Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 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 reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Visibility complaints

2 reports

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30,000 miles · Sep 9, 2008

Visibility

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FOR SOME MONTHS NOW, MY REARVIEW MIRROR HAS BEEN DISCOLORED/OBSTRUCTED WITH A FLUID "BUBBLE" IN THE GLASS. I GENERALLY ONLY DRIVE THE CAR ON WEEKENDS IN BRIGHT AND SUNNY WEATHER, SO THE DECREASED VISIBILITY ISN'T A REAL BIG A DEAL AS IT WOULD BE IF DRIVEN AT NIGHT OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. HOWEVER I'VE RECENTLY LOOKED INTO REPLACING THE MIRROR MYSELF--THE DEALER WANTS A RELATIVELY LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO PERFORM THE WORK AS THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY--AND HAVE DISCOVERED THERE MIGHT BE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS IF EXPOSED TO THE FLUID CONTAINED INSIDE. (FELLOW OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THESE MIRRORS NOTE THAT IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS FLUID TO LEAK OUT OR EXPLODE, PARTICULARLY ON HOT DAYS AS I OFTEN EXPERIENCE HERE IN FLORIDA; THIS FLUID SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR IN ADDITION TO THE AFOREMENTIONED POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS.) THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER OF THE MIRROR HAS NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED ANY INFORMATION AT THIS TIME IN REGARDS TO THE FLUIDS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OR PROPER HANDLING MEASURES. IF NOTHING ELSE, I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE PROPER DISPOSAL METHOD IS FOR THE OLD MIRROR (WHICH I ASSUME TO CONTAIN HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OF SOME SORT AS DEFINED BY THE EPA), SO AS NOT TO THROW IT IN WITH NORMAL HOUSEHOLD WASTE. ANY ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING POTENTIAL RISKS AND PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR BOTH HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241468

12,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008

VisibilityInjury

MY REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED AND LEAKED A SUBSTANCE WHICH DRIPPED ONTO MY SHIFT LEVER. UNKNOWINGLY I PLACED MY HAND ON THE LEVER AND WAS CONTAMINATED. I ALSO WAS BREATHING THE VAPORS WHICH SMELLED SOMEWHAT LIKE DRY CLEANING FLUID. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND HAVE FOUND THAT THE SUBSTANCE INSIDE THE MIRROR MAY BE HIGHLY TOXIC. HOW …

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NHTSA ODI #10231098

Official recalls

17V047000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 20, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

15V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 28, 2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence & remedy

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

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

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.