This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Unrepaired Recalls (1) 12V-126:79 Safety: Battery Cable - Insulated Bulkhead Connector Mar 23, 2012 OEM Code 12V-126:79 All the dealerships i contacted to fix this recall never replied to me and The battery connection has ruined my electrical components on my vehicle(Long beach BMW and Cerritos BMW California)
About three years ago, we filed a complaint with BMW North America. A problem with the front passenger seat. There was smoke As a result, a hole burned through. after that an error message about the airbag came on. We also didn't know that there was a recall about this problem. we made several calls to the dealership and at the end, they offered to help with only 50% Quote to repair the seat was $2300. The car only had 142,000 miles. all the seats were in mint condition. Thank You.
Nearly every BMW suffers from failed wiring in the headlights. This should be addressed as a recalled oint of failure as it involves everybody on the road.
The wire harness for both headlights in this vehicle are completely frayed. Bare copper wires can be seeing and the lights are inoperative. In addition to night driveability being and issue, the potential for a short circuit and fire under the hood exists. A cursory internet research shows that this is common issue with several BMW model years, potentially affecting thousands of drivers.
- Belle Isle, FL, USA
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About 3 weeks ago we noticed in the front passenger seat "a mark" that looks like a burnt - we thought that it was just a mark or somebody put a hot bottle O cup on the seat - but this morning we turn the heating in both seat to warm up a little bit then smell and smoke start to come out the burnt mark. We turned it off both sides and open the window - now our conclusion is the heating element caused that burn in the seat.
Driver tail light lamp assembly electrical connector overheated, melted and destroyed #1 contact pin and wire. Driver side tail light assembly no longer operate. Brake and signal lighting system degraded exposing vehicle occupants to increased risk of rear-impact, possible electrical fire and death. No part or the light assembly was not subject to any extreme use conditions. No excessive moisture was introduced to the trunk area where the light assembly is located.
The wiring inside the headlights are all crumbling and exposing the copper within creating an electroncal fire or shorting of the system. This appears to be very common on the E60 series BMW and should be addressed.
Wire rot deterioration at the headlight assembly. Concern electrical fire due to bare exposed wires. Notified the dealer and manufacture without resolution. Personally had to pay over $500 to he dealership just to wrapped with electrical tape. After 3 months, currently experiencing high beam failure (hid adoptive passenger side) which the dealer to replacement cost of $2599.
The vehicle airbag system is malfunctioning. There were recalls related to the BMW but my vehicle doesn't appear to be included in this recall when I search by VIN number. I contacted the dealer and they said my vehicle isn't covered. The airbag light and restraint light is on and my head unit says there is a fault in my passenger restraint system.
The headlight assembly produced by hella contains apparently defective wiring. The insulation on the electrical wires to the high beam bulbs and the parking light bulbs deteriorates and crumbles off leaving exposed electrical wires in the headlight assembly. Moving the wires during removal and replacement of bulbs caused the insulation to break off completely. The problem was just discovered, but was obviously in a state of decay for a long period of time.
Subject: 2004 BMW 535I on October 30,2012 just after hurricane sandy hit the East coast of New Jersey, I had occasion to use my 535I. While driving I noticed various warning and fault lights flashing on the control panel, loss of power and the cabin began filling with smoke. With great difficulty, I managed to pull across several lanes to the side of the multi-lane highway I was on (route 42N). Upon inspection I found 6-8 inches of water in the trunk wheel well. Under the spare tire I observed a burning and smoking msm power module. I subsequently brought the car to my local BMW dealer in turnersville, NJ. The dealer refused any liability or fault for the $3000 repair which included replacing and relocating the msm power module, replacing the radio system, cleaning water stains from the hood liner and trying to alleviate the smoke odor. I came to find out there was a service bulletin to relocate the msm power module higher in the trunk from its original position at the bottom of the wheel well. The dealer lied and told me water has leaked into the trunk via loose trunk rivets. I later determined the water entered the trunk following clogged sunroof drains. The dealer did not deny that could have happened but refused to cover the damages. BMW should be sued as I've determined this issue is not atypical and could lead to a disaster. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
I own a 2004 BMW 530 I my daghter just came back fro work she parked the car in my drive way and she came inside she had diinner and we got ready for bed at approxmently 11pm we get a nock on the side window were from the police dept say to evecuate and to come out now when we came out the car was in a fire and the saint cloud fl marshal said the fire start cause due to the battery or the wire in the trunk I called BMW coppert office to let them know and they said they will need to pick up the car to hav enginer to look at the car was tottled BMW after they tool 40 day for evaluation they called me today and only offered to pay $5000 toward a certif used or new BMW I told them that this was not acceptable and I told them I will call your copany and they seem not to care I want to make sure every owner out there need to know this can happen to them and that recall that BMW had by replacing the only only a ruber part on the red wire in the trunk does not help please let me know if you can help me recover my money on the car.I did not have full coverge I only had liblty insurance so this did not help I have been doing my homework and found out that there have been 1.2 million BMW recall and only 1 fire my car is the 2nd as I read more about the issue and also found some news company such nbc had a article on this issue.
While driving on highway I noticed a smell of burning matter rapidly increasing in the car, immediately followed by a sharp burning sensation in my right thigh. While half-standing I was able to maneuver my car to the highway shoulder. (which was very difficult to do safely, given the traffic was dense and moving with highway speeds.) after I pulled over, turned off the car, came out of the vehicle and looked at the seat, I noticed a burn mark on the leather, exactly where my thigh was when it got burned. It seemed that the seat warmer overheated and burned a hole in the leather. I ventilated the car from the burning odor, which gave enough time for the seat to cool down. After getting to a safer location I tested my theory by turning on the seat warmer " the issues was reproducible. I went to stevens creek BMW dealership for diagnostics and repairs. They charged me $210.88 diagnostic fee and quoted with around $1,500 for the repairs, implying that they will not fix this issue as ?a good will" since my car is too old and has too many miles on it and that it has none of the warranties left. I still think they should have fixed it as "a good will" since the dealership diagnosed a short circuit in the seat warmer. The seat warmer should have failed in a fail-safe way by not warming or at least blowing a fuse (and age & miles have little to do with poor engineering).
My vehicle is a 530I with a production date in December 2003, it is my contention that the vehicle should be subject to recall rcdnn-04V575. Despite the December 2004 notice to ntsha indicating that 100% of vehicles with the seat heating option produced between June 17th 2003 and April 30th 2004. BMW insists that my vehicle (production date in December 2003 and containing the seat heater in question) is, according to internal documents which they will not release to me, not in fact subject to the recall. What I find inexplicable and beyond belief, is that they would issue a notification to ntsha in November 2004, a full six months after allegedly remedying defects in cars produced from mid-March 2004 through April 30th 2004 without correcting those dates in the notification letter. BMW refuses to repair or even inspect my passenger side seat bolster heating element despite clear evidence that it is in fact defective and subject to the recall.
BMW recalled 2004 BMW 525I and others for the seat mat sensor. I had called them (2012-13) and they told me that my vehicle (based on VIN) wasn't part of the recall. I informed them that my vehicle's mat sensor was also defective and should be replaced by them. They, BMW usa told me that mine was not defective. I still cant understand if the rest are defective, how come mine is considered not defective when its inoperative and same problem as thousands of other 2004 525I.
My vehicle is a 530I with a production date in March 2004, it is my contention that the vehicle should be subject to recall rcdnn-04V575. Despite the December 2004 notice to ntsha indicating that 100% of vehicles with the seat heating option produced between June 17th 2003 and April 30th 2004. BMW insists that my vehicle (production date in March 2004 and containing the seat heater in question) is, according to internal documents which they will not release to me, not in fact subject to the recall. The malfunction described in the recall notice happened exactly as described, burning a hole through my driver seat side bolster. Despite agreeing to remedy the driver side damage to my satisfaction, BMW contends that they are under no obligation to repair or even inspect the passenger side seat bolster, which I contend is defective and was subject to the recall. I have emails from BMW stating my vehicle is not subject to the recall and acknowledging that no recall repairs had occurred they are claiming I am not entitled to view the internal documentation that allegedly shows that the defect was remedied before the vehicle was delivered off the production line. What I find inexplicable and beyond belief, is that they would issue a notification to ntsha in November 2004, a full six months after allegedly remedying defects in cars produced from mid-March 2004 through April 30th 2004 without correcting those dates in the notification letter. BMW refuses to repair or even inspect my passenger side seat bolster heating element despite clear evidence that it is in fact defective and subject to the recall. I would like that problem remedied as prescribed in the recall notice or definitive proof produced that the repair was conducted or alternatively that the redesign was in place on the passenger side seat bolster before delivery of the vehicle..
Idrive is totally black, including all dashboard functions, no wipers or power to windows, only my engine runs. I was told by the dealer that water got into the sunroof and leaked to the truck near tire and cause two gaskets to burn out. I am told that the cost to repair is $1650 or $2950 depending on which option I choose. I am also told that the problem may return. This problem appears to be a manufacturer issued but the consumer has to pay out of pocket for the repair cost, even though through no fault of our own the problem exists.
There was a burnt plastic odor, shortly after that there was smoke coming out of the trunk. There was a cable connected to the battery that come loose, which caused the power module to burnt out. There was power outage throughout the car, the noticeable ones included: The radio (the screen was completely black and there was no sound); the car alarm; and the bing alerting sounds that goes off when key is in ignition, seatbelts are not strapped, etc. Were not working. My technician change the power module then he noticed that the cable that came loose only disconnects when there is a car accidents as a precaution, just the same way the airbags deflate. He advised that it was a manufacturing defect that could lead to an explosion. When I informed BMW center about this problem they said it had nothing to do with a defect that it was "wear and tear", but then again they didn't bother to diagnose it, they didn't even bother to take a look at it!
There was a burnt plastic odor, shortly after that smoke came out of the trunk. A cable connected to the battery came loose which cause the power module to burn out. There was a power outage throughout the car, the noticeable ones included; the radio (no image was displayed on the screen and no sound); the car alarm was not working and the bing sound alerting key in ignition, seatbelt not strapped, etc. Was not working.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Elsobrante, CA, USA