RoadVitals

2004 BMW 530I Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest May 17, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 129 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 BMW 530I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed May 17, 2024

BATTERY CABLE - INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR

NHTSA ID
11589393
Incident
May 17, 2024
Electrical
Filed Nov 18, 2023
Crash reported

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)

NHTSA ID
11555809
Incident
Aug 12, 2022
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 28, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID
11434660
Incident
May 10, 2018
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 11, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID
11416044
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
132,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 14, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11180189
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
205,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 17, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11047060
Incident
Nov 10, 2017
Mileage
167,718 mi
Electrical
Filed May 13, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10985493
Incident
May 1, 2017
Mileage
98,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Dec 28, 2016

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

NHTSA ID
10938364
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Electrical
Filed Oct 11, 2015

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.

NHTSA ID
10781302
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 2, 2015
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10779408
Incident
Oct 30, 2012
Mileage
58,702 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2015
Fire reported

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 .

NHTSA ID
10735358
Incident
Jun 8, 2015
Mileage
190,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 4, 2015
Fire reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I NOTICED A SMELL OF BURNING MATTER RAPIDLY INCREASING IN THE CAR, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SHARP BURNING SENSATION IN MY RIGHT THIGH. WHILE HALF-STANDING I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER MY CAR TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. (WHICH WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO SAFELY, GIVEN THE TRAFFIC WAS DENSE AND MOVING WITH HIGHWAY SPEEDS.) AFTER I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF THE CAR, CAME OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT, I NOTICED A BURN MARK ON THE LEATHER, EXACTLY WHERE MY THIGH WAS WHEN IT GOT BURNED. IT SEEMED THAT THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. I VENTILATED THE CAR FROM THE BURNING ODOR, WHICH GAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THE SEAT TO COOL DOWN. AFTER GETTING TO A SAFER LOCATION I TESTED MY THEORY BY TURNING ON THE SEAT WARMER ? THE ISSUES WAS REPRODUCIBLE. I WENT TO STEVENS CREEK BMW DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIRS. THEY CHARGED ME $210.88 DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND QUOTED WITH AROUND $1,500 FOR THE REPAIRS, IMPLYING THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE AS ?A GOOD WILL? SINCE MY CAR IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES ON IT AND THAT IT HAS NONE OF THE WARRANTIES LEFT. I STILL THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT AS "A GOOD WILL" SINCE THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SEAT WARMER. THE SEAT WARMER SHOULD HAVE FAILED IN A FAIL-SAFE WAY BY NOT WARMING OR AT LEAST BLOWING A FUSE (AND AGE & MILES HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH POOR ENGINEERING). *TR

NHTSA ID
10692207
Incident
Nov 12, 2014
Mileage
127,437 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 4, 2014

MY VEHICLE IS A 530I WITH A PRODUCTION DATE IN DECEMBER 2003, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL RCDNN-04V575. DESPITE THE DECEMBER 2004 NOTICE TO NTSHA INDICATING THAT 100% OF VEHICLES WITH THE SEAT HEATING OPTION PRODUCED BETWEEN JUNE 17TH 2003 AND APRIL 30TH 2004. BMW INSISTS THAT MY VEHICLE (PRODUCTION DATE IN DECEMBER 2003 AND CONTAINING THE SEAT HEATER IN QUESTION) IS, ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY WILL NOT RELEASE TO ME, NOT IN FACT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. WHAT I FIND INEXPLICABLE AND BEYOND BELIEF, IS THAT THEY WOULD ISSUE A NOTIFICATION TO NTSHA IN NOVEMBER 2004, A FULL SIX MONTHS AFTER ALLEGEDLY REMEDYING DEFECTS IN CARS PRODUCED FROM MID-MARCH 2004 THROUGH APRIL 30TH 2004 WITHOUT CORRECTING THOSE DATES IN THE NOTIFICATION LETTER. BMW REFUSES TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER HEATING ELEMENT DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT IT IS IN FACT DEFECTIVE AND SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10652478
Incident
May 19, 2011
Mileage
84,200 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 21, 2014

MY VEHICLE IS A 530I WITH A PRODUCTION DATE IN MARCH 2004, IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL RCDNN-04V575. DESPITE THE DECEMBER 2004 NOTICE TO NTSHA INDICATING THAT 100% OF VEHICLES WITH THE SEAT HEATING OPTION PRODUCED BETWEEN JUNE 17TH 2003 AND APRIL 30TH 2004. BMW INSISTS THAT MY VEHICLE (PRODUCTION DATE IN MARCH 2004 AND CONTAINING THE SEAT HEATER IN QUESTION) IS, ACCORDING TO INTERNAL DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY WILL NOT RELEASE TO ME, NOT IN FACT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. THE MALFUNCTION DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE HAPPENED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED, BURNING A HOLE THROUGH MY DRIVER SEAT SIDE BOLSTER. DESPITE AGREEING TO REMEDY THE DRIVER SIDE DAMAGE TO MY SATISFACTION, BMW CONTENDS THAT THEY ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER, WHICH I CONTEND IS DEFECTIVE AND WAS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. I HAVE EMAILS FROM BMW STATING MY VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT NO RECALL REPAIRS HAD OCCURRED THEY ARE CLAIMING I AM NOT ENTITLED TO VIEW THE INTERNAL DOCUMENTATION THAT ALLEGEDLY SHOWS THAT THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. WHAT I FIND INEXPLICABLE AND BEYOND BELIEF, IS THAT THEY WOULD ISSUE A NOTIFICATION TO NTSHA IN NOVEMBER 2004, A FULL SIX MONTHS AFTER ALLEGEDLY REMEDYING DEFECTS IN CARS PRODUCED FROM MID-MARCH 2004 THROUGH APRIL 30TH 2004 WITHOUT CORRECTING THOSE DATES IN THE NOTIFICATION LETTER. BMW REFUSES TO REPAIR OR EVEN INSPECT MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER HEATING ELEMENT DESPITE CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT IT IS IN FACT DEFECTIVE AND SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE THAT PROBLEM REMEDIED AS PRESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE OR DEFINITIVE PROOF PRODUCED THAT THE REPAIR WAS CONDUCTED OR ALTERNATIVELY THAT THE REDESIGN WAS IN PLACE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BOLSTER BEFORE DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565281
Incident
Jan 25, 2014
Mileage
87,500 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jun 19, 2013

IDRIVE IS TOTALLY BLACK, INCLUDING ALL DASHBOARD FUNCTIONS, NO WIPERS OR POWER TO WINDOWS, ONLY MY ENGINE RUNS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT WATER GOT INTO THE SUNROOF AND LEAKED TO THE TRUCK NEAR TIRE AND CAUSE TWO GASKETS TO BURN OUT. I AM TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPAIR IS $1650 OR $2950 DEPENDING ON WHICH OPTION I CHOOSE. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY RETURN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER ISSUED BUT THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR COST, EVEN THOUGH THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520676
Incident
Jun 13, 2013
Mileage
68,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2012

THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR, SHORTLY AFTER THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TRUNK. THERE WAS A CABLE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY THAT COME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER MODULE TO BURNT OUT. THERE WAS POWER OUTAGE THROUGHOUT THE CAR, THE NOTICEABLE ONES INCLUDED: THE RADIO (THE SCREEN WAS COMPLETELY BLACK AND THERE WAS NO SOUND); THE CAR ALARM; AND THE BING ALERTING SOUNDS THAT GOES OFF WHEN KEY IS IN IGNITION, SEATBELTS ARE NOT STRAPPED,ETC. WERE NOT WORKING. MY TECHNICIAN CHANGE THE POWER MODULE THEN HE NOTICED THAT THE CABLE THAT CAME LOOSE ONLY DISCONNECTS WHEN THERE IS A CAR ACCIDENTS AS A PRECAUTION, JUST THE SAME WAY THE AIRBAGS DEFLATE. HE ADVISED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO AN EXPLOSION. WHEN I INFORMED BMW CENTER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A DEFECT THAT IT WAS "WEAR AND TEAR", BUT THEN AGAIN THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO DIAGNOSE IT, THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT! *TR

NHTSA ID
10480627
Incident
Jun 21, 2012
Mileage
101,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 2012

THERE WAS A BURNT PLASTIC ODOR, SHORTLY AFTER THAT SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TRUNK. A CABLE CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY CAME LOOSE WHICH CAUSE THE POWER MODULE TO BURN OUT. THERE WAS A POWER OUTAGE THROUGHOUT THE CAR, THE NOTICEABLE ONES INCLUDED; THE RADIO (NO IMAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE SCREEN AND NO SOUND); THE CAR ALARM WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BING SOUND ALERTING KEY IN IGNITION, SEATBELT NOT STRAPPED, ETC. WAS NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10480623
Incident
Jun 21, 2012
Mileage
101,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Sep 26, 2012
Fire reported

CAR WAS GOING TO BE PURCHASED ON 8/24/2012 WAS TOLD TO DRIVE FOR THE WEEKEND. ON 8/27/2012 AROUND 3:00 IN THE MORNING (AFTER FILLING WITH FUEL THE PRIOR EVENING) WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, THEN FOLLOWED BY FIRETRUCKS AND AMBULANCES. UPON INSPECTION THE BMW IN THE PARKING GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, WINDOWS HAD BLOWN OUT. ACCORDING TO FIRE MARSHALL FIRE STARTED AT BATTERY IN TRUNK AND WAS IGNITED BY GASOLINE VAPORS. CAUSED MAJOR FIRE DAMAGE TO CAR PARKED NEXT TO IT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10477129
Incident
Aug 27, 2012
Mileage
89,859 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 5, 2012

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS IS DEACTIVATED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG "ON-OFF" LAMP IS ILLUMINATED. THIS ISSUE IS THE SAME AS THE 2004 BMW 5 SERIES FRONTAL AIRBAG RECALL ( #08V384000), BUT FOR SOME REASON WHEN I CONTACTED BMW AT 1-800-525-7417 AND PROVIDED THEM MY VIN NUMBER THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. PLEASE REVIEW AND RECONSIDER AS THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10464283
Incident
Jul 4, 2012
Mileage
79,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 20, 2012

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS DISABLED THE AIRBAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, ANY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAGS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY2004-2006 BMW 5-SERIES MODELS (ALONG WITH NUMEROUS OTHER MODELS) FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA HAS ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE (PER VIN) IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAULT AS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL ISSUED BY BMW NA. NEITHER MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, OR BMW NA IS WILLING TO COVER THIS FAILURE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10462440
Incident
Jun 6, 2012
Mileage
111,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 2, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 320I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT WATER ENTERED THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V126000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) BUT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE HE NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10453851
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10412442
Incident
Jul 9, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Nov 2, 2010
Fire reported

THE HEATED LEATHER SEAT FOR MY BMW 2004 530 I MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE FROM A SMALL FIRE THROUGH THE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10363741
Incident
Oct 30, 2010
Mileage
163,864 mi
Electrical
Filed May 27, 2010
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE OPENED THE TRUNK IN THE RAIN THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE MICROPROCESSOR (MPM), LOCATED UNDER THE SPARE TIRE WELL. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR, I-DRIVE AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ID
10332486
Incident
Apr 24, 2010
Mileage
74,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 2, 2009
Fire reported

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON MY 2004 BMW 530I REGARDING THE SEAT WARMERS BURNING THE LEATHER AND DRIVER. HOWEVER, THE RECALL COVERS THE BACKREST AND NOT THE SEAT BOTTOM. AFTER TALKING TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, THEY SAID THE SEAT BOTTOM WAS NOT COVERED. CAN YOU MAKE THEM INCLUDE THE SEAT BOTTOM IN THE RECALL? THE SEAT WARMERS ARE BURNING THROUGH THE SEATS IN BOTH PLACES, AND IS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THE DRIVER IN BOTH PLACES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10260417
Incident
Mar 2, 2009
Mileage
35,000 mi

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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Data on this page last refreshed .