2004 BMW 5 Series Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
SAME PROBLEM EVERYONE ELSE HAS WITH PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. $1500+ REPAIR, BUT WILL DO IT AGAIN, AS IT IS FAULTY PARTS. SOMEONE SITS DOWN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TOO HARD, AND IT SETS OFF THE WARNING.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. I AM VERY SURE THAT IT IS THE FLOOR MAT PRESSURE SENSORS FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
NOT TOO LONG AGO I HAD MY CAR PARKED ON A STREET ON A SUNNY DAY. I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND STARTED IT AND RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON MY IDRIVE SAYING THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND A AIRBAG LIGHT ALONG WITH THE SEATBELT LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASH. DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE YET ONLINE I'VE READ THAT MY MODEL DOES IN FACT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
THE AIR BAG WARNING CAME ON IN THE INFORMATION CENTER ABOUT A MALFUNCTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER SAID SENSOR WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,799.
WHILE TRAVELING AND SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN INTO A BUSINESS, THE CAR BESIDE ME (LEFT OF ME) MAKES A QUICK FAST U TURN AND ENDS UP HITTING MY CAR. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, HITTING ME INTO MY FACE/HEAD VERY HARD. I HAVE BEEN IN TREATMENT SINCE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE MAJOR SURGERY ON MY NECK, STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AND MAY NEED MORE SURGERY. MY NECK WILL NOT BE THE SAME AND ALWAYS IN PAIN. I HAVE LOUD RINGING IN MY EARS THAT IS PERMANENT. I HAVE HEADACHES WITH SINUS PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE WITH MY SEAT BELT ON. I FEEL LIKE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE NOT DEPLOYED UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I NOW SUFFER FROM DEPRESSION, CAN'T WORK DOING WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW AND ANYTHING ELSE VERY LONG WITH OUT BEING IN PAIN IN MY NECK. I AM VERY UPSET OVER THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,520. ....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF UPDATED 2/23/2016*JS *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT BUT IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE MAY NOT BE PROTECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEFAULT MESSAGE IN MY CAR. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST .THANK YOU
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, "PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, AFFECTING AIR BAG BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER" DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
I OWN BMW 525I 2004 SINCE 2004. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGN TURN ON IN 2010 AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT "STATING THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED ITEM". I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE WHICH HAS THIS BMW RECALL ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. I CALLED INTO THE DEALER AGAIN AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT THEY STILL REFUSE TO SERVICE AND STATED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED FOR YOUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THIS SITE MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT AS IN CASE OF ANY INCIDENT, AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE HELP ME AS YOU ARE THE SAFETY GRAIL FOR AUTOS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAG, AND BELT TENSIONER/BELT FORCE LIMITER WARNING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION SURPASSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
LOW SPEED CRASH IN FEBUARY 2015 AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON BUT DIDN'T DEPLOY. THIS ITEM HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO RECALL IN 2011 AND BMW SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR SEAT MAT THAT MALFUNCTIONED AND TO BE PUT IN. NO PASSENGER IN CAR DURING IMPACT I WAS ALONE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE MY PROBLEM OR THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SAID PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY BMW AND RECALL DIDN'T FIX PROBLEM.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON IN MY CAR, AS WELL AS SEAT BELT LIGHT. IT APPEARS THE AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THAT THE PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED WITH VERY LOW MILES, AND VERY LITTLE USE. ALL OF THESE CARS WITH THESE PADS IN THE PASSENGER SEATS SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER RECALL. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL TO REPOSITION THE PAD OR SOMETHING TO AVOID CRACKING, BUT THESE SAFETY RELATED PARTS ARE CLEARLY JUNK THAT WERE INSTALLED WHEN NEW WEATHER THEY WERE REWORKED, OR REPOSITIONED IN THE SEAT. BMW SHOULD BE REPLACING ALL THESE SEAT SENSOR PADS UNDER RECALL AND SOON, MANY OF THESE CARS NOW HAVE NON WORKING AIRBAGS DUE TO THIS ISSUE, AND IT AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF THE CAR ALL TOGETHER. MODEL YEARS AFFECTED ARE 2004 2005 2006 2007 AT THE VERY LEAST IT SEAMS AFTER READING EXTENSIVELY ON THE ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR MAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 01/20/15*JB
DEACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE ILLUMINATION OF BOTH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. DUE TO FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT. SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLES UNDER RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY - FOR UNCLEAR REASONS MY CAR NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL (CHECKED BY VIN AND WITH DEALER) BUT WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. SPOKE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO EXPLAIN WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. FAILURE OCCURRED 2 MONTHS AFTER EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 08V384000. *TR
I AM WRITING TO SEE IF I CAN OBTAIN SOME ASSISTANCE WITH A PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON MY 530I, SPECIFICALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. EARLY IN 2012 I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY WIFE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE OVERHEAD LIGHT UNIT WOULD OCCASIONALLY COME ON. IT WOULD NOT STAY ON FOR LONG BUT WOULD COME ON AND OFF PERIODICALLY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BMW ON MAY 12 TO HAVE THE ISSUE LOOKED INTO. THE CAR HAD 87437 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM AS NO CODES WERE STORED FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THIS WAS OCCURRING. SINCE THIS TIME THE FREQUENCY OF THE LIGHT COMING ON HAS INCREASED. I RETURNED TO CONCOURS BMW ON MARCH 24, 2014 FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT WORK AND TO FIX IT WOULD COST $1724.00. BMW SAID THE SAFETY INFORMATION MODULE WAS BAD. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
IN MARCH PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT AIR BAG LIGHT TURN ON FOR NO REASON. I HAVE SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND COME TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE FROM BMW FOR 2004 525I SERIES. I CALL LOCAL DEALERSHIP BMW OF PLANO TEXAS AND PROVIDE THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND OTHER INFORMATION AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED. EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOTED ON NHTSA SITE THAT 100K OR 10 YRS THIS RECALL IS COVERED. NOT SURE WHAT CAN I DO AS THIS IS REAL SERIOUS ISSUE WHERE AIR BAG WILL NOT BE ENABLED EVEN IF A PASSENGER SIT IN THE SEAT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THERE WAS NO PASSENGER PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON 2012, THREE DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE, I COME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE "AIR BAG LIGHT ITS ON", TWO DAYS LATER WHEN I PICK UP MY CAR, AIR BAGS LIGHTS STILL ON, THE MECHANIC SAID ITS A SENSOR. A YEAR LATER BRING THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO SAID ITS "NO AIR BAG CONNECTED" WHICH SCARED ME BECAUSE ME AND MY ENTIRE FAMILY ARE ON RISK, WHAT HAPPENED IF WE CRASH? WHERE ITS THE AIR BAGS? THEY WAS DEPLOYED BEFORE IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH A PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT DEALERSHIP DON'T TELL ME NOTHING ABOUT THIS, THEY SOLD ME THE CARS SAID "ITS NOT CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVED". NOW I TRY TO THEY TAKE HIS CAR AND PAY ME BACK WHAT I PAY OR JUST GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR, BUT ITS DIFFICULT TO TALK TO THIS PEOPLE. I FEEL AS VICTIM OF "FRAUD" IF I HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS CAR HAD A ACCIDENT BEFORE, I DON'T TAKE THIS VEHICLE. HAVE TO BE A RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS OUTLAW ACTION. THE DEALERSHIP NAME ITS "FLORIDA FINE CARS" LOCATED ON "21151 NW 2ND AVENUE- MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33169." PHONE "(305) 384-6400. I JUST NEED JUSTICE IN THIS CASE PLEASE, HELP ME PLEASE. *TR
I OWN A 2004 BMW 530I. AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE-WAY, THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION LIGHT APPEARED AND HAS NOT GONE OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, BEFORE I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL, AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I PLACED MY PURSE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER SEARCHING HIS DATABASE, HE TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEREFORE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TOTAL COST TO REPAIR IT. I WOULD BELIEVE THIS IF MY VEHICLE WASN'T A 2004 AND I HAVE BEEN PLACING MY PURSE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 2004! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2004 BMW 5 Series has 78 Air Bags complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.