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2005 BMW 530I

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 →
58Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

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 530I

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 58 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: 37 reports
  • Electrical System: 10 reports
  • Seat Belts: 8 reports
  • Exterior Lighting: 5 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
    29
    2002    46
    2003    129
    2004    58
    2005    84
    2006    73
    2007    0
    2008
    Compare all 530I years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Air Bags
    37    Electrical System
    10    Seat Belts
    8    Exterior Lighting
    5    Power Train
    4
    All reported categories
    Service Brakes
    3    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    3    Structure
    2    Tires
    2    Visibility
    2    Engine
    1    Equipment Adaptive/mobility
    1    Steering
    1    Vehicle Speed Control
    1    Wheels
    1

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

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    49 reports with mileage · 9 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 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

    Air Bags complaints

    37 reports
    Clear category filter
    89,700 miles · Aug 26, 2011
    Air Bags

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE OF THE OCCUPANT DETECTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, BUT WAS NOT…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE OF THE OCCUPANT DETECTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WS 89,800.

    NHTSA ODI #10421541

    100,000 miles · Mar 31, 2011
    Air Bags

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PASSENGER MALFUNCTION AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE W…

    Read full complaint

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PASSENGER MALFUNCTION AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10393894

    65,985 miles · Oct 26, 2010
    Air BagsCrash

    BMW NORTH AMERICA DENIED MY RECALL REFERENCE TO YOUR CAMPAIGN #08V384000. THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED AT YOUR CAMPAIGN IS EXACTLY WHAT MY PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MY 05 BMW 530I. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1200 FOR THE REPAIR AND I HAVE FOUGHT WITH BMW CUSTOMER RELATION AND I GO NO WHERE. HELP!!! *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10362522

    48,000 miles · Jul 10, 2008
    Air BagsElectrical System

    FIRST, THE BATTERY. SECOND, THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE RADIO, CD, CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEELS, INFO SCREEN, ALMOST EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING. THIRD, RIGHT AFTER I HAD THIS FIXED, AN ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED AND MAY EFFECT AIRBAGS. ALL THIS IN A FIVE MONTH PERIOD. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10233802

    30,000 miles · Jun 4, 2008
    Air BagsSeat Belts

    ERROR FAULT WITH SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10229858

    Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2008
    Air Bags

    PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, SINCE IS COSTS %1500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE SENSOR I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT DEFAULTS IN THE DO NOT FIRE MODE WHICH AGAIN IS STUPID. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10225280

    Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2005
    Air Bags

    I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW 530I IN JANUARY OF 2005. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER OF THE CORRECT HEIGHT AND WEIGHT REQUIREMENT WOULD BE SEATED IN THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO IRVINE BMW AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN IN FOUR TIMES FOR THIS I…

    Read full complaint

    I BOUGHT A 2005 BMW 530I IN JANUARY OF 2005. A FEW MONTHS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER OF THE CORRECT HEIGHT AND WEIGHT REQUIREMENT WOULD BE SEATED IN THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO IRVINE BMW AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN IN FOUR TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE (3 TIMES ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY COMBINED INVOICES). ON ONE OCCASION (WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR) A BMW SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME, "EVEN IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, THE AIRBAGS WILL MOST LIKELY GO OFF ANYWAY." (CLEARLY, THIS TYPE OF COMMENT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT BMW LACKS SERIOUS CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CLIENTS). I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THEY FINALLY GOT INVOLVED ON THE FOURTH SERVICE ATTEMPT IN WHICH THEY CLAIM TO HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SENSORY MAT WITH AN "OLD-STYLE MAT." NOW THE LIGHT DOES NOT ACTIVATE AT ALL, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE DISCONNECTED THE LIGHT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ANOTHER BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE COMPUTER IS CLEARLY NOT READING WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE CAR, AND THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; AND THAT IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS MAY NOT GO OFF AS WELL (IN AN ACCIDENT). I HAVE REQUESTED THAT I BE GIVEN A NEW VEHICLE OF EQUAL VALUE, BUT MY REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DENIED. BMW SEEMS TO EXPECT ME TO CONTINUE USING AN UN-SAFE LEMON, PLACING MYSELF AS WELL AS MY PASSENGERS IN DANGER. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED A LEMON-LAW ATTORNEY, BUT I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC.

    NHTSA ODI #10128342

    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.