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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 2003 BMW X5.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6 cyl Automatic 5-spd | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,300 |
| 4.4L 8 cyl Automatic 5-spd | 13 | 17 | 14 | $4,950 |
| 3.0L 6 cyl Manual 5-spd | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,300 |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover |
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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: 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.
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Wiring dash fire. Heavy smoke from dash and vehicle completely in flame in minute. My son sent me a recording while it was happening, he did no know what to do or what was happening.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW X5. The contact stated the vehicle was parked, while entering the vehicle he noticed the dashboard was melted, which was caused by a fire that occurred independently. The contact stated he reviewed a camera that was near the location of the vehicle and saw the fire occur on the video. The contact did not call the fire department to report the incident. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
My 2003 BMW X5 was parked outside of my house, turned off and not driven for hours and burst into flames consuming the whole dashboard, fire department said that fire was due to some electrical problem with car, very scary please help could of killed my family the incident was recorded on home surveillance footage, but I cannot upload because of size
The 2003 BMW X5 has 3 NHTSA recalls and 114 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
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.
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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: 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.
LH - Driver side seat caught fire and melted through seat material and melted onto my coat. there are burn marks / holes through the seat due to the heater malfunction/ short. My coat was also ruined with plastic melted onto it from the seat.
The windows keep getting stuck. Not just one but both. We have replaced the windows 3 times. The window regulator keeps getting wound up in the gear. The motor in the window has to keep getting replaced. This is causing the window to get stuck or tight. Which ever you choose to call it. when it gets this way it causes the window to pop the crack or break. This has happened twice. my BMW is still in good shape all but the 2 front windows. This needs to be addressed.
2003 BMW X5 INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON PASSENGER SIDE. AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLAT. NO ONE SITTING IN PASSENGER AREA THANK GOD OR WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. HAPPENED ON CITY STREET
THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER WHILE ON THE ROAD. IT GOT SLOWER AND SLOWER, TILL IT FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT HAD TO BE TOWED THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE HOUSE. THE ENGINE WOULD START UP, BUT IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY OF THE GEARS.
I PURCHASED A BMW X5 AND THE FAIL TRANS LIGHT CAM ON AND THE GEARS ARE SHIFTING OUT OF CONTROL. ALMOST GOT MY SON KILLED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF. MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
THIS MORNING 03/13/2020 AT APROX. 2:30AM MY BMW X5 2003 WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES FOR NO REASON AND MY TWO GERMAN SHEPHERDS HEY YOU AND MY BABY DIESEL WERE INSIDE,AND HOW ONE MADE IT OUT AND THE BABY DIDNT, I BUSTED WINDOWS CAUSE I HEARD HIM CRYING ,,,,I COULDNT GET HIM I TRIED TO I TRIED OH MY GOD MY POOR BABY , I WAS INJURED AND SCARED FOR LIFE WITH THAT. MY CAR WAS OFF AND PARKED IN FRONT OF A FRIENDS HOUSE ON A SIDE STREET, ALL A LOSS. NO PICTURES TAKEN ,SEVERAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. CAME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW X5. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW OF DALLAS (6200 LEMMON AVE, DALLAS, TX 75209, (972) 763-5528) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
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.
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
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.
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..
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.
Showing 15 of 114 complaints