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2005 BMW 525I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
35Owner complaints

Model-year median: 11

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2005 BMW 525I

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 35 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 22 reports
  • Seat Belts: 7 reports
  • Seats: 6 reports
  • Electrical System: 4 reports
  • Power Train: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    28
    2002    32
    2003    84
    2004    35
    2005    77
    2006    72
    2007    1
    2008
    Compare all 525I years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Air Bags
    22    Seat Belts
    7    Seats
    6    Electrical System
    4    Power Train
    4
    All reported categories
    Unknown Or Other
    3    Engine
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel/propulsion System
    1    Service Brakes
    1    Steering
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    30 reports with mileage · 5 unknown

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Seats. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    0 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

    Power Train complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    112,000 miles · Feb 6, 2019
    Power Train

    I PURCHASED THIS BMW 525I USED FROM A PERSON THAT OBTAINED IT FROM A WHOLESALE DEALER, IT HAD SOME MINOR FRONTEND DAMAGE FROM A FENDER BENDER (BROKEN GRILL, DING TO HOOD) SHOWING 107900 MILES. EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED OUT. I FEW MONTHS LATER I NOTICED A SLIGHT CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION SOUND, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE COL…

    Read full complaint

    I PURCHASED THIS BMW 525I USED FROM A PERSON THAT OBTAINED IT FROM A WHOLESALE DEALER, IT HAD SOME MINOR FRONTEND DAMAGE FROM A FENDER BENDER (BROKEN GRILL, DING TO HOOD) SHOWING 107900 MILES. EVERYTHING ELSE CHECKED OUT. I FEW MONTHS LATER I NOTICED A SLIGHT CHANGE IN TRANSMISSION SOUND, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DUE TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES HERE IN WISCONSIN. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WHILE JUST FINISHING GOING UP A SLIGHT STRAIGHT INCLINE AT AROUND 45MPH THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED DOWN INTO LIMP DOWN MODE AND A TEMPORARY NOTICE CAME UP ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE CLEARED THE PROBLEM, THE NEXT DAY NEAR THE SAME SPOT IT OCCURRED AGAIN. I ASSUMED THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT BE LOW ON FLUID BUT LOOKING ONLINE BMW INDICATED THIS IS A NO SERVICE TRANSMISSION BUT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL BY ACCESSING A PLUG UNDER THE CAR. WHEN A SERVICE TECH CHECKED HE SAID THE FLUID LEVEL WAS NORMAL BUT SMELLED BURNT. HE RECOMMENDED AGAINST ANY SERVICE IN THAT IT LIKELY WOULD RESULT IN FASTER COMPLETE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED AND NO CODES SHOW IN THE SYSTEM FILE, IN THAT BMW INSISTED ON NO PROVIDING A METHOD TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, THEY ASSUMED THE LIABILITY FOR FAILURE IF REGULAR MAINTAINANCE (TRANSMISSION FLUSH) COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS FAILURE.

    NHTSA ODI #11174764

    130,000 miles · Oct 21, 2016
    Air BagsPower Train

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHILE BEING OPERATED AT LOW SPEEDS. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR AND SERVICE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 02/16/17*LJ

    NHTSA ODI #10917934

    80,000 miles · Apr 20, 2012
    Power Train

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PAN SLEEVE GASKET LEAK COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT A GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PAN SLEEVE GASKET LEAK COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION WHEN THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT A GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10455881

    40,000 miles · Jun 16, 2010
    Power Train

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED BARELY MISSING A COLLISION WITH A PEDESTRIAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20-40 MPH. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A PROGRAMMING ERRO…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED BARELY MISSING A COLLISION WITH A PEDESTRIAN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 20-40 MPH. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A PROGRAMMING ERROR THAT COULD BE REPAIRED, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CONTACT'S WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10336605

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    2

    EA08001 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination

    Opened Jan 4, 2008 · Closed Dec 31, 2008

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

    BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

    Additional source detail variants (3)

    Air Bags

    BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

    Air Bags:frontal

    BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

    Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

    BMW IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN ON APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 TO CORRECT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AREMY04- 06/ 5-SERIES WITH STANDARD AND SPORT SEATS, MY04-06/ X3-SERIES AND MY06/ 3-SERIES WITH SPORT SEATS. IN ADDITION, BMW WILL EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT TO 10-YEAR/UNLIMITED MILEAGE ON APPROXIMATELY 120,000 REMAINING MY04-06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05. THE SPECIFIC VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE MY 06/ 6 SERIES, MY 06/ 3-SERIES WITH STANDARD SEATS, MY04-05/ Z4, MY04-06/ 7 SERIES, MY 06/ X5, AND MY04-06/ 5-SERIES WITH COMFORT SEATS.THE AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF FAILURES AMONG THE EXTENDED WARRANTY GROUPS WAS LESS THAN 1/7TH OF THE RECALL VEHICLE GROUPS.PLEASE SEE BMW'S 08V-384 RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILSDEPENDING ON SEAT CONFIGURATION AND VEHICLE GEOMETRY, THE OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT CAN FATIGUE DURING USE DEPENDING ON THE MANNER AND FREQUENCY OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S ENTRY AND EXIT.SPECIFICALLY, OVER TIME, MICRO-CRACKS COULD DEVELOP IN THE SIDE FLANKS OF THE MAT CAUSING A BROKEN CIRCUIT.A BROKENCIRCUIT CAN LEAD TO THE DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT.

    PE07045 · BMW Airbag Light Illumination

    Opened Sep 4, 2007 · Closed Jan 4, 2008

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

    IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP.ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS WARN THAT AN OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR.WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR.THESE ARE THE MY 2004 5-SERIES, 7-SERIES AND X3, THE MY 2004 THROUGH 2006Z-4 SERIES AND MY 2006 3-SERIES, 6-SERIES AND X5 VEHICLES.AN IMPROVED SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2005 FOR THE MID-MY 2006 PRODUCTION.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, BMW PROVIDED 1,172 OWNER REPORTS AND 28,238 WARRANTY CLAIMS.INITIAL REVIEW OF THE DATA INDICATE THAT 280 NON-DUPLICATING OWNER REPORTS AND 13,051 NON-DUPLICATING WARRANTY CLAIMS MAY BE RELATED THE SUBJECT DEFECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESTHIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-001).

    Additional source detail variants (3)

    Air Bags

    IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP.ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS WARN THAT AN OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR.WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR.THESE ARE THE MY 2004 5-SERIES, 7-SERIES AND X3, THE MY 2004 THROUGH 2006Z-4 SERIES AND MY 2006 3-SERIES, 6-SERIES AND X5 VEHICLES.AN IMPROVED SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2005 FOR THE MID-MY 2006 PRODUCTION.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, BMW PROVIDED 1,172 OWNER REPORTS AND 28,238 WARRANTY CLAIMS.INITIAL REVIEW OF THE DATA INDICATE THAT 280 NON-DUPLICATING OWNER REPORTS AND 13,051 NON-DUPLICATING WARRANTY CLAIMS MAY BE RELATED THE SUBJECT DEFECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESTHIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-001).

    Air Bags:frontal

    IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP.ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS WARN THAT AN OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR.WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR.THESE ARE THE MY 2004 5-SERIES, 7-SERIES AND X3, THE MY 2004 THROUGH 2006Z-4 SERIES AND MY 2006 3-SERIES, 6-SERIES AND X5 VEHICLES.AN IMPROVED SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2005 FOR THE MID-MY 2006 PRODUCTION.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, BMW PROVIDED 1,172 OWNER REPORTS AND 28,238 WARRANTY CLAIMS.INITIAL REVIEW OF THE DATA INDICATE THAT 280 NON-DUPLICATING OWNER REPORTS AND 13,051 NON-DUPLICATING WARRANTY CLAIMS MAY BE RELATED THE SUBJECT DEFECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESTHIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-001).

    Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

    IN CERTAIN MY 2005 THROUGH MY 2006 BMW VEHICLES, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FOR THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY MALFUNCTION AND RENDER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.IN JUNE 2006, BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SI B 72 02 06) REGARDING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LAMP.ILLUMINATION OF THESE LIGHTS WARN THAT AN OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR.WHEN BOTH OF THE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED, THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH.CERTAIN BMW VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CONTAIN THE SAME SEAT MAT SENSOR.THESE ARE THE MY 2004 5-SERIES, 7-SERIES AND X3, THE MY 2004 THROUGH 2006Z-4 SERIES AND MY 2006 3-SERIES, 6-SERIES AND X5 VEHICLES.AN IMPROVED SEAT MAT SENSOR WAS INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2005 FOR THE MID-MY 2006 PRODUCTION.IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, BMW PROVIDED 1,172 OWNER REPORTS AND 28,238 WARRANTY CLAIMS.INITIAL REVIEW OF THE DATA INDICATE THAT 280 NON-DUPLICATING OWNER REPORTS AND 13,051 NON-DUPLICATING WARRANTY CLAIMS MAY BE RELATED THE SUBJECT DEFECT ISSUE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESTHIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-001).

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.