2004 BMW 525i

ON DEC.2 MY 2004 BMW 525I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE MY HOUSE WHEN IT COUGHT ON FIRE AT THE FUSE PANEL IN THE TRUNK ON THE RIGHT FENDER WELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 100 MILES THAT DAY. MY STEP-DAUGHTER HAD GOTTEN HOME AT MIDNIGHT AND PARKED THE CAR. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS FINE WHEN SHE GOT HOME AT 3;30 AM MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT IT OUT AS EVER TIME WE WOULD GET THE FIRE OUT IT WOULD SPARK AND START AGAIN. THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE FIRE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, A NEIGHBOR NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL BMW DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

MICRO POWER MODULE (MPM) STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ERRATIC ENGINE RPM, AND CAUSING SMOKE INSIDE CABIN AND BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL. COMPLETE LOSS OF RADIO AND IDRIVE FUNCTIONALITY. MODULE IS LOCATED IN TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE. NOTIFIED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY JUST SAID THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. SEVERAL BMW ONLINE FORUMS HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE. OTHERS HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BY RELOCATING THE MODULE TO A HIGHER PLACE IN THE TRUNK. MOST OF WHO OWN THESE CARS DO NOT KNOW THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS VULNERABILITY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING APPEARS EACH TIME WE GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND START THE IGNITION. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RED ICON CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CAR DOES NOT COOL OR GET COLD UNTIL THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WE HAD A MECHANIC WHO WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM 3 YEARS AGO TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO NOT COOL PROPERLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP IN THE GARAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE BATTERY CABLE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONTACT'S HOME WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CHAPMAN BMW IN PHOENIX, AR) WHERE A RECALL REPAIR OF THE BATTERY CABLE WAS PERFORMED. THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT ON,EFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CALLED BMW WAS TOLD VIN NUMBER NOT IN RECALL HOW CAN THAT BE RECALL IS FOR 2004 BMW. COST IS OVER 1000. CAR WAS STATIONARY.

LITERALLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE BURNING A VERY DEEP HOLE THROUGH TO THE FRONT OF THE SEAT AND BURNING A HOLE IN MY JACKED THEN BURNING MY SKIN. IMMEDIATELY I NOTIFIED BMW WHO WAS EXTREMELY ACCOMMODATING EVEN HELPING ME SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT.. THEN THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T DO RECALLS AND THEY COULDN'T ASSIST ME. AFTER BMW NORTH AMERICA AUTHORIZED THIS. I HAD AN EXTRA VEHICLE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT OUR BMW X3 TO COLLEGE WITH HER. THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED WE NOT USE THE VEHICLE UNTIL ITS REPAIRED THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF AND WON'T TURN OFF AND THEN IT STARTS BURNING . I'VE BEEN AFRAID OF DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THE FRIGHTENING BURNING SMELL. I WOULDN'T BE WRITING U IF I WASN'T BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BY BMW . NOW I'M WITHOUT TRANSPO AND I HAVE A CHILD WITH EPILEPSY WHO I NEED ADEQUATE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR. IT DIFFICULT BEING TOLD YES BY BMW NORTH AMERICA THEN THE DEALER WON'T ACCOMMODATE YOU UNLESS YOU CONSIDER REPLACING YOUR VEHICLE WITH A NEW BMW! I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH W

I REALLY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. MY SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS TURNING ON AND OCCASIONALLY WON'T GO OFF I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR MAYBE 35 MINUTES TOPS SINCE THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE 3 WEEKS AGO. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS TRIED TO ASSIST ME, UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERS ARE EITHER BOOKED SOLID OR ARE CAPABLE OF FIXING THIS TECHNICAL A PROBLEM. THEY'VE AGREED TO FIX EVERYTHING FOR FREE & PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY RESOLVED BMW DOES NOT WANT MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AGAIN. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THE DEALERSHIP CONSIDER A CAR FIRE TOP PRIORITY. THERE IS A HUGE LIKELIHOOD IT COULD CONTINUE BURNING WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. I WISH BMW NORTH AMERICA WOULD ASSIST ME LIKE THEY SAID. I'VE HAD 8 BMW'S AND NEVER HAVE I HAD AN ISSUE . THAT IS WHY I'VE BOUGHT BMW'S BECAUSE AS LONG AS I DID ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (A SIDE FROM THIS ONE) MY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY RELIABLE BUT A PLEASURE TO OWN. I'VE HAD VERY FEW ISSUES WITH MY CURRENT E60 UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO. SINCE THEN MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHAOTIC BORROWING VEHICLES RENTING VEHICLES AND RELYING ON OTHERS BECAUSE BMW DOESN'T PRIORITIZE CAR FIRES. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS MY MINOR CHILD AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME IF IT WERE TO BECOME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PLEASE CALL ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE SO I CAN BE SAFE . MY CONTACT INFO IS [XXX] [XXX] [XX

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. ALL ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHTS STARTED LIGHTING UP THE DASH AND THEN DISPLAYS GO BLANK. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS FILLING UP WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER GLOVE BOX. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE DISCONNECTED BATTERY AND TOOK TO BMW. THEY SAID MICRO-PROCESSOR LOCATED IN SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO WATER. I DON'T CARRY COOLERS AND DON'T LEAVE MY TRUNK OPEN WHEN IT RAINS. HOW DID WATER GET THERE. BULLETINS SHOW THAT SUNROOF DRAINS GET CLOGGED AND WATER GETS INTO TRUNK AND SHORTS OUT ELECTRICAL. SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS IF THIS HAPPENS, CUSTOMER PAY BUT MOVE ELECTRICAL TO WHERE IT CAN'T GET WET. SO BMW KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE A FIRE BUT DOESN'T CARE TO COVER REPAIR. NOW I'M STUCK WITH $1000 REPAIR FOR MICRO-PROCESSOR JUST TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT ELSE IS BURNED UP. I HAVE TO PAY BEFORE I WILL KNOW IF IT WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $5,000 TO REPAIR. I'M LUCKY ELECTRICAL DIDN'T CATCH FIRE AND BURN UP ENTIRE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,799.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 525I, MY RIGHT HIP STARTED BURNING. FOLLOWED BY AN ODOR. WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OVER, I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT & ON THE BACK PORTION OF THE SEAT I NOTICED A BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATER GOT SO HOT THAT IT BURNED MY BLOUSE TO THE SEAT. I SENT AN EMAIL TO BMW WHO RESPONDED THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME AFTER ASKING ME TO SEND THEM MY VIN #, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF THE SEAT. I DID SO, AND AS OF TODAY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN IN TOUCH WITH ME. (?) AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BRAND-NEW IN 2004 THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN 2005-06. THE SEAT LITERALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH MY MOTHER SITTING IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MASSACHUSETTS RESPECTFULLY DID THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACED IT, "IMMEDIATELY" FOR ME. ~ IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE, THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS "B-M-W" IS NOT ONLY NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSUMERS TO COME TO SOME RESOLUTION OF THEIR INFERIOR & DAMAGED PRODUCT. WHICH AT SOME POINT, WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM AND POSSIBLY GIVE SOMEONE THIRD DEGREE BURNS. MAYBE IT WILL TAKE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DATELINE NBC TO RUN AN UNDERCOVER PROGRAM, BEFORE BMW MANUFACTURERS SMARTEN UP & FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE WITH A FEATURE WE ALL PAID EXTRA TO HAVE... THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. ~IN CLOSING; I WAS ONCE TOLD BY OTHER OWNERS I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO ANY OTHER CAR ONCE I OWNED A BMW. I HONESTLY CAN SAY THIS EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED MY OPINION OF THAT. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING UNTIL

SINCE 2012, THE NIGHTMARES BEGIN WITH TRYING TO GET MY 525I SMOGGED, FROM WEBER BMW FRESNO UNDER A WHOOPING $500.00. EVERY TIME THE SMOG IS DUE WHICH IS EVER 2-YRS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.... AND BMW GIVES YOU THE CODE YOU REPLACE WHAT THE CODE SAYS AND THEN GUESS WHAT THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON THEY KEEP CHARGING YOU A DIAGNOSTICS CHARGE OF $130.00 EACH TIME AND WHEN YOU GET TO $500.00 THEY NOW KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHICH WILL COST YOU AROUND $1000.00 OR SO. BMW GAVE HIM A CODE FOR $130.00, HE MADE THE REPAIR BASED ON THEIR INFORMATION AND GUESS WHAT IT DIDN'T PASS SMOG. SO, MY MECHANIC TOOK IT BACK, SERVICE ADVISER NOT IN WHO HANDLED THE CAR THE FIRST TIME SO THEIR IS ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS FEE OF $130.00, MY MECHANIC TELLS THEM FINE JUST SMOG IT. WELL IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS WITH THE BMW SERVICE CENTER, THEY CLAIM TO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THEY NEED AUTHORIZATION NOW FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS WHICH WOULD BRING THE TOTAL TO $520.00, AND YOU GUESSED IT THE CAR STILL HASN'T PASSED SMOG. I CALLED TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MANGER ON 2/11, FOR ASSISTANCE AND OF COURSE HE IS GOING TO LOOK INTO IT AND CALL ME BACK. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE WAS LAST INFORMED THIS SAME THING BY THE SERVICE MANAGER BUT THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID HE WOULD NEED AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE CHARGE OF $520.00 IN ORDER TO DO ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS?? ...WHEN IN FACT ALL THEY DO IS RAKE UP FALSE CHARGES AND CODES BASED ON THE MILEAGE OF YOUR VEHICLE, YOU CAN FORGET THE FACT THAT YOU KEEP UP THE MAINT

I PURCHASED A USE 2004 BMW 525I AND WITHIN 2 DAYS THE A MESSAGE CAME UP INDICATING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG/SEAT BELT ISSUE, REMAIN USING YOUR SEAT BELT BUT SEE YOUR NEAREST BMW CENTER.

I EXPERIENCED A ROUGH IDLE WHILE PARKED OR STOPPED AT LIGHT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A VAC LEAK ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE VAC PUMP WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE DAMAGE AND/OR FAILURE. BMW STATED THAT THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS VIN SPECIFIC. #2 PASSENGER RESTRAINT AND AIR BAG LITE ARE ON, SAME ANSWER FROM BMW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART UNTIL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE SEAT FELT VERY HOT ON MY LOWER BACK. WHEN I GOT TO WORK NOTICED THAT THE LEATHER WAS BURNED THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS LEFT SIDE. YOU CAN SEE THE EXPOSED WIRING. VERY DANGEROUS. BMW WOULD NOT REPLACE. IN SEARCHING ON LINE, I SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION ON THE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT BUT IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE MAY NOT BE PROTECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEFAULT MESSAGE IN MY CAR. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST .THANK YOU

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHTING WIRES WERE ZIP TIED TOGETHER AND THE CASING WAS MISSING. AS A RESULT, THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT SIGN CAME ON FEW WEEKS BACK. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NOT COVERED BUT NHTSA SITE INDICATES IT IS COVERED ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. THIS DEALER IS ESTIMATING A $650.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO SEE WHAT NEED TO BE DONE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE? MY LAST OPTION IS THE JUNK YARD, AND NEVER BUY A BMW.

I OWN BMW 525I 2004 SINCE 2004. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGN TURN ON IN 2010 AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT "STATING THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED ITEM". I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE WHICH HAS THIS BMW RECALL ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. I CALLED INTO THE DEALER AGAIN AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT THEY STILL REFUSE TO SERVICE AND STATED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED FOR YOUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THIS SITE MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT AS IN CASE OF ANY INCIDENT, AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE HELP ME AS YOU ARE THE SAFETY GRAIL FOR AUTOS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAG, AND BELT TENSIONER/BELT FORCE LIMITER WARNING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION SURPASSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

VERY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE WITH THE DECISIONS OF BMW UPON THIS CAR AND ITS HEADLIGHTS. ANY CAR OF THIS CHASSIS E60 FROM THE DATES 2004-2010 HAVE ROTTING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. ASKING AROUND DID NOT HELP MY SITUATION ONE BIT AT ALL. ALL THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED SINCE THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THEM HAVE BEEN DEGRADED DOWN. CAUSING SHORTS, MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, ETC. GOOGLING THIS FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FRUSTRATED ALL ACROSS ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, YOU CANNOT DRIVE ON THESE FOR TOO LONG. MY ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS FAILING PUT MY SECURITY AT RISK WHEN I RELIED ON THEM TO HELP ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.

DRIVER'S SEAT BURNED, LEAVING A CHARRED HOLE IN THE LEATHER APPROX 1" X 5 " NEAR DRIVERS LEFT HIP AREA ON SEAT BACK, MOST LIKELY BY SEAT HEATING ELEMENT MALFUNCTION. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE IN MARYLAND - - WHERE IT IS HOT. I DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT HEATER ON. THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THIS IS VERY STRANGE AND DESERVES INVESTIGATION. *TR

OUR CARS BRAKES FAILED AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP WE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND SENSORS AND TESTED THE CAR AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AS THE OLD PADS WERE STILL OVER 60%.WE TOOK THE CAR TO BMW OF ARLINGTON TEXAS FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND TOLD US THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THEY ORDERED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND AT THAT TIME THE QUOTE WAS A LITTLE OVER $1000.THEY CALLED US BACK AND SAID THAT WHEN THEY TOOK OUT THE MASTER CYLINDER THEY NOTICED THE BRAKE BOOSTER SERVO HAD OIL IN IT AND THE DIAPHRAGM WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NOW THE QUOTE WENT UP OVER $2000 THEY INSTALLED ALL THE PARTS AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO US SAID EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. WE WENT ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POUNDING NOISE,PULLED OVER ON THE FREEWAY AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE BRAKING IT WAS THE SAME AS WE HAD ORIGINALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT .WE TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COVER WAS MISSING I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS FINE EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES SO THEY KEPT THE CAR IN THE SHOP AND ORDERED THE MISSING PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM FOR NO CHARGE. THEY DELIVERED THE CAR BACK TO US FRIDAY APRIL 10TH NOW NEARLY 3 WEEKS LATER WE LEFT THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND USED OUR OTHER CARS AS IT WAS LOW ON GAS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REFILL IT. TODAY APRIL 12TH MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO GET IT GASSED UP AND READY FOR MONDAY. SHE DROVE OFF AND TRIED TO STOP AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE W

I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR, I PARK THE CAR AND CHECK, MY SEAT WAS BURN, I TURN OFF THE HEATING AND I'M NOT BE ABLE TO USED AGAIN THE DEALER ON PARK AVE IN SOUTH HACKENSACK NJ DON'T GET BACK TO ME. PLUS NOW LAST WEEK MAY 31 THE PASSENGER SAFETY LIGHT CAME ON WE ARE THINKING THE CAR IS CURS.EVERY REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON A BMW 525I 2004. NO PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE, PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD, IN FRONT OF A BAKERY, DURING THE FINAL APPROACH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT A REASON, GOING OVER THE BUMP STOP. THE CAR ENDED UP IN THE SIDEWALK, NO INJURIES (FORTUNATELY NO PEDESTRIANS WERE ON THE SIDEWALK AT THE TIME). LUCKILY THE DRIVER HAD THE FOOT ON THE BREAK PEDAL AND COULD TAKE ACTION PREVENTING A CRASH WITH THE BUILDING'S DOOR AND AVOIDING HITTING THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE SHOP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WILL UNDERGO TESTING. SERVICE ADVISER CLAIMS NO ISSUE LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, ONLY IN TOYOTA'S. NOT TRUE AT ALL. *TR

I STARTED MY CAR AND TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON LOW. APPROX 5 MINS LATER, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH BECAUSE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED TWO HOLES IN THE LEATHER AND SMOKE HAD CIRCULATED IN MY CAR. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SMOKE CLEARED. I HAD CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND BMW NA IN DEC 2012 BECAUSE I FELT THE SEAT HEATERS WERE GETTING TOO HOT - THE DRIVERS SEAT REGISTERED 132 DEGREES AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT HEATER AND BMW NA NEVER RESPONDED, OUTSIDE THE STANDARD FORM EMAIL TELLING ME THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. TODAY, THE SEAT HEATER FINALLY BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN BURNED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WHILE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE SEAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM THE SEAT OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,779.

THERE IS A FAULTY RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AT ALL THE AIRBAG SIGN INDICATES THAT IT IS OFF. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A MALFUNCTION IN OTHER BMW 5 SERIES AND THE DEALER SHIPS THAT I'VE WENT TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EVEN THOUGH BMW HEADQUARTERS RELEASED A RECALL FOR SOME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. *TR

THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ARE ON IN CAR, BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND THAT THIS IS MANUFACTURE FAULT, WHEN I CALLED BMW DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SAME MANUFACTURE FAULT. I THINK BMW MANUFACTURER IS AT LIBEL AT PRESENT, LET'S JUST HOPE NOTHING HAPPENED TO MYSELF AND FAMILY WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. I WANT BMW TO ADD MY CAR TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AS THE HEAT BECAME ABNORMALLY HOT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED BURNS TO THE BACK AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,219.

OBD WARNING , FAULT WITH PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT , PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS OFF , POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH BELT TENSIONER. *TR

THE RESTRAINT LIGHT CAME ON IN MY CAR AND FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THE LIGHT WILL NOT RESET. I KNOW FOR A FACT THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT COVER OR SOMETHING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THIS STARTED AROUND 2010 OR 2011 NOT SURE. BUT JUST A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS TOLD IT MAY BE UNDER A RECALL STATUS AS WELL BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS SERVICED. AND THE LIGHT SAYS *PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT. BUT MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH CONCERNED WITH THIS PROBLEM SO IS THIS A RECALL AND WHEN CAN IT BE FIXED, I PLAN ON KEEPING THIS CAR BUT REALLY DO NEED THE BMW COMPANY TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND BACK THEIR PRODUCT AS ONE OF THE BEST, THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

PASS. RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER, OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. CONTINUE TO WEAR SAFETY BELT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THERE IS A COMPONENT CALLED MPM(MICRO POWER MODULE) BENEATH THE SPARE TIRE AND IS COMPLETELY BURNT DUE TO SOME WATER IN THE TRUNK. THE PLASTIC CASE WHICH COVERS THE COMPONENT IS BURNT AND THERE IS CLEAR INDICATION OF FIRE. SPOKE TO BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY ADVISED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE . PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS ISSUE AS THIS MAY BE HAZARDOUS. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAVE CALLED THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WHICH WILL COST OVER $100 JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY STATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS ONE OF THE CARS THAT WAS FIXED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I TOLD THEM I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG IT. WHAT IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILS AND SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY INJURED DO TO THIS ISSUE. THE WARNING NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO YEARS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 80,000. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENS FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL AND THEY CANNOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE RECALL. VERY DISAPPOINTED. THE CAR HAS A VERY HIGH PRICE TAG AND YOU WOULD EXPECT SOME SORT OF OWNERSHIP AND HONESTY FROM THE BMW CORPORATION. *TR

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WAS TURNED ON AND IT BECAME VERY HOT, BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY NAVIGATION AND RADIO SYSTEM JUST STOPPED WORKING AND I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THE CAR COMMUNICATIONS COMPUTER TO GO BAD AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR 1300.00 AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS COMMON THAT THE PART WENT BAD THAT OFTEN WAS CONFUSING AND I THINK SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THAT PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS FRONTAL) THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

IN JUNE 2012, I RECEIVED SERVICE FOR THE BATTERY CABLE RECALL FOR MY 2004 525I AT BEVERY HILLS BMW SERVICE CENTER. ONE WEEK AFTER MY SERVICE A SERVICE INDICATOR ON MY I-DRIVE SAID THERE WAS PASSENGER RESTRAINT/AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THE BEVERLY HILLS BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THIS SERVICE INDICATOR WAS TRIGGERED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL WHICH HAPPENED SHORTLY <1000 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE BATTERY CABLE RECALL. THE RECALL SERVICE DONE AT BEVERLY HILLS BMW WAS RELATED TO THE MOUNTING OF THE BATTERY CABLES TO A CONNECTION IN THE MID-TRUNK, AND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL CABLE THAT CONNECTS THERE RUNS BACK TO THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE TRUNK AND CONNECTS TO THE BATTERY, COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY WITH THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL CAN MALFUNCTION IF ANY CONNECTION TO IT IS LOOSE CAUSING AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN IMPEDANCE IN THE CIRCUIT, OR ON THE CONTRARY CAN BE CAUSED BY BLOWN FUSE RELATED TO A RAPID RISE IN VOLTAGE. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT HEATING OF THE BATTERY CABLE (THE ISSUE THE RECALL EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE), COULD HAVE CAUSED THE BATTERY TERMINAL TO MALFUNCTION, THOUGH THAT DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS PROBLEM WOULD SURFACE ONLY AFTER THE REPAIR WORK. FURTHERMORE, THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL IS NOT A WEARABLE PART, SO IT SEEM ILLOGICAL TO THINK THAT'S IT'S MALFUNCTION, TIMED TO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS JUST A COINCIDENCE. BMW OF BEVERY HILLS IS ATTMEPTING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, TWO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), HOWEVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

DRIVER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

DEALER IS TELLING ME A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED.

TRANMISSION FAILURE ON THIS CAR. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT TO NO AVAIL (OVER $3000). WOUND UP GETTING OUR $$ BACK, THANK GOODNESS. APPARENTLY, IN READING ALL THE INFO ONLINE, THE 2004 525I TRANSMISSION FAILURES IS VERY COMMON. ONLY REMEDY IS A FULL-BLOWN BMW REPLACEMENT WITH THE CLUTCH ALREADY SET.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WHEN IT DID SHIFT IT LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MECHATRONIC SLEEVE WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND AS A RESULT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.