUT I NEED TO KEEP THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP ME GET SOME ANSWERS AND A TIME WHEN THIS CAN BE FIXED. IT'S AN UNACCEPTABLE STRESS TO PUT ON SOMEONE THAT THEY COULD DIE FROM A FAULTY AIRBAG WHILE THE COMPANY KEEPS REFUSING TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION AND HAS NO INTENTION TO FIX IT IN A TIMELY MANNER. I HAVE DOCUMENTS REGARDING THEIR NOTIFICATION AND MY PHONE CALLS TO THEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10884418

Incident

Jul 12, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10881631

Incident

Jun 29, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. ARE THE AIRBAGS SAFE? THE CAR IS ON THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ID

10871386

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

MY CAR IS ON THE LIST OF CARS WITH DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF NOTIFICATION OR RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING MY VEHICLE. I WANT THIS TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10854492

Incident

Oct 10, 2003

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE AIR BAGS; HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10852874

Incident

Jul 25, 2015

I RECEIVED A LETTER IN JULY OF 2015 STATING THAT THERE IA A RECALL ON DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE (RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.: 15V-318) AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANOTHER NOTIFICATION WHEN THE DEALERSHIPS CAN FIX THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT. PLEASE ADVISE!

NHTSA ID

10836856

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

REC'D. RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 2015 REGARDING "RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 15V-318: DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE". STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM BMW AS TO REMEDY.

NHTSA ID

10822597

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL WAS NOTIFIED IN MAY 2015 OF DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG RECALL. CURRENT STATUS FROM BMW IS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE YET. I WOULD THINK BY NOW THAT THE PLANS AND TIMELINES OF THIS RECALL WOULD BE WELL UNDERSTOOD AND ISSUED TO THE OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

10812015

Incident

May 27, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JULY OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10790284

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JULY OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10735067

Incident

Jul 20, 2015

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 BMW 530I, WHILE I WAS DRIVING I USED THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN THE RADIO DOWN, AFTER DEPRESSING THE BUTTON IMMEDIATELY I SMELLED AND RECOGNIZED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER, AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES I TURNED THE IGNITION AND PROCEEDED TO INSPECT THE CAR. THE VOLUME CONTROLS DID NOT WORK ANY MORE ALONG WITH THE HORN DOES NOT BLOW ANYMORE. ACTUALLY WHEN I DEPRESS THE HORN IT MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL RISE UP AND DOWN. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLICKERS OFF AND ON. MY RADIO WORKS SPORADICALLY. I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND ASKED ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AFTER SEEING A POSTING ONLINE ABOUT AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONING. THIS SEEMED TO FIT MY SITUATION HOWEVER THE GENTLEMEN WHO TOOK MY CALLED SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL..... THIS WAS DISAPPOINTING AND MY PROBLEMS ARISES MORE AND MORE AFTER THIS. I GET A TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE WARNING ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT TIMES. MY BRAKE LIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AT TIMES AND THEN STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. I GOT A WARNING TICKET FROM AN POLICE OFFICER. HE SAID IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OFF AND ON AT TIMES WHILE IN OPERATION. I GET A ENGINE FAILSAFE WARNING AT TIMES AND THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE....... *TR

NHTSA ID

10659149

Incident

Jun 5, 2012

Mileage

95,228 mi

YESTERDAY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27TH 2014 MY SON CAME HOME AFTER SCHOOL (5 MIN DRIVE) THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF ANYTHING DIFFERENT DURING DRIVING. HE WENT INSIDE OUR HOUSE LESS THEN 1 MINUTE AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND PARKING CAR AND WAS IN THE HOUSE HIS CAR ALARM WENT OFF. HE WENT OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIS CAR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD OF CAR. THEN FIRE ENGULFED THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. CALLED 911 AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO STOP THE FIRE. THEY BROKE WIND SHIELD TO GET TO ENGINE AND CUT UP HOOD TO OPEN HOOD. FIRE INSPECTOR CAME OUT AND IS FILING REPORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629112

Incident

Aug 27, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR IS A 2003 BMW 530I WITH 68,000 MILES AT THE TIME. COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS RETURNED "FAULT 30", "TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPING". RECOMMENDATION WAS REPLACEMENT OF TORQUE CONVERTER AT COST OF $2600. ONLINE RESEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME NATURE. DUE TO CONFLICTING ADVICE, THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR 3 MONTHS AND OVER 3,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR DIMINISHED MILEAGE OR PERFORMANCE. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT THAT SWITCHES ON IN RESPONSE TO "FAULT 30" MAY INDICATE A NON-EXISTENT PROBLEM THAT CAN LEAD TO A COSTLY REPAIR. MEANWHILE, THE DRIVER IS LEFT WITH A VEHICLE WITH A CONSTANTLY LIT "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. THIS CAN OBVIOUSLY CREATE PROBLEMS IN SELLING THE CAR OR HAVING IT PASS A SMOG CHECK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10586915

Incident

Oct 18, 2013

Mileage

68,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A VERY COLD DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 6AM. I TURNED THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER ON. AFTER 5-10 MINUTES, I STARTED TO NOTICE A STRONG BURNING SMELL. I ALSO FELT A STINGING ON THE BACK OF MY LEFT LEG. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE CAR, AND NOTICED A SMALL HOLE HAD BEEN BURNT THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT. THERE WAS SMOKE RISING UP AND OUT FROM THE HOLE ITSELF. THE EXTREMELY HOT COIL FOR THE SEAT HEATER WAS VISIBLE DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLE. MY PANTS ALSO HAVE A HOLE BURNT IN THEM FROM THE SEAT. THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL PLACED REGARDING THIS BLATANT MATERIAL FAILURE, AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SIMILARLY AFFECTED AND COULD BE BURNED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491601

Incident

Nov 19, 2012

Mileage

126,000 mi

REGULAR DAY GOING TO WORK, NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR, PULLED OVER CHECK UNDER HOOD, DIDN'T SEE ANY SMOKE, GOT BACK IN CAR AND SMOKE START COMING FROM GLOVE DEPARTMENT AREA, WITHIN A MINUTE CAR START GETTING FILLED WITH SMOKE, I GOT OUT TO CALL 911 AND GOT ABOUT 100 FEET FROM CAR AND I HEARD A POP AND THE CAR WENT INTO FLAMES AND CONTINUE UNTIL IT BURNED ALL UP INSIDE AND OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490510

Incident

Dec 13, 2012

Mileage

124,012 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE FAULTY. THE BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10453817

Incident

Apr 2, 2010

Mileage

1,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE AND FOUND THAT A CABLE AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CABLE AND BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10453797

Incident

May 2, 2003

Mileage

1,500 mi

INCIDENTAL FINDING OF HUGE CRACK ON LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM DISCOVERED BY MECHANIC WHO WAS SERVICING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE PHOTOS AND THE PART IN QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450802

Incident

Feb 27, 2012

Mileage

81,305 mi

IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" (SES) LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER WITH A REPLACEMENT COST OF ROUGHLY $2000. SINCE THE CAR WAS SHOWING NO SIGN OF ENGINE TROUBLE, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS AND 50,000 WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT THE SES LIGHT CONTINUES TO SHINE AND THE CAR WILL NOT PASS EMISSION INSPECTION. NOW FACED WITH SPENDING $2000 FOR A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE NOT SURE EXISTS OR NOT PASSING INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439952

Incident

Jan 14, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi