Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Interior & seats 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 Oct 15, 2025
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.
15
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5
What this page shows
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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 interior
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
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.
NHTSA ID
11693656
Incident
Dec 15, 2023
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
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 2, 2020
1 injury reported
HEATED SEATING IS BURNING MY LEG PASSENGER SIDE. EVEN ON LOW.
NHTSA ID
11296649
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
290,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 2, 2016
Fire reported
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.
NHTSA ID
10823820
Incident
Jan 31, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jan 5, 2016
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,
NHTSA ID
10818249
Incident
Jan 5, 2016
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 25, 2015
Fire reported1 injury reported
STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING TO LET IT WARM UP AND TURNED ON SEAT HEATER. GOT IN CAR 5 MIN LATER TO HEAD TO WORK AND SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH SEAT MATERIAL ON DRIVER SEAT. SEAT HEATER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THROUGH LEATHER AND BURNT ME AND MY CLOTHES. BURNT LEFT HAND THUMB AND INDEX FINGER TRYING TO PUT FIRE OUT. FROM SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO DEALERS OR MANUFACTURE OF CAR DOING ANYTHING TO PREVENT THIS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10701630
Incident
Mar 24, 2015
Mileage
115,642 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Mar 4, 2015
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, WITH MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT IS STILL ON (EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT). I WENT TO THE STEVENS CREEK BMW DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT THE REASON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IS BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS NOT SENSING A PASSENGER DUE TO CABLE CORROSION. THAT SEEMS ODD, GIVEN I KEEP MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND IT NEVER HAD ANY WATER DAMAGE. ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A POOR ENGINEERING ON BMW'S SIDE, SINCE IN CASE OF CORRODED CABLE OR FAULTY SENSOR THE DEFAULT BEHAVIOR SHOULD BE TO ALWAYS KEEP THE AIRBAG "ON". IT IS BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY AND (IN CASE OF ACCIDENT) DEPLOYING AN AIRBAG WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IS BETTER THAN NOT DEPLOYING AN AIRBAG WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER... THIS IS A CASE OF "POTENTIALLY SAVING SOMEONE'S LIFE" VS "POTENTIALLY SAVING A FEW DOLLARS"... *TR
NHTSA ID
10692209
Incident
Mar 1, 2014
Mileage
124,000 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
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 15, 2015
I WAS DRIVING MY GIRLFRIEND TO WORK WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM MY SURROUNDING AREA, NOT MY CAR. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE NOT THINKING TOO MUCH OF IT. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE SMELL GOT STRONGER. I DECIDED TO PULL OVER AT A CONVENIENCE STORE JUST AS PRECAUTION. WHEN I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR THERE WAS NO SMELL, I OPEN THE HOOD, EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO SMELL. I CONCLUDED THAT THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. I TURN OF THE HEAT, IT WAS VERY COLD THAT MORNING, TURNED OFF THE HEATED SEATS, AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE. TEN MINUTES LATER, I ARRIVED AT MY GIRLFRIEND WORK PLACE, THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE PASSENGER HEAT. WE WHERE SHOCKED TO SEE THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER SEAT HAD A TWO INCH BURNT MARK IT. WHEN I GOT HOME I DECIDED TO DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THAT MATTER, AND FIND OUT THAT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS VEHICLE. LUCKY FOR US, MY GIRLFRIEND WAS WEARING JEAN, A COAT, AND HAD HER CELL PHONE IN HER BACK POCKET THAT MORNING. IF THAT WAS NOT THE CASE SOME SERIOUS INJURIOUS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. SHE HAD TO GET RID OF THE HER COAT, JEAN, AND CELL PHONE CASE, BUT THAT'S FAR BETTER THAN GOING TO THE HOSPITAL. I NO LONGER USE THE HEATED SEATS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10672660
Incident
Jan 12, 2015
Mileage
168,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Nov 24, 2014
MY 2004 BMW 530I HAS BOTH THE SEATBELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON DISPLAY AT ALL TIMES ON MY DASHBOARD. THESE LIGHTS ON ARE CAUSED BY A FAULTY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT WHICH BMW HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON. AFTER DROPPING MY CAR TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED ROUGHLY 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND I CANNOT HAVE THIS WORK PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CHARGED ME $140 FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1050 OUT OF POCKET TO GET REPAIRED. I IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND INFORMED THEM OF MY SITUATION AS THIS OCCURRED WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS HOPING THEY COULD FIX MY CAR IN GOOD FAITH AS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE OR EVEN PROVIDE ME WITH A DISCOUNTED REPAIR. UNFORTUNATELY TWO MONTHS WENT BY WITH NO RESPONSE. WHEN I REACHED OUT AGAIN THEY SAID NO THIS IS NOT THEIR HEADACHE AND I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS AND REPAIRS RELATED TO THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION WHICH I AM SURPRISED IS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IT SPECIFICALLY STATES IF BOTH WARNING LAMPS ARE ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY, BMW RECOMMENDS NOT TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED. ALSO, THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE SAYS THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY EVEN IF A SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR AND OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON SUCH A SENSITIVE MATTER IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10660714
Incident
Mar 28, 2014
Mileage
82,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 19, 2014
Fire reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING, A SMELL OF BURNING MATTER RAPIDLY INCREASED IN THE CAR, THEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A SHARP BURNING SENSATION IN MY LEFT THIGH. I STOPPED THE CAR, GARBED MY EXTINGUISHER AND LOOKED AROUND THE SEAT FOR ANY SIGNS OF FIRE. THEN I NOTICED A BLACK BURNED HOLE ON THE SEAT BOTTOM LEFT BOLSTER EXACTLY WHERE MY THIGH BURNED. IT SEEMED THAT THE SEAT WARMER OVERHEATED, AND BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER. TURNING ON THE CAR AND WARMER AGAIN FOR COUPLE SECONDS, RESULTED IN SPARKS APPEARING THROUGH THE HOLE. I CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR IS NOT COVERED BY A WARRANTY ANYMORE, AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE SEATS ISSUED FOR MY CAR. TO CONTACT MY BMW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND THAT THEY MIGHT COVER A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. CHECKING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA, I AM SURPRISED BMW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SEAT HEATERS FOR OUR CARS, SPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10659299
Incident
Feb 24, 2014
Mileage
110,000 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
AirbagsInterior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 30, 2014
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR HAS A FAULT WHICH INCAPACITATES THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG. THIS CREATES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE PASSENGER SITUATION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE BMW SBSR SYSTEM SHOWS FAULT 0095B8. THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE IS A KNOWN BMW PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL, BUT BMW HAS INDICATED MY VIN IS NOT COVERED FOR THIS ISSUE FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. *TR
NHTSA ID
10629582
Incident
Sep 18, 2013
Mileage
93,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 24, 2014
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,000.
NHTSA ID
10584649
Incident
Mar 18, 2014
Mileage
217,000 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
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+2 more
Filed Jul 18, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SEAT MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED 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 40,000. UPDATED 08-16-12 *BF UPDATED 08/16/2012 *JS
NHTSA ID
10466415
Incident
Nov 15, 2008
Mileage
40,000 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
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 1, 2011
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WARMER AND BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE SEAT HAD BURNED THROUGH A JACKET THAT WAS ON THE SEAT. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED FOR BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,030.
NHTSA ID
10433821
Incident
Oct 29, 2011
Mileage
104,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 27, 2011
ON FEB 8/9, 2011,MY WIFE WAS COMING BACK FROM WORK IN 2004 BMW 530 WHEN SHE SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND A TINGED ON HER LEG, SHE GOT OUT FROM THE CAR AND SAW A SMOKE AND A BURNING MARK ON THE DRIVER SEAT. I CALLED THE BMW ON 2-10-2011, AND TALKED TO THE REP ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE REP TOLD ME THAT I WILL CALL BACK IN 3/5 DAYS BUT CALLED ME BACK AFTER 4 WEEK AND REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION.I TOLD THE REP THAT BMW IS A REPUTABLE COMPANY, AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT, AND I WILL REPORT TO THE SAFETY DEPT AS SOMEBODY COULD GET HURT. *TR
NHTSA ID
10409045
Incident
Feb 8, 2011
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 13, 2011
Fire reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVERS SEAT CAUGHT FIRE AND LEFT A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATING PADS OVER HEATED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 85,700.
NHTSA ID
10376563
Incident
Jan 3, 2011
Mileage
85,700 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 15, 2010
Fire reported
DRIVER'S SEAT ON A 2004 BMW 530I E60 ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO HEATED SEATS FEATURE. I TURNED THE HEAD SEATS ON AND AFTER 5 MINUTES I STARTED SMELLING A BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE. THE FIRE MADE A SMALL HOLE ON THE SEAT. I STOPPED THEN TURNED OFF THE CAR. I WAS LUCKY AND I WAS NOT DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10365675
Incident
Nov 14, 2010
Mileage
71,000 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
Heating & air conditioningInterior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 29, 2009
Fire reported
SEAT HEATER ON 2004 BMW 530I (E60) OVERHEATED AND BECAME VERY HOT. SMELL OF BURNING. RESULTED IN BLACK CHARRING TO THE LEATHER SEAT. NO ACTUAL FLAMES FROM OVERHEATING. SEAT HAD PREVIOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH SMOLDERING SEAT MATERIAL. ENTIRE SEAT WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST, 2005, AFTER PRIOR RECALL REMEDY (NHTSA ID NUMBER 04V575000) WAS SUPPOSEDLY COMPLETED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10297361
Incident
Dec 29, 2009
Mileage
131,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 25, 2009
Fire reported1 injury reported
THE HEATED SEAT ON MY DRIVER'S SIDE CONTINUOUSLY GOT HOTTER AND HOTTER, UNTIL IF FINALLY BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT. MY CLOTHING WAS BURNED AND SO WAS MY HAND WHEN I REACHED DOWN FEEL THE SEAT. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I MY CAR TO NOB_BMW IN ROCKVILLE. THIS IS WHERE I PURCHASED AND MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE. THE DID REPAIR IT FOR FREE, BUT CHARGED ME A FIFTY DOLLAR WARRANTY FEE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10293492
Incident
Oct 28, 2009
Mileage
43,610 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 21, 2009
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 45-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT HEATING SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THEN EXCESSIVE HEAT WAS EXPELLED FROM THE LEFT SIDE CORNER OF THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BACK-REST. THE HEAT MELTED A SMALL HOLE IN THE SEAT COVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HE EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE REFERENCED IN RECALL # 04V575000 (SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER). SINCE HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL, HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA ID
10289224
Incident
Nov 20, 2008
Mileage
108 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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
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