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.
The insulation on the internal wiring of the headlight (left and right) have fallen off the wiring leaving sections of conductor exposed creating shorts in the lighting system. This is a known problem in the BMW community (owners and BMW) since at least 2011. This is due to the use of bio-degradable wiring by BMW that breaks down prematurely. Replacement headlight assemblies (high intensity discharge Xenon) are over $1,000 each. Both halogen high beam lights are inoperable which reduces driver vision at night on suburban roadways. Re-wiring with correctly specified wiring is possible but requires specific skills and experience. This is a known problem which BMW has hoped would go away as few of their cars of this age are on the road. This risk assessment driven policy should not shield BMW from fully addressing their failures in material selection which impact safe use of their cars.
Inside headlight wiring insulation became brittle and falls off leading to potential shorts and equipment failure. Additional wiring throughout engine compart shows similar degradation and failure. Split wire housing to protect wires from engine heat also show signs of decay, exposing wires to excess heat and inducing failure of insulation. This is not a turbocharged engine and has lower engine compartment temperatures. This problem started 7-8 years ago and has gotten worse.
Headlights would take turns randomly working, then one night both headlights turned off while I was going around a corner at 55mph. This was in the country no street lights. Just as I came to a blind stop there both kicked back on. After getting home I took apart to find some wires were rotting other already bare, and others cracking. I pray this doesnt happen to anyone else because if this problem isn't fixed someone's going to die. Also if someone does crash I pray to god they can quickly get out of car before all those bare wires behind headlight get smashed together and the fire starts.
All wiring within the headlight assembly is deteriorating and exposing the bare wiring internal of the assembly. This is causing electrical shorting, electrical fault codes, and occasional periods of inoperative headlights while driving. The wiring issue was first noted by my mechanic around February 2019. I have found thru my research for repairs this is a very common problem.
Degradation of headlight wiring. Wire insulation is flaking, cracking, and internal conductor wires are exposed. Causes intermittent headlight issues as wiring shorts during driving.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
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While replacing parking light bulb I found insulation to bulb holder falling off, likely due to heat inside headlight assembly. Given the brittle insulation falling off, a short could easily have occurred. The inner cv joint on the right drive was found to be without grease. With no grease fitting or means of inspection, the axle could have frozen, causing stability issues.
Head lights angle lights wires getting very dry from the heat of the light and the insulation coming off the optical wires, lights go out, possible shorting and become very unsafe.
The wiring harness inside the headlights is crumbling away causing lights to intermittently not work. The wires spark when they touch together. This is a fire hazard.
Internal headlight wiring insulation flaking off exposing copper wire causing failure of parking and daytime running lights and failure of the front headlight system as well as the risk of fire. Also having issues with intermittent cruise control, power ports and fan inside the car.
The wiring ithin the xenon adaptive headlight assembly on the left and right side of the 2006 BMW 530I has extreme wiring insulation rot. The exposed wiring is extensive on all wires within the assembly on both sides with most of the wires now bare. This is creating a severe and dangerous safety and fire hazard. I will upload photos when I disassemble the car headlights again. The fire hazard was found when replacing an angel eye headlamp.
Internal headlight wiring insulation flaking off exposing copper wire causing failure of parking and daytime running lights and possible failure of the front headlight system as well as the risk of fire
All headlight wiring shielding has deteriorated in the unit causing a shortage. This is a safety issue not only due to the shielding possibly causing a fire, but also an issue for safe driving as the lights no longer function to dot requirements.
The wiring insulation is peeling around all of the wires in the headlight assembly. This is not a serviceable part, but the light bulbs are serviceable. This seems to pose a fire risk because bare conductors of opposite polarity are exposed to one another.
A message on the vehicle display screen indicated that the right-side low beam headlight was malfunctioning. I removed the headlight assembly to replace the bulb and found the wiring insulation is crumbling to the touch, resulting in a short circuit. The headlight bulb is not actually burned out. There are many complaints about this on the BMW forums but BMW and the headlight manufacturer, hella, refuses to acknowledge the problem or do anything about it.
Failures of multiple wires/electrical components in the tailgate/rear window wiring harnesses. Search for BMW E61 tailgate wiring problems. The failures are caused by a poor design where the wires entering the hinge guides (4) for the glass and tailgate are repeatedly flexed at a sharp angle until the insulation, then the copper wire breaks. Safety issues - possible electrical short circuit leading to fires (highest load is for rear defroster); lighting failures (rear high brake light, license plate lamps and others); reduced visibility due to loss of wiper/washer/defroster; rear glass latch opening while underway, possibly resulting in loss of cargo or ingress of exhaust fumes. This is not an easily repaired problem and has cost over $2000 so far. I'm worried about driving this car as it is the main transportation for my children and their friends.I discovered it when the remote lock/unlock using the key fobs failed, the trunk inoperable and uncloseable, the radio stopped working, the lights in the rear of the car stayed on permanently and I had to drive home one night with the trunk wide open because the wiring had stopped working and it could not be closed. As I investigated I found many broken ground wires, along with several others with broken insulation, some with broken copper strands etc. I have already had the right and left wire harnesses replaced at an independent dealer for about $2200. This is a safety issue and I'm worried that more will come.
Upon replacing a head light bulb I notice that the headlight wiring inside the headlight housing was exposed and the insulation crumbling to the touch. Many wires are exposed without insulation thus creating a short circuit potential and fire hazard, I have researched about this and it seems it is a common problem with bmws, there are many owners with this issue. I feel there should be a recall for this before someone car catches fire and\or someone dies, bmwna doesn't seem to want to resolve this issue based on all the owners complaints and their negative response.
I was replacing a parking (angel eye) bulb in the drivers side of my 2006 BMW 530I and noticed that the wiring for the parking and high beam bulb was so brittle that the was falling off exposing the bare wiring and I also noted a smell of burnt plastic. I checked the forums and other owners with the same headlights 2004-2010 5 series were reporting the same issue. BMW is not offering a tsb or a recall for this. The lights in this case are the bi-xenon adaptive lights. It appears the heat created by the hid unit is causing the wires to become brittle. I emailed BMW usa directly and I was just referred to a dealer. For the time being I have wrapped the wiring in electrical tape until I can afford to replace each unit. I am afraid to use my high beams because I do not want to blow anymore bulbs, short out my lighting system or possibly even start a fire. I have considered downgrading the type of lighting system in my car but that would entail having to rewire the car and reprogram the computer to recognize the new type of lighting.
As I was driving a warning came on my idrive display that there was a parking light malfunction. I later removed the headlight to replace a bulb and upon doing so I noticed bare copper wires. I then removed the main cover and saw that literally every wire had portions of the outer wire jacket deteriorating. When I removed the parking lamp assy. To replace the bulb, the wire jacket just flaked off. Due to the severity of the damage I immediately took the headlight to lauderdale BMW. Lauderdale BMW had a specialist look at the headlight. The specialist said that though it did look very bad unfortunately it was just due to the Florida sun! there is no support for the headlight either from hella North America (the actual manufacturer of the headlight) or from BMW. No parts can be ordered for it. The only option available is to purchase a complete new headlight assy. At $1500 I wrote to hella North America and they referred me to BMW germany. I wrote to bmwna and they responded that it was just normal wear and tear. Imagine that, an 8 year old headlight deteriorate to bare wires is by BMW's concern, normal wear and tear! that's shameful! at this point I cannot install the headlight assembly back into the car for fear of a dead short and possible fire! I have a 1995 Chevrolet S-10 that at 19 years has no wiring issues and definitely no bare wires! for BMW though it is considered completely acceptable after 8 years! yet both vehicles sit side by side in the Florida sun everyday! is it right that BMW vehicle pricing on the average is so much higher than Chevrolet and yet BMW's build quality and what is acceptable is so much lower! when this happens, something is terribly wrong!
Have a problem with the right headlight in my 530I 2006 BMW. The angel light bulb burned out and when I went to replace it, the wire covers started to come off exposing the wires completely. After replacing the bulb (which was a bit difficult to do), most of the wires in the headlight had no protection and were completely exposed. I had to cover them with electric tape to prevent some shorts, but missed a section I guess, since now the computer is giving me a adaptive headlight warning message and the light is not pointing to the proper direction. I have done some research on line and found that it is happening to a lot of people. Contacted BMW of North America, and they said since my car is out of warranty, they cannot do anything about it. The material used to cover these wires is not correct, as it will break off just by lightly touching them. I feel this is a safety concern where there may be short circuits while the car is running and it would affects the car's computers. In my case, the light control module is also shorted and must be replaced. I would like to know if there is anything you can do to find out if this is a safety concern or not. I believe it is specially on a car still new. Let me know if you would need any further information. Thank you.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 535xi. The contact stated that the brake light assembly shorted out. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who decided to replace all three rear brake lights, rear driver side reverse light and both turn signals in the rear. In addition, the contact stated that the doors on the vehicle appear to close and latched and inadvertantly open. The contact was informed of recall NHTSA campaign id number: 12V504000 (latches/locks/linkages: Doors: Latch) but was informed it only affected the 2007 model. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 82,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- New York, NY, USA