Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 129 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW 530I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 129 · page 1 of 6
The heated seats start fires and BMW refuses to acknowledge that my car should've been a part of the NHTSA Recall 04V-575. The dealership denies any issue with the car despite knowing about the hole it burned in my seat.
BATTERY CABLE - INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR
Unrepaired Recalls (1) 12V-126:79 Safety: Battery Cable - Insulated Bulkhead Connector Mar 23, 2012 OEM Code 12V-126:79 All the dealerships i contacted to fix this recall never replied to me and The battery connection has ruined my electrical components on my vehicle(Long beach BMW and Cerritos BMW California)
About three years ago, we filed a complaint with BMW North America. A problem with the front passenger seat. There was smoke As a result, a hole burned through. after that an error message about the airbag came on. We also didn't know that there was a recall about this problem. we made several calls to the dealership and at the end, they offered to help with only 50% Quote to repair the seat was $2300.00. The car only had 142,000 miles. all the seats were in mint condition. Thank You.
NEARLY EVERY BMW SUFFERS FROM FAILED WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALLED OINT OF FAILURE AS IT INVOLVES EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR TWO HOURS THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF NASHVILLE (1568 MALLORY LN, BRENTWOOD, TN 37027(615) 928-2541) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK COVER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,810.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL SEPARATED FROM THE BODY WHICH RESULTED IN THE CONTACT CRASHING THE VEHICLE. CONTACT STATED ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD POP BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. 1 PERSON WAS INJURED WHICH RESULTED IN BACK SORENESS, NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MOBILE MAINTENANCE & TOWING LLC (2014 W GARDNER LN, TUCSON, AZ 85705 (520) 900-1196) THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19E058000 (STEERING) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
SMELL BURNING OR EXHAUSTE FUME IN THE CABIN DURING THE FIRST TWO MILES OF DRIVING THE CAR!
HEATED SEATING IS BURNING MY LEG PASSENGER SIDE. EVEN ON LOW.
THE WIRE HARNESS FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE ARE COMPLETELY FRAYED. BARE COPPER WIRES CAN BE SEEING AND THE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. IN ADDITION TO NIGHT DRIVEABILITY BEING AND ISSUE, THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE UNDER THE HOOD EXISTS. A CURSORY INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON ISSUE WITH SEVERAL BMW MODEL YEARS, POTENTIALLY AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS.
VEHICLE WONT STOP LEAKING OIL.
DRIVER TAIL LIGHT LAMP ASSEMBLY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR OVERHEATED, MELTED AND DESTROYED #1 CONTACT PIN AND WIRE. DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY NO LONGER OPERATE. BRAKE AND SIGNAL LIGHTING SYSTEM DEGRADED EXPOSING VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO INCREASED RISK OF REAR-IMPACT, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE AND DEATH. NO PART OR THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY EXTREME USE CONDITIONS. NO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE TRUNK AREA WHERE THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED.
ACTIVE STEERING MALFUNCTION, STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED
THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ALL CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING THE COPPER WITHIN CREATING AN ELECTRONCAL FIRE OR SHORTING OF THE SYSTEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON ON THE E60 SERIES BMW AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
THE VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE WERE RECALLS RELATED TO THE BMW BUT MY VEHICLE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL WHEN I SEARCH BY VIN NUMBER. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE ISN'T COVERED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND RESTRAINT LIGHT IS ON AND MY HEAD UNIT SAYS THERE IS A FAULT IN MY PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,364.
TRANSMISSION GOES INTO A LIMB MODE WHEN REACHING 30-40 MPH OF SLOWING DOWN FROM OVER 60 MPH AND A BANG HAPPENS LIKE IT YOU GET HIT FROM BEHIND THE CAR WOULD NOT SWITCH GEAR AND THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE THE RPM THE CAR TOP SPEED WOULD BE 40 MPH WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS THIS WOULD HAPPEN IN CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS THE CAR RESETS BY TURNING THE ENGINE OF WAITING A WHILE AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UPPER CUSHION OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE HEATER WAS TURNED OFF AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE HEATING ELEMENT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
RESTRAIN SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE IN MY RADIO SCREEN ALSO AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THIS MESSAGE CAME ON SUDENDLY FOR NO REASON, CAR NEVER ENVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT,
MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES DUE TO A FAULT. IT WOULD JUMP OR BUMP EVERY TIME I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND IT DOWNSHIFTS INTO 1ST GEAR. I ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE BECAUSE I DID NOT FULLY STOP YET AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. IT FINALLY WOULD GO INTO FAIL SAFE MODE OR LIMP MODE AND THE DEALER INSTALLED A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. I NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AT 120,000 MILES WHICH IS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THE NEW TRANNY. I NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED EVEN ONE TIME LET ALONE TWICE AND THEY WERE ALL INEXPENSIVE CARS/TRUCKS. I WILL NEVER BUY A BMW AGAIN BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. 2 TRANSMISSIONS WITH THE EXACT ISSUES THAT WON'T EVEN MAKE IT TO 100,000 MILES. I ALSO SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND VEHICLE. SHAME ON YOU BMW NA FOR NOT OWNING UP TO THIS ISSUE AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. YOU HAVE LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER FOR LIFE AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW TO STEER CLEAR OF YOUR PRODUCTS (PUN INTENDED). *JS
THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY PRODUCED BY HELLA CONTAINS APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE WIRING. THE INSULATION ON THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE HIGH BEAM BULBS AND THE PARKING LIGHT BULBS DETERIORATES AND CRUMBLES OFF LEAVING EXPOSED ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. MOVING THE WIRES DURING REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF BULBS CAUSED THE INSULATION TO BREAK OFF COMPLETELY. THE PROBLEM WAS JUST DISCOVERED, BUT WAS OBVIOUSLY IN A STATE OF DECAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
SUBJECT: 2004 BMW 535I ON OCTOBER 30,2012 JUST AFTER HURRICANE SANDY HIT THE EAST COAST OF NEW JERSEY, I HAD OCCASION TO USE MY 535I. WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED VARIOUS WARNING AND FAULT LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE CONTROL PANEL, LOSS OF POWER AND THE CABIN BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, I MANAGED TO PULL ACROSS SEVERAL LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY I WAS ON (ROUTE 42N). UPON INSPECTION I FOUND 6-8 INCHES OF WATER IN THE TRUNK WHEEL WELL. UNDER THE SPARE TIRE I OBSERVED A BURNING AND SMOKING MSM POWER MODULE. I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER IN TURNERSVILLE, NJ. THE DEALER REFUSED ANY LIABILITY OR FAULT FOR THE $3000 REPAIR WHICH INCLUDED REPLACING AND RELOCATING THE MSM POWER MODULE, REPLACING THE RADIO SYSTEM, CLEANING WATER STAINS FROM THE HOOD LINER AND TRYING TO ALLEVIATE THE SMOKE ODOR. I CAME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN TO RELOCATE THE MSM POWER MODULE HIGHER IN THE TRUNK FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE DEALER LIED AND TOLD ME WATER HAS LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK VIA LOOSE TRUNK RIVETS. I LATER DETERMINED THE WATER ENTERED THE TRUNK FOLLOWING CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAINS. THE DEALER DID NOT DENY THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED BUT REFUSED TO COVER THE DAMAGES. BMW SHOULD BE SUED AS I'VE DETERMINED THIS ISSUE IS NOT ATYPICAL AND COULD LEAD TO A DISASTER. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
EVERYTIME, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, TRANSMISSION HAS A NOTICEABLE "BUMP"/ROUGH SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR, PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. NOW, APPROXIMATELY OVER A YEAR LATER, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ON, TRANSMISSION WENT INTO LIMP MODE. BMW DEALER STATES, TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE DUE TO 3-2-1 DOWNSHIFT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY AT THE SAME BMW DEALERSHIP.
I OWN A 2004 BMW 530 I MY DAGHTER JUST CAME BACK FRO WORK SHE PARKED THE CAR IN MY DRIVE WAY AND SHE CAME INSIDE SHE HAD DIINNER AND WE GOT READY FOR BED AT APPROXMENTLY 11PM WE GET A NOCK ON THE SIDE WINDOW WERE FROM THE POLICE DEPT SAY TO EVECUATE AND TO COME OUT NOW WHEN WE CAME OUT THE CAR WAS IN A FIRE AND THE SAINT CLOUD FL MARSHAL SAID THE FIRE START CAUSE DUE TO THE BATTERY OR THE WIRE IN THE TRUNK I CALLED BMW COPPERT OFFICE TO LET THEM KNOW AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NEED TO PICK UP THE CAR TO HAV ENGINER TO LOOK AT THE CAR WAS TOTTLED BMW AFTER THEY TOOL 40 DAY FOR EVALUATION THEY CALLED ME TODAY AND ONLY OFFERED TO PAY $5000.00 TOWARD A CERTIF USED OR NEW BMW I TOLD THEM THAT THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND I TOLD THEM I WILL CALL YOUR COPANY AND THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY OWNER OUT THERE NEED TO KNOW THIS CAN HAPPEN TO THEM AND THAT RECALL THAT BMW HAD BY REPLACING THE ONLY ONLY A RUBER PART ON THE RED WIRE IN THE TRUNK DOES NOT HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME RECOVER MY MONEY ON THE CAR.I DID NOT HAVE FULL COVERGE I ONLY HAD LIBLTY INSURANCE SO THIS DID NOT HELP I HAVE BEEN DOING MY HOMEWORK AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 1.2 MILLION BMW RECALL AND ONLY 1 FIRE MY CAR IS THE 2ND AS I READ MORE ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ALSO FOUND SOME NEWS COMPANY SUCH NBC HAD A ARTICLE ON THIS ISSUE .
BATTERY CABLE/TERMINAL MELTED. CAR WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. AFTER SITTING ...THEN CAR WOULD START. RANDOM START. ALSO, RADIO WOULD COME ON ALL BY ITSELF. CALL HAS JUST OVER 100K MILES (101,200). ALSO CODES RECEIVED FOR CAM SHAFT AND AIR PUMP WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .