2005 BMW 5 Series Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAID PROBLEM WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND BMW SITES SAY IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. I AM AFRAID IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT, MY PASSENGER COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR KILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,600. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS RESET UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS RESET AGAIN. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE 102,000.

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERROR CAME UP TWO DAYS AFTER BUYING THIS SERVICED BMW AT BMW OF FAIRFAX, VA, PRE OWNED DEALER. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE PASSENGER SAT IN PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND KEPT STAYING ON SINCE. IN REFERENCE TO THIS THERE IS A RECALL FOR ALL 04-06 5 SERIES FOR A FAULTY SEAT MAT (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000) AND I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED NHTSA BY PHONE, REFERENCE # 521-787. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER THEIR RESPONSE WAS THE SAME, THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT SINCE MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION. WHEN ASKED WHY MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED (SINCE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR HAS THE SAME FAULTY DEVICE) I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION AND THEY CONCLUDED THAT SOME CARS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT SINCE OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE EXCLUDED (I AM ALSO REFERRING TO THE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA FOR THE SAME REASON). THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT RIP OFF OWNERS BY CHARGING THEM OR FORCING THEM TO RELY ON EXPENSIVE WARRANTY FOR ALREADY HEAVILY OVERPRICED WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO REPLACE FAULTY PARTS THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN. THEY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAVE THIS LOOPHOLE WHERE THEY CLAIM THAT NOT ALL THE VINS ARE INCLUDED WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAULTY DEVICES THEY PUT IN THE CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. 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 WAS 99,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

UPON TURNING ON VEHICLE I DRIVE SAID PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. I CALLED BMWNA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/VEHICLECOMPLAINT/INDEX.XHTML STATING THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AND I AGREE SINCE THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ENTRY MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

GOT INDICATION PASSENGER AIR BAG/ RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ON IDRIVE. TOOK CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT WAS BAD. I CHECKED FOR A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH BMW. I WAS TOLD NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE WAS COVERED. I CHECKED WITH THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS ONLY ONE SENSOR FOR THIS CAR. IF THAT'S THE CASE HOW CAN BMW ONLY COVER 200,00 OF THE DEFECTIVE UNITS AND NOT ALL THAT WERE MADE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. FURTHER, ON THE ONES THEY DID COVER THEY INCREASED THE WARRANTY PERIOD TO 10 YEARS FROM DATE OF ORIGINAL SALE WITH NO MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS? IT SEEMS TO ME A DEAL WAS MADE WITH THE NTSB TO COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE DEFECTIVE UNITS BUT NOT ALL. BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY PERIOD TO 10 YEARS ON THE SAME PART THAT IS USED IN ALL VEHICLES ON THIS CLASS, INDICATES BMW HAS ADMITTED ALL THE PARTS ARE FAULTY. BMW SHOULD INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THIS PART IN THE RECALL, RECALL #08V384000 NOT JUST A LIMITED NUMBER. ACCORDING TO MY RECORDS THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE, AND WELL BEFORE 2015 WHEN THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION WOULD HAVE EXPIRED. ALSO THIS INDICATES THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR ARE NOT HOLDING UP WELL. IT IS MY OPINION A PROGRAMMING CHANGE SHOULD BE MADE, WHERE THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, CONTROLLING THE AIR BAG, USES A INPUT FROM A SEAT BELT CONNECT SENSOR TO DETERMINE IF THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED? NOT THE FAULTY MAT IN THE SEAT. *TR

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALARM CAME ON THE IDRIVE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. HOWEVER, THE RECALL ID #73368 EXACTLY MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF MY PROBLEM. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED. PLEASE ADVISE HOW TO GET THIS RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT I CAN GET THE CAR FIXED. WE ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS WILL NOT COME ON IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPLAIR.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

MY CAR IS SAYING THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM HAS A FAULT AND THE SEAT BELT OR AIR BAGS MAY BE DAMAGED FOR NO ABSOLUTE REASON. *TR

ON 12/5/2011 - WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, I NOTICED THE MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD INDICATING A FAULT ON PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THERE WAS NOT ANY INCIDENT THAT I CAN RECALL THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE ERROR MESSAGE. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ERROR MESSAGE WAS A COMMON FAULT ON THESE TYPE OF CARS DUE TO A FAULTY MAT SENSOR LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SOME BMW CARS OF THE SAME MODEL (DEPENDENT OF VIN). MY HUSBAND IMMEDIATELY CALLED BMW OF FREMONT (NORTHERN CA) TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RECALL AND I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF SUCH RECALL. I USE THIS CAR DAILY TO DROP OFF OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL. I HONESTLY THINK THE ISSUE REALLY POSES A SERIOUS THREAT ON MY KIDS SAFETY SINCE THERE IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. LASTLY, I ALSO THINK THAT BMW NA SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT IS BECOMING TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM TO BMW CARS (ESPECIALLY THE MODEL SERIES THAT I HAVE). IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU CAN ASSIST ME RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH BMW NA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY OVER THE WEEKEND, I NOTICED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. THE IDRIVE STATED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE PASS AIR BAG. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALER THE NEXT MORNING AFTER FINDING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING/ COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 5 SERIES. BUT WHAT I DON'T GET IS WHY IS MY VEHICLES VIN NOT INCLUDED?? IT'S OBVIOUS THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THESE VEHICLES SO WHY SHOULD MYSELF OR ANY OTHER OWNER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR? WHY ARE THERE ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES INCLUDED? THEN I FIND OUT THAT IF I'M IN A CRASH, MY PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED!! THIS IS NOT FAIR TO OWNERS AND BMW SHOULD BE HELD FULLY RESPONSIBLE. ANOTHER THING I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT I HAVE A RECALL ON THE BATTERY CABLES AND THAT'S COVERED! I READ ONLINE THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES DEPENDING ON THE PRODUCTION DATE (THRU 11/2005) ARE COVERED UNDER THE AIRBAG RECALL. WELL MY BMW WAS MANUFACTURED IN 11/2004! AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY VIN ISN'T COVERED. NOT FAIR!! PLEASE HELP..... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,200.

THANKS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION, BMW USA AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THE BMW PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT AIRBAG TO 10 YEARS. HOWEVER, BMW USA IS NOT HONORING THIS COMMITMENT FOR MY VEHICLE, A 2005 BMW 530I. IS THERE ANY WAY TO ASK BMW USA TO HONOR THIS COMMITMENT? THIS PART OF MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL, FOR THE REASONS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, AND IT IS ONE OF THE VEHICLES COVERED BY THIS RECALL--BASED ON MODEL AND YEAR INFORMATION PUBLISHED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MAT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTED THE VIN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED AN INVESTIGATION WAS TAKING PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,120 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,150. UPDATED 05/02/12*BF UPDATED 05/04/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR OCCUPANCY DETECTION MAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04/18/12*BF THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RCALL # 08V384000 IN HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 04/23/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 5 SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR PRESSURE MAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,656 UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER RESTRAINT DEFAULT WARNING LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO TURN THE WARNING LIGHT OFF, BUT THE LIGHT LATER ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/05/12*LJ UPDATED 01/09/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPANCY CENSOR FOR THE AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 12/16/11 *BF UPDATED 12/22/11