NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
99 reports172,000 miles · Sep 6, 2019
Air BagsElectrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT 55 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT 55 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BMW STORE (6131 STEWART RD SUITE 1, CINCINNATI, OH 45227, (513) 271-8700) AND WAS INFORMED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CAUSED THE FAILURE DUE TO NOT DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND WAS PROVIDED COMPLAINT ID NUMBER: 3787246. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA ODI #11253660
168,000 miles · Jul 16, 2019
Unknown Or OtherFire
PARKED VEHICLE, NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD, TURNED INTO FIRE, HEARD 'BOOM,' VEHICLE EXPLODED, HOUSTON FIRE DEPT RESPONDED AND WILL HAVE REPORT OF THIS INCIDENT
NHTSA ODI #11232480
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2019
Air Bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) AS OF JANUARY 20, 2017. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER (FIELDS BMW WINTER PARK, LOCATED AT 963 WYMORE RD, WINTER PARK, FL 32789, (…
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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS) AS OF JANUARY 20, 2017. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER (FIELDS BMW WINTER PARK, LOCATED AT 963 WYMORE RD, WINTER PARK, FL 32789, (407) 628-2100) INITIALLY INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG RECALL WAS SERVICED, BUT LATER RECANTED THE STATEMENT AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA ODI #11229271
70,000 miles · Jun 30, 2018
SteeringUnknown Or Other
WE HAVE REPLACED 7 WINDOW REGULATORS KEEP BREAKING. ALL BMW PARTS. DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ALSO NOW THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS WENT OUT AND CAUSING ISSUES WITH BRAKES ETC. BITH OF THESE ISSUES CAUSE THE AUTO TO FAIL SAFETY INSPECTION. THE DRIVERS SIDE REGULATOR SCRAPED ALL THE TINTING OFF THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW AS WELL. THE REGUL…
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WE HAVE REPLACED 7 WINDOW REGULATORS KEEP BREAKING. ALL BMW PARTS. DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ALSO NOW THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS WENT OUT AND CAUSING ISSUES WITH BRAKES ETC. BITH OF THESE ISSUES CAUSE THE AUTO TO FAIL SAFETY INSPECTION. THE DRIVERS SIDE REGULATOR SCRAPED ALL THE TINTING OFF THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW AS WELL. THE REGULATORS WERE ALL REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO WITH BMW PARTS AND THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN AND BEING REPLACED AGAIN. REASEARCHING IF THERE IS AFTER MARKET TO FIX PROBLEM WITH THAT DOWEST HAVE THE DEFECT BMW'S REGULATORS HAVE. THE FIX IS ALMOST $2000.00 EACH TIME. THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING AND WAS JUST DIAGNOSED AND ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON..
NHTSA ODI #11104867
106,000 miles · Apr 17, 2018
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING, I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I STARTED TO GO, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, YOU HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, UPON HIS INSPECTI…
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WHILE DRIVING, I STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I STARTED TO GO, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I HAD TO GET THE CAR PUSHED OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR AND AS SOON AS YOU PUT IT IN GEAR, YOU HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, UPON HIS INSPECTION, THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ALSO STRIPPED. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, THE FIRST WAS IN JANUARY 2017.
NHTSA ODI #11088722
130,222 miles · Apr 11, 2018
Air BagsEngineUnknown Or Other
WITHIN 24 HOUR OF PURCHASE OF VEHICLE,ITWAS SMOKING WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALER MAD HIM AWARE OF THE CAR ISSUE NOW I HAVE FOUND ATLEAST 6RECALLSON 2003 X5 BMW.RECALL15V318000 RECALL17V047000 RECALLO3V197000.ASWELL ENGINE RECALLS.LOSS OF ENGINE POWERJUST SHUT OFF,SEVERE SMOKE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE.(FILE:///C:/USERS/OWNER/PICTURES/BM…
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WITHIN 24 HOUR OF PURCHASE OF VEHICLE,ITWAS SMOKING WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALER MAD HIM AWARE OF THE CAR ISSUE NOW I HAVE FOUND ATLEAST 6RECALLSON 2003 X5 BMW.RECALL15V318000 RECALL17V047000 RECALLO3V197000.ASWELL ENGINE RECALLS.LOSS OF ENGINE POWERJUST SHUT OFF,SEVERE SMOKE FROM BACK OF VEHICLE.(FILE:///C:/USERS/OWNER/PICTURES/BMW_NEW.PDF) .CAME TO COMPLETE STOP,WHENI FIRST BROUGHT CONCERN TO THE DEALER FROM THE CAR PLACE.IT WAS WITHIN 24 HOURS,THE SELLER CONTACTED ME AND SAID HE HAD A RELIABLE CAR AND I END UP WITH 2003 BMW WITH AT LEAST 8 RECALLS (HTTP://UKCAR.REVIEWS/BMW-X5-E53-LCI-2003-PROBLEMS-RECALLS/).I PURCHASE THE CAR 1-4-18..I CALL THE DEALER ABOUT MY CONCERNS,1-5-18.THE CAR WAS PURCHASE FROM MONETARY CALIFORNIA,I SENT SOME TO PICK THE CAR UP AND THE LOCATION WAS AT MONETARY VALLEY FORD. HIS PHONE NUMBER IS 9519658614. ALSO I PAID 3600 DOLLARS CASH FOR THE CAR AND THE DEALER PUT 2500 ON A DOCUMENT HE GAVE ME .I NOTICE IT AFTER I REGISTER THE BMW.AS WELL THIS DEALER IS IN VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW CODE
NHTSA ODI #11084493
95,000 miles · Sep 7, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemStructureFire
DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN STREET, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT UNDER HOOD, PULED OVER TO SIDE, FLAMES VISIBLE COMING FROM HOOD, WITHIN 15 MINUTES, ENTIRE FRONT ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES, MAJOR FIRE, TOTAL LOSS. ALL THIS TOOK ABOUT 30 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY, NO INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #11022057
150,000 miles · May 19, 2017
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control
2003 BMW X5 RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2003 BMW X5 RECALL FOR AIR BAGS, FRONTAL, DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL-STAGE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG THAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO MOISTURE INTRUSION WHICH, OVER TIME, COULD CA…
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2003 BMW X5 RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS 2003 BMW X5 RECALL FOR AIR BAGS, FRONTAL, DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE 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. THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING AND DOESNT GO INTO FIRST GEAR ALSO SHOWS CAR OVERHEATING BUT IT HASNT OVERHEATED. WHEN TURNING IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL THEN RIGHT BACK TO PROBLEM, ALSO THESE TWO ERROR CODES HAVE APPEARED P0600 SERIAL COMMUNICATION LINK AND P1747 CAN-BUS MONITORING
NHTSA ODI #10990584
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2017
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS U…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10983684
Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2017
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V047000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10980857
Official recalls
3Jan 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.
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.
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 ↗