2003 BMW 525i

Do not drive

Owners filed 32 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags10
101
Electrical System4
000
Seats3
110
Electrical System › Ignition2
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
001
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Unknown or Other1
001
Structure1
002
Steering1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module19V015000Do not drive
Filed Jan 14, 2019157,549 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module15V318000Do not drive
Filed May 28, 2015419,235 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 10, 2021OH

GM3 Body module failure interior lights dont function, alarm whipers sprayers locks doors dont funtion

Electrical System
Filed Sep 10, 2021OH

Abs module failure trifecta abs light traction amd brake light. Sometimes used to auto Accelerate when brake was pressed and cruise control doesnt work

Electrical System
Filed Jun 6, 2021CA

I was driving and antitheft system went off while driving. Then wiper failed to work. I was told by dealer mechanic that the body control module was failing and advised not to drive the car because the antitheft system may cause the car to stop and the wiper system will stop when raining causing multiple accidents.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 15, 2017AL

BAD AIR BAG

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 3, 2016132,000 milesCA

MODULE FAILS THAT CONTROLS WINDSHIELD WIPERS. IF RAINING, THERE WOULD BE NO VISIBLITY AND WOULD RESULT IN AN ACCDENT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 1, 2016CA

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 *TR

Air Bags
Filed Feb 9, 2016CA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 3, 2016CA

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.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 1, 2015IL

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.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 16, 2015FL

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.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Sep 1, 2015150,000 milesTX

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 *CN

Air Bags
Filed Mar 11, 201520,000 milesCA

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.

SeatsCrash
Filed Mar 9, 2014180,000 milesCA

DRIVER SEAT AND PASSENGER POWER MOTOR OF SEAT NOT WORKING, AND CAN I ASKING IF I BUY THIS CAR FROM DEALER USED CAR,THIS CAR HAVE 5 RECALL,,THE DEALER DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE CAR HAVE RECALL, THAT ILLEGAL OR LEGAL , IF ILLEGAL WITH CUSTOMER,WHERE AND WHAT THE OFFICES CAN I DO COMPLAIN REPORT THIS DEALER,,THANKS *TR

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Feb 13, 2013NC

2003 BMW 525I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POTENTIAL FIRE IN TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION, DUE TO A FAULTY LEFT TAIL LIGHT. THE LIGHT WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE ENTIRE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY/HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED, RATHER THAN JUST REPLACING A BULB. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT A CONNECTOR HAS MELTED ONTO THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE WIRING WAS DAMAGED. *JB

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 21, 2012127,000 milesCA

I HAVE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER(RIGHT) SIDE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON OUR 2003 BMW 525I. THE TAIL LIGHT IS CONNECTED TO A WIRING HARNESS VIA A CONNECTOR. ONE OF THE CONNECTOR PINS HAS BEEN OVERHEATED BY THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND HAS BEEN BURNT TO A CRISP. THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS FORCED BMW TO DO A RECALL IN 2011 ON THE 3-SERIES OF AUTOMOBILES AND YET THEY HAVE IGNORED THE SAFETY OF SERIES-5 OWNERS AND HAVE YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS COMPONENT FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSES THE DRIVER INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY HAVE WORKING TURN SIGNALS WHEN IN ACTUALITY THEY DO NOT. THE VEHICLE STILL PROVIDES THE SOUNDS AND SIGHTS OF A DIRECTIONAL BEING USED, HOWEVER, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS DEAD. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1 injured
Filed Dec 21, 201125,000 milesVA

I WAS HELPING A PASSENGER OUT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 2003 BMW 525I WHEN THE PASSENGER ACCIDENTLY BUMPED THE THE AUTO-UP WINDOW BUTTON. THE DOOR WAS OPEN, THE WINDOW WAS DOWN, AND I HAD FINGER IN THE WAY OF THE NOW CLOSING WINDOW. ALL OFF A SUDDEN THE WINDOW CHOPPED OFF A DIGIT OF MY PINKY FINGER. MY FINGER WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE PINCH PROTECTION SAFETY FEATURE. HOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED: IF AUTO-UP FEATURE WAS DEACTIVATED WHEN DOOR IS OPEN, BUTTON TO OPEN CLOSE WINDOW COULD BE DESIGNED SO YOU HAVE TO PULL UP TO CLOSE WINDOW, PINCH-PROTECTION SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS FINGERS, AND PERHAPS A WARNING SIGN ON THE WINDOW THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF CUTTING OFF FINGERS. *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 13, 2011100,825 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE CHECK TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR AND DECELERATED UNTIL IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,825.

Structure2 injured
Filed Apr 9, 201126,000 milesNY

2003 BMW 525I 11 MONTHS AGO BROUGHT IN DUE TO WATER AND MOLD IN REAR FLOOR DEALER FOUND MOLD, DOOR PANELS CRUMBLING FROM WATER AND CLAIMED NEEDED TO REPLACE VAPOR BARRIERS. WANTED TO CHARGE ME $4,000 OR SO I FOUGHT AND BMW FURNISHED PARTS I PAID LABOR OVER 1200.00 WHEN ASKED THEY CLAIM NEVER SAW PROBLEM IN PAST, AND WAS DUE TO POOR ADHESIVE ON VAPOR BARRIERS, NOW 2 WEEKS AGO SAME PROBLEM. MY WIFE HAS BEEN HAVING MEDICAL PROBLEMS AS WELL AS I AND THEY ARE DUE TO TOXIC MOLD SYNDROME. DEALER REFUSES TO ADMIT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THRU ALL MODEL AND YEARS WHICH I HAVE RESEARCHED AND CONFIRMED THEY DEMANDED THE LOANER CAR BACK AND NOW THE RENTAL CAR, THEY WANT MY VEHICLE OFF THEIR LOT OBVIOUSLY, I SIMPLY WANTED A WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT THEIR IS NO MOLD AND THEY REFUSE, AN INVESTIGATOR FROM BMW WAS THERE AND HEAD OFFICE CLAIMS HIS REPORT WILL NOT REACH THEM FOR 2 WEEKS... I NOW HAVE LUNG ISSUES AS DOES MY WIFE ALONG WITH 8 SYPTOMS DOCUMENTED SINCE 2005 FROM PHYSICIANS CONFIRMING TOXIC MOLD EXPOSURE AND SYNDROME. THE DEALER AND BMW REFUSE TO ADMIT AND RESPONSIBLITIY OR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER LOOKING ON INTERNET IT IS WIDESPREAD, NOT EVEN AN APOLOGY. I HAVE CONTACT THE EPA AND MEDIA TO EXPOSE THERE TOTAL LACK OF ETHICS, HONEST AND CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH OF CONSUMERS. *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Nov 22, 201058,000 milesSC

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

Electrical System
Filed Feb 9, 201029,600 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ENGINE STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE ALL OF THE IGNITION COILS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR THEN HAD ONLY 29K+ MILES. *TR

20 of 32 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20110100Routine
20100100Routine
20091110Routine
20081100Routine
200772220Routine
200677340Routine
200535040Routine
2004840170Routine
2003 — this page32210Do not drive
200228420Do not drive
200122460Do not drive
20000100Do not drive
19991000Routine
19982000Routine
199524310Routine
19947400Routine
19935310Routine
199218420Routine
199113400Routine
199011300Routine

Compare every 525i year →

Reading this record

NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 14, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.