← New search

2003 BMW X5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 BMW X5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

77 reports with mileage · 22 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports13 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
112,000 miles · May 19, 2016
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFAC…

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10865839

100,000 miles · Oct 2, 2015
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

RECALLCAMPAIGN NO.15V-318 : DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE FOR MY BMW X5 I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THEY WILL CHANGE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE IN JULY 2015 BUT AFTER TILL DATE NO INTIMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED WHEN THEY WILL REPLACE IT. ALSO WANT TO POINT TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR MET WITH AN HEADON ACCIDENT WITH TREE IN 2012 …

Read full complaint

RECALLCAMPAIGN NO.15V-318 : DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE FOR MY BMW X5 I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THEY WILL CHANGE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE IN JULY 2015 BUT AFTER TILL DATE NO INTIMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED WHEN THEY WILL REPLACE IT. ALSO WANT TO POINT TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR MET WITH AN HEADON ACCIDENT WITH TREE IN 2012 (I THINK) BUT THAT TIME NO AIRBAGS GOT OPENED DESPITE SUCH STRONG HEAD ON COLLISION WITH BIG TREE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY CAR AND MY SAFETY WHILE I DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10779353

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTAC…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10748486

98,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Air Bags

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE REAR SEAT AND THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING LOCALLY WITH 35 MPH SPEED !!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691854

80,419 miles · Dec 8, 2009
Air Bags

PASSENGER-AIRBAG-DISABLED WARNING LAMP COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. PROBLEM FIRST NOTED IN 2007, BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND DEFECTIVE SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR, BUT REPLACEMENT QUOTED AT $800 NOTE - THIS IS A BMW MODEL X3 BUT YOUR WEB FORM DID NOT LIST X3 SO I SELECTED X…

Read full complaint

PASSENGER-AIRBAG-DISABLED WARNING LAMP COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. PROBLEM FIRST NOTED IN 2007, BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND DEFECTIVE SEAT OCCUPANCY DETECTOR, BUT REPLACEMENT QUOTED AT $800 NOTE - THIS IS A BMW MODEL X3 BUT YOUR WEB FORM DID NOT LIST X3 SO I SELECTED X5. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294931

Official recalls

3

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

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 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.

03V197000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

May 27, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE STEERING SHAFT JOINT IS NOT SUFFICIENT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LINE COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE JOINT AND EVENTUALLY SUFFER DAMAGE AND CORROSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, INDICATED BY A WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, COULD OCCUR. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A REDUCTION IN FRONT BRAKE PERFORMANCE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE STEERING SHAFT JOINT, AND IF NECESSARY, INCREASE THE DISTANCE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 23, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.