FaultScore

2003 BMW 525I airbag problems

10 of the 40 complaints about the 2003 BMW 525I are about the airbag system — 25% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 61,500 miles.

F

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 10 100.0%

Airbags across every BMW 525I year

2003 10 6.9%
2004 34 23.4%
2005 23 15.9%
2006 52 35.9%
2007 26 17.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Centerpoint, AL

AIR BAGS

BAD AIR BAG

NHTSA complaint #11015392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10852953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Duarte, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. 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 A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10825114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temecula, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint #10824029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Holland, IL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10779129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davie, FL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (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.

NHTSA complaint #10764161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Arlington, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DRIVER VEERED AND CRASHED INTO A CURB. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD LINER AIR BAG DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN ENGINEER FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WORKED AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10760750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Temecula, CA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA complaint #10693622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Greenville, SC 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HAZARD LIGHTS BLINKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 59,000. UPDATED EVOQ 01/04/11 UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE POLICE REPORT REFUSED THE CONSUMERS REQUEST FOR AN ACCIDENT REPORT AS THE OFFICER STATED THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. UPDATED 04/19/11

NHTSA complaint #10367057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Columbus, OH

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILURE, SENSOR IN SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR AIR BAG WILL NOT FUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10263226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 2003 BMW 525I report