NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
16 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 28, 2025
Electrical System
BMW 530I headlights have faulty wiring. Insulation is crumbling an severly degraded leaving bare wires exposed to short circuits. Discovered the faulty wire when I went to replace the parking / angel eye lights. I have attempted to solve the problem short term with electrical tape. As soon as you touch the wire to put elec…
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BMW 530I headlights have faulty wiring. Insulation is crumbling an severly degraded leaving bare wires exposed to short circuits. Discovered the faulty wire when I went to replace the parking / angel eye lights. I have attempted to solve the problem short term with electrical tape. As soon as you touch the wire to put electrical tape on it, more of the faulty insulation comes off. Wire has essentially lost all insulation.
NHTSA ODI #11690187
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2021
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND TRANSMISSION REPAIR ISSUES
NHTSA ODI #11405363
1,050,000 miles · Jun 10, 2020
Air BagsElectrical System
MY CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY COMPLAINT IS I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY AND EVERYTHING WAS. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN I START THE CAR I GET THIS ERROR" FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM EFFECTING AIRBAG-BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FOR DELIMITER. SO I CALL BMWUSA TO SEE IF THIS WAS RECALLED. THE MAN I SPOKE WITH…
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MY CAR WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. MY COMPLAINT IS I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY AND EVERYTHING WAS. ABOUT A MONTH LATER WHEN I START THE CAR I GET THIS ERROR" FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM EFFECTING AIRBAG-BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FOR DELIMITER. SO I CALL BMWUSA TO SEE IF THIS WAS RECALLED. THE MAN I SPOKE WITH SAID YES IT WAS BUT I LET ME HAVE YOUR VIN# OH NO I'M SORRY NOT FOR YOUR VIN " I WAS SHOCKED TO THINK IT WOULD BE A RECALL ON ONE BUT NOT ANOTHER. IF IT IS EFFECTING MY AIR BAG U WOULD THINK. IT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL CARS THAT GET THAT ERROR. OR WAS THAT CAR BUILT KNOWING IT WAS EVENTUALLY GOING TO GO OUT AND WE THE CUSTOMERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I WOULD RATHER NOT HAVE THAT AT ALL. IT MAKES NO SENSE. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR OK TO FIX SOME CARS AND NOT ALL OF THEM AFTER ALL WHY WOULD WE WANT SOMETHING IN THE CAR IF WE KNOW ONE ITS JUST GOING TO GO OUT AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. AND FOR THE SAFETY PART . IT EVEN SOUNDS MORE CRAZY THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD MALFUNCTION AND I NOT EVEN SURE IF ANYBODY SHOULD RIDE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT. WELL IT'S [XXX] AT [XXX] IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. GOOD BLESS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
NHTSA ODI #11328082
120,000 miles · Sep 21, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior LightingWheels
WIRING ON HEADLIGHTS FLAKING APART LEAVING BEAR EXPOSE WIRES !!!
NHTSA ODI #11130557
122,977 miles · Aug 27, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFire
MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF AND I SMELLED A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BMW LICENSED MECHANIC THAT I NORMALLY SEE WHO REPAIRED THE ISSUE THAT WAS DEEMED TO BE THE PCV VALVE HEATER. THIS HAPPENED AT THE END OF MAY. THEN AT THE END OF JUNE, I RECEIVED A LOWER FROM BMW ANNOUNCING RECALL # 17V…
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MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF AND I SMELLED A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BMW LICENSED MECHANIC THAT I NORMALLY SEE WHO REPAIRED THE ISSUE THAT WAS DEEMED TO BE THE PCV VALVE HEATER. THIS HAPPENED AT THE END OF MAY. THEN AT THE END OF JUNE, I RECEIVED A LOWER FROM BMW ANNOUNCING RECALL # 17V-683: PCV VALVE HEATER. BMW TOLD ME TODAY THAT THEY CAN NOT REFUND ME FOR THE REPAIRS THAT I HAD DONE BECAUSE THESE REPAIRS HAD TO BE PERFORMED AT A BMW DEALERSHIP. I HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS. TOTAL REPAIRS COST $2626.91 + RENTAL CAR EXPENSES OF $204.16 AND $76.71. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
NHTSA ODI #11122866
150,000 miles · Apr 24, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS INTERNAL WIRING GETA SO HOT IT MELTS AND CRACKS AND DETERIORATES AND CAUSES SHORT CIRCUIT EVENTUALLY LEADING TO BOTH OR SINGLE HIGH BEAM MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA ODI #11089985
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
LAST YEAR I COULD HEAR A SOUND OF WATER THROUGH MY SUNROOF AND WOULD HAVE WATER THROWN AT ME THROUGH MY AC. MY STEREO AND DASH STOPPED WORKING AND SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THEY WOULD TELL ME THERE WAS NO SHORT IN A FUSE. YESTERDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT START IT WAS STA…
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LAST YEAR I COULD HEAR A SOUND OF WATER THROUGH MY SUNROOF AND WOULD HAVE WATER THROWN AT ME THROUGH MY AC. MY STEREO AND DASH STOPPED WORKING AND SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THEY WOULD TELL ME THERE WAS NO SHORT IN A FUSE. YESTERDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT START IT WAS STATIONED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND FOUND THAT MY BATTERY WAS SITTING IN WATER. THE CAR WILL NOT START EVEN AFTER WATER WAS DRAINED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. I CALLED BMW BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $385 JUST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE CHANGED MY BATTERY LIKE 4 TIME IN THE LAST 2 YEARS WHICH IS JUST A HEADACHE IN ITSELF. MY VEHICLE WONT START.
NHTSA ODI #11079673
110,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE LEFT FRONT PARKING BULB WAS NO WORKING, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBIA, S.C. TO HAVE BULB REPLACED. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE SAME BULB AND THE LEFT FRONT HIGH BEAM WARNING BOTH LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY APPEARED. I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE WH…
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THE LEFT FRONT PARKING BULB WAS NO WORKING, TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BMW DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBIA, S.C. TO HAVE BULB REPLACED. UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE SAME BULB AND THE LEFT FRONT HIGH BEAM WARNING BOTH LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY APPEARED. I RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE WHY THE WARNING WAS ON, WHICH THEY STATED IT WAS PROBABLY LEFT LOOSE. THE SERVICE ADVISER RETURNED TO BRING ME INTO THE SHOP TO SHOW ME THE WIRING FOR THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKING AND FALLING OFF, EXPOSING BARE WIRE CAUSING THE SHORT AND BLOWING THE BULBS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BMW STATED A NEW ASSEMBLY WOULD BE REQUIRED WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT $1500 EACH FOR THE PARTS. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE BULB WHILE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS ANOTHER ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING THE BULBS TO BLOW IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE READ THE WIRING WAS COATED WITH A SOY BASED PRODUCT, WHICH IS WHY THE WIRING COATING IS PREMATURELY CRACKING AND EXPOSING BARE COPPER WIRE, CREATING AN ELECTRICAL AND FIRE HAZARD. DUE TO THE INADEQUATE MATERIAL UTILIZED BY THE MANUFACTURER, IT SHOULD BE RECTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
NHTSA ODI #10924673
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
REPLACING THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULB THAT FAILED, I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO THE BULB RECESSED DEEP INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. UPON OPENING THE ACCESS PANEL, I DISCOVERED THE WIRING INSULATION OF MOST OF THE INNER WIRING HARNESS OF HEADLIGHT BRITTLE AND FLAKING OFF, EXPOSING…
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REPLACING THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT BULB THAT FAILED, I REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO THE BULB RECESSED DEEP INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING. UPON OPENING THE ACCESS PANEL, I DISCOVERED THE WIRING INSULATION OF MOST OF THE INNER WIRING HARNESS OF HEADLIGHT BRITTLE AND FLAKING OFF, EXPOSING THE BARE WIRES. THE SHORT CIRCUIT PROBABILITY IS HIGH WITH THE EXPOSED WIRES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.
NHTSA ODI #10849686
120,000 miles · Sep 15, 2015
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING AND OPENED THE SUNROOF. THE NIGHT BEFORE THERE WAS A MASSIVE RAIN STORM. SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THE SUNROOF THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED SEVERELY MALFUNCTIONING. A WARNING SIGN CAME ON THAT SAID THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS HAVING A MASSIVE MALFUNCTION AND THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE…
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I WAS DRIVING AND OPENED THE SUNROOF. THE NIGHT BEFORE THERE WAS A MASSIVE RAIN STORM. SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THE SUNROOF THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED SEVERELY MALFUNCTIONING. A WARNING SIGN CAME ON THAT SAID THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS HAVING A MASSIVE MALFUNCTION AND THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. THE WATER FROM THE STORM DRAINED INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND SHORTED IT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CAR AND BMW IS AWARE OF IT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS STORED NEAR THE DRAINS IN THE LOWER REAR OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10763910
Official recalls
2Oct 30, 2017
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Nov 12, 2013
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗