67 of the 808 complaints filed about the BMW 530I are about the seats — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
67
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
20
Fires
SEATS
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 complaint #11693656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
Car randomly shows “Passenger restraint system malfunction”. I have read multiple complaints from other BMW owners about this issue that is not covered under BMW warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11595827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I purchased a used BMW from Apolo Auto in New Jersey around July 2021 the car was in perfect condition and it did not appear to have any mechanical or electrical defects. However, the prior owner had many aftermarket things done to the car and that was a big selling point as it was upgraded with low miles. After purchasing the vehicle some strange things started happening but I didn't pay close attention, and then my son was kidnapped from my home May 2022. It was at the beginning of June 2022 that I noticed we were being tracked, and private conversations inside the vehicle were publicly being communicated. I found evidence of infrared and bluetooth technology as well as GPS tracking technology and specific infrared technology is in the ceiling of the vehicle. The devices are close together & many. The vehicle was vandalized several times, broken into and the seatbelts in the back were pushed inwards so that I couldn't place my child into a proper seatbelt. I reported this to the insurance company and BMW in PA failed to repair the vandalism and they also failed to remove the tracking devices which I recently found. The highway violence consists of many vehicle swerving into my lane many times one after another, and I've almost crashed my car several times. Many instances have happened where motorcycles have pulled up next to the car at a stop light to rev up their engines to the point where my son beings to cry and it happens often. The consistently and level of aggressive behaviors have put my life in danger as well as my child's since he's special needs and can't be safely secured into his seatbelt due to vandalism, there are strange vehicles attempting to run us off the road on a regular basis, my vehicle has had significant mechanical vandalism which has yet to be repaired and it is known that the car is vulnerable therefore it is exploited. I fear the vandalism, tracking and consistent assaults on the road will cause our car to crash, injuring others.
NHTSA complaint #11590050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
Passenger Restraint system malfunction warning keeps appearing. This car has never been in an accident or had any moisture, spills etc. that would cause that to happen. I'm reporting it as an issue due to the many complaints by BMW customers with the same issue. BMW charges $2500 to fix for this very common problem.
NHTSA complaint #11576351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I recently took my vehicle in for a service due to "passenger system restraint" error code. Upon dealer inspection it would cost upwards of 4,000$ to fix this issue. I called my warranty company and they do not warranty any repairs that have to do with restraint systems. This seems to be a widespread issue from what I have read. This can really cause a major issue if the seatbelt for the passenger side does not work upon a collision. This has to be putting people in a serious situation and should be investigated. Thanks for your time.
NHTSA complaint #11546552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
Passenger restraint system warning is appearing frequently. The dealer service department said the front passenger seat mat needs to be replaced due to faulty front passenger seat occupancy detection. This is a known and common problem impacting front passenger seats but bmw is not recalling even though it impacts air bag deployment. The cost of the repair is estimated to be $2030 at Roadshow BMW in Cordova, TN.
NHTSA complaint #11539754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
Front passenger seatbelt indicator is triggered even if there is no one sitting in seat. Unclear if the sensor is too sensitive. For example, if a book is set on the passenger seat, the indicator may go off. Or if I am tapping on the side of the console next to the passenger seat, the indicator may go off.
NHTSA complaint #11523427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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 complaint #11434660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
Driver’s sport seat bottom has 19 degrees of rear tilt in the lowest setting. I am unable to flatten seat bottom causing Sciatica nerve pain which causes my legs to fall asleep while driving. I have owned several BMWs with sport seats and this is the first one that has caused problems. Base sport seat needs more adjust to lower degree of rear facing tilt.
NHTSA complaint #11432687 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
Passenger restrain system malfunction where airbags will not deploy if car is in accident. this seems as an issue with BMWs and they had recall before on certain models and years, dealers do not want to process claims under manufacturing warranty to fix an issue even the car is still under manufacturing warranty. claiming that water could have been spilled seems very convenient not to fix this issues. i took my car to dealer and they ran diagnostic test and charge me $200 to tell me to turn heat in the seat because moisture, sound unfair. week after that same message came on i am not sure how it is legal for BMW dealers to clear code and send people home and tell them to turn heat in the seat and hopefully problem goes away. which it did not and there should be recall for this issue especially if airbags are concern.
NHTSA complaint #11418662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET WITH MY MUSIC IN LOW WHEN I NOTICED THE DRIVER CAR SEAT GETTING HOT. I HADN'T TURNED ON THE HEATED SEATS AND I TOUCHED THE PASSENGERS SEAT AND IT WAS COOL. IT WAS TO HIT FOR ME TO DRIVE I HAD TO SIT COWARD SO MY BACK WOULDN'T TOUCH THE SEAT. IT WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE AND DANGEROUS. I'VE READ A LOT OF COMMENTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. I HAVE A 2006 BMW 530I
NHTSA complaint #11360353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
HEATED SEATING IS BURNING MY LEG PASSENGER SIDE. EVEN ON LOW.
NHTSA complaint #11296649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAULTY, AIRBAG DISABLED. FAULTS ARE SHOWING, AND WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND BMW USA, BOTH ACKNOWLEDGE AN ISSUE BUT INSIST MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. THE VIN IS NOT ON THEIR ROSTER. BMW RECALLED 200,000 CARS FOR THIS PROBLEM, IN THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL. I NOW HAVE THE ISSUE, AND IT IS A CLEAR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ANY WHO MIGHT RIDE IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11185510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION LIGHT IS ON DUE TO THE MAT CUSHION FAILURE. THIS IS VERY COMMON ON BMW AND MOST OF THEM HAVE A RECALL ISSUED, BUT NOT FOR MY 2007. PLEASE ADVISE AS THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $1800 FOR A NEW ONE. PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK UNLESS REPLACED
NHTSA complaint #11180906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT SENSOR HAS FAILED AND IT HAS TRIGGERED THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG LIGHT SENSOR FOR MY BMW. BMW SAYS IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL, BUT THEY HAVE RECALLED THE 2006 BMW E60 (MINE IS A 2007) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11162827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR DEFECTIVE. ALERTED ME THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WAS UNBUCKLED FOR OVER A MONTH. TOOK REPLACING THE SEAT TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #11057276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SEAT FELT AS IF THE LATCHES WERE LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10884476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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 complaint #10823820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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 complaint #10818249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 2006 530I. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR SHOWED A DEFAULT SO I TOOK IT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFAULT IN THE MAT SENSOR AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $781.72. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS BMW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SO THE REPAIR IS ON ME. I ALSO SEE THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT BMW NEEDS TO CORRECT.
NHTSA complaint #10787794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.