2004 BMW 530i complaints

SATURDAY OCTOBER 3, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30AM I TURNED ON MY DRIVER SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER APPROX. 2-3 MINUTES I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND THEN SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM AROUND MY STEERING WHEEL. I PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT AND FOUND MY SEAT HAD A HOLE BURNED THROUGH IT ON THE LOWER LEFT HAND SIDE (DOOR SIDE). THE HOLE WAS RED FROM HEAT SO I LOOKED AT THE BACK OF MY SHIRT AND IT HAD A HOLE BURNED IN IT, I THEN LOOKED AT MY PANTS AND FOUND A HOLE HAD STARTED BURNING THRU THE HIP POCKET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THE ONE I JUST EXPERIENCED. I ALSO NOTICED ON THE INTERNET ON A LAW FIRMS WEB PAGE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TO MY MODEL CAR, 2004 BMW 530I. I PLAN TO CALL BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TOMORROW (10-5-09) TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I CAN SEND A PICTURE OF THE CAR SEAT AND MY CLOTHES IF YOU WANT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE WHEELS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY SPECULATED THAT THE CONTACT MUST HAVE STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE WHEELS TO FAIL. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 49,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS BMW PASSENGER SENSOR MAT ACTIVATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO ALERT HIM THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS, FRONTAL), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

DRIVER'S SEAT HEATING UNIT BECAME VERY HOT AND SINGED THE SEAT COVERING. DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT. *TR

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON MY 2004 BMW 530I REGARDING THE SEAT WARMERS BURNING THE LEATHER AND DRIVER. HOWEVER, THE RECALL COVERS THE BACKREST AND NOT THE SEAT BOTTOM. AFTER TALKING TO BMW NORTH AMERICA, THEY SAID THE SEAT BOTTOM WAS NOT COVERED. CAN YOU MAKE THEM INCLUDE THE SEAT BOTTOM IN THE RECALL? THE SEAT WARMERS ARE BURNING THROUGH THE SEATS IN BOTH PLACES, AND IS HOT ENOUGH TO BURN THE DRIVER IN BOTH PLACES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WOULD CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS INOPERATIVE. HE CALLED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A VIN RANGE AND WILL THEN SEND OUT RECALL NOTICES. THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $3,000, AFTER WHICH THE CONTACT COULD INQUIRE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

DRIVING NORTH ON I-77 IN S.C. - TRAVELING ALONG WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW - LEFT HAND LANE - SUDDENLY ALERT LIGHTS CAME ON THAT ABS WAS NOT OPERATING, BATTERY ALERT (HAD BATTERY INSTALLED AT DEALERSHIP) ETC.- ENGINE QUIT - DASH BOARD WENT BLANK - WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE CURB LANE (NO TURN INDICATORS) CAME TO STOP - TRIED TO RESTART -NO LUCK -WAIT MAYBE 10 MINUTES IT RESTARTED -DROVE HOME -APPROX ANOTHER 200 MILES -DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM - IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF SOMEONE PANICKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVED BACK AND FORTH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF, THE ODOMETER DIAL MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND THE ALARM SOUNDED. ALL OF THE FAILURES OCCURRED AUTOMATICALLY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL READ, "VEHICLE MALFUNCTION, SEE DEALER IMMEDIATELY". THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE SECOND TIME THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED AND REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THEREFORE, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE SENSOR UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS CRACKS IN IT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST BETWEEN $1,300-$1,600. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

BMW X5 ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND AFTER STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. IT MOVED FORWARD SLOWLY FOR ABOUT 20 YDS. BEFORE DECIDING TO ENGAGE...THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, CONSECUTIVELY, AT THE END OF DRIVE HOME. AROUND NOON ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2008. THE DAY BEFORE THE INTERNAL DOOR LOCK BUTTON FAILED TO FUNCTION. CALLED BMW DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT TOWED. BMW CONTINUE TO TEST BUT WAS INFORMED LAST EVENING THAT THERE APPEARED TO BE NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER! THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND BMW [CENTRAL] HAVE NOT BEEN SUPPORTIVE SO FAR. I HAVE ASKED THAT THE CAR BE FIXED AND THAT I BE SUPPLIED WITH A LOANER UNTIL THEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. SHE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE FOR THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS STATED THAT FOR UNKNOWN REASONS THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE NOT PROPERLY DETECTING THE OCCUPATION TO ACTIVE THE AIR BAG. THE CODES WERE RESET; HOWEVER, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEGAE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,000. UPDATED 06/17/08. *LJ

I HAVE A 2004 BMW 530I WITH "RUN FLAT" TIRES. THE REAR SET OF TIRES OUTSIDE TREAD SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE FRONT TIRES WERE ALSO IN GOOD SHAPE HOWEVER, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN TO ROTATE THE TIRES THE REAR SET OF TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN ON THE INSIDE AND THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS THE AN OBSERVATION MADE BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, SUSAN, AT ROUSE TIRES IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. AS OF 5/1/2008, I HAVE REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 BMW 530I WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES BUT THAT PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR THAT DETECTS WHETHER THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED WAS NOT FUNCTIONING SO THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. WE HAD TO PAY CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO INSTALL A NEW SENSOR. MY COMPLAINT IS TO KNOW WHY A MANUFACTURER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY WHEN THE CAR IS SO NEW. BMW NORTH AMERICA WAS VERY EVASIVE WHEN CONTACTED BUT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT HAD EXPIRED FIVE MONTHS AGO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEATHER SEAT, RESULTING IN IGNITION OF DRIVERS CLOTHING (LEATHER JACKET AND SUIT COAT), WHICH CAUGHT FIRE. ATTEMPTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES RESULTED IN HEAT BLISTERS AND BURNS TO DRIVERS HANDS, DAMAGE TO CAR, SMOKE DAMAGE, AND DAMAGE TO PERSONAL ATTIRE, LOSS OF WORK HOURS, ETC. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED, HOWEVER, THE RECALL OF THE FRONT SEAT HEATER WAS, OBVIOUSLY, NOT COMPLETED BY THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO VEHICLE PURCHASE. *TR

(NOTE: THIS PROCESS DOES NOT LIST THE 2004 BMW 745I) I PURCHASED MY 2004 745I AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL BMW DEALER IN OCTOBER 2007. SINCE THEN ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE STEERING HAS TOTALLY LOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING A PARKING SPACE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED COMPLETELY TO THE LEFT (COUNTER CLOCKWISE) POSITION. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION AND THERE IS NO ERROR CODE RECORDED IN THE OBDI. ON TWO OF THE OCCASIONS I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR TO FREE THE STEERING. ON THE LAST OCCASION THE STEERING WAS RESTORED AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. ON A FOURTH OCCASION THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND SLUGGISH BUT RETURNED TO NORMAL A FEW SECONDS LATER. I HAVE A GREAT FEAR THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN I'M TRAVELING ON THE ROADWAY AND NOT JUST IN MY DRIVEWAY OR A PARKING LOT. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING TO ACCOUNT FOR MY EXPERIENCES. *TR

THIS 2004 BMW 545I CAR HAS A PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES EMISSIONS WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON FREQUENTLY AND THE SUBSEQUENT FUEL MILEAGE TO BE REDUCED IN HALF. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO PERMANENTLY FIX THE PROBLEM -EACH ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM LASTS FOR ONLY ABOUT ONE MONTH. IT AS BEEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 8 TIMES FOR THIS CONDITION AND IS CLEARLY HARMING THE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND THEY ARE OF NO HELP. *TR

I WORK FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY. OUR INSURED WAS REAR ENDED IN A 2004 BMW 530I WITH 14K MILES. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE REAR SECTION OF VEHICLE, DESTROYING IT. *TR

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED CAR FROM BMW ON 11-17-06 WITH 49,761 MILES. IN ADDITION I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 2 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES FOR A TOTAL WARRANTY OF 6 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY IT WAS NOTED TO THE SALESMAN THAT THE FRONT & REAR WINDOW MOULDINGS WERE DETERIORATING. HE STATED THAT WHEN IT CAME BACK FOR THE OIL SERVICE THAT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. WELL ON BOTH 3-17-07 AS WELL AS 7-14-07 WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE I WAS DENIED BECAUSE OF OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN 11-03, SO IT IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD & EXPERIENCING DETERIORATION ISSUES ON GLASS THAT COULD FALL OUT AND INJURE SOMEBODY. I FEEL THAT BMW SHOULD CORRECT THIS ISSUE & CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION ON A FAILURE OF THEIR PARTS. *TR

THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME WITHOUT REMOVING THE SHIPPING SPACER FORM THE FOUR COIL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 525I BMW THAT PERIODICALLY HAS A TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHEN DRIVING FROM A STOP OR MOVING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD AND IF NOT CAREFUL, I COULD ACCIDENTALLY HIT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT IN MY CONTROL. CONCORD BMW HAS TRIED TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND HAS ONLY DONE SO ONCE. THEY SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX. RECENTLY, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AND NOW THEY TELL ME SINCE IT CAN NOT BE RECREATED THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JB

ON APRIL 16, 2006, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 645CI ON A HIGHWAY WITH ONLY MY 13-YEAR-OLD SON WITH ME, THE ASSISTED STEERING, WHICH WORKS THE REAR WHEELS, FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR ANY EVENT HAVING OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO A STOP WITHOUT A COLLISION, FORTUNATELY, ALTHOUGH THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS TERRIFYING AND WE CAME CLOSE TWICE TO HITTING OTHER CARS. THE VEHICLE WAS ULTIMATELY FLAT-BEDDED TO MY DEALERS (GREENWICH BMW) SERVICE FACILITY IN PORT CHESTER, NY. AFTER TWO DAYS OF TELLING ME THAT THEY HAD FOUND NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY FOUND SIGN OF IMPACT TO ANOTHER, UNRELATED PART ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. *JB

I HAVE NOW REPLACED 4 WINDSHIELDS ON MY CAR WITHIN THE LAST 2 YEARS. THIS IS ON THE SAME ROAD THAT I HAVE COMMUTED ON FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS STARTED WITH THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. 3 PREVIOUS CARS DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. *NM

BOTH ELECTRIC WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE MOTORS DIED WITHIN WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS PROPERLY OR PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. ALSO I ONLY HAVE 10000 MILES ON MY MINI AND MY TALE PIPE RATTLES LIKE A '56 CHEVY. THE LIGHT ON PASSENGER VISOR DOES NOT WORK. THE SILVER IS PEELING OFF THE GEAR SHIFT. I LOVE MY CAR HATE THE LITTLE STUFF THAT KEEPS GOING WRONG. *JB

I HAVE A 2004 BMW 545I WHICH HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A "TRANSMISSION SLIP" OVER THE PAST YEAR. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW AND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY BMW EMPLOYEES "OFF THE RECORD" THAT MY CAR HAS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE BOUGHT BACK BY BMW AND REPLACED. I AM CURRENTLY DEALING WITH BMW OF NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE SENT THEM A COMPLAINT AS I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED APPROXIMATELY 5-6 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. I WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AS WELL BECAUSE IT IS APPARENT THAT BMW IS TRYING TO COVER UP A LARGE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND I FEEL FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *NM

DUNLOP TIRES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY ON THE INNER TREAD. IF UNDETECTED BLOW-OUT CAN RESULT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO SETS OF TIRES IN LESS THAN 40,000 MILES;. *NM

AT ABOUT 50 MPH CONSUMER HAD A TIRE BLOWN INDICATION, UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, HE DISCOVERED ALL FOUR TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORD/BELTS ON THE INSIDE LEFT REAR. *TS *JB

MY BMW 530 (2004) HAS BACK SEAT AIRBAGS. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IN THE EVENT I HAVE AN INFANT IN THE BACK, THE AIR BAGS MUST BE DEACTIVATED WHILE SUBMITTING THIS INFORMATION TO YOU AGENCY. AT PRESENT I HAVE A NEW BORN BABY SO I NEED YOUR AUTHORIZATION SO THEY CAN PROCEED WITH THE DEACTIVATION ASAP. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO IN ORDER TO PROCEED. CORDIALLY, IVONNE ARROYO. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH 2004 BMW 325I. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED AND FELL INTO PIECES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT YET REPORTED THE AIR BAG FAILURE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN. THE CONSUMER HAS THE PICTURES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS 25 MPH. MS. PACKARD: THE SUMMARY REPORT CREATED BY THE VEHICLE SAFETY HOT LINE DOES NOT CLEARLY IDENTIFY YOUR VEHICLE. PLEASE REVIEW THE INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE AND VERIFY THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS A 2004 BMW 530I. ALSO, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOGRAPHS. *AK