Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Seats complaints

1 reports

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26,000 miles · Jan 12, 2015

SeatsInjury

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WHILE MOVING THE SEAT FORWARD (VALET MOVED IT BACK) WE FOUND THAT THE SEATS TWISTED; IN OUR CASE, THE OUTER SIDE OF THE SEAT BOTTOM MOVED FURTHER THAN THE INNER SIDE, CAUSING THE SEATS TO TWIST TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE CAR AND LEAVING THEM UNEVEN WITH THE DASH AND FRONT OF THE CAR. ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE SEAT POSITIONING BY MOVING THE SEAT BACKWARDS VIA POWER SWITCH CAUSED THE INNER BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT (AROUND THE THIGH BOLSTERS) TO BIND AND JAM AGAINST THE CENTER CONSOLE. WE FOUND THAT THE POWER PASSENGER SEAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON BMW-RELATED WEBSITES (IN PARTICULAR, M5BOARD.COM) AND FOUND THAT EACH SEAT HAS THREE SEPARATE MOTORS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MOVE IN UNISON WITH THE CONTROL SWITCH VIA ONE CABLE. AS DESIGNED AND BUILT, THESE POWER CABLES LEADING TO EACH MOTOR ARE TWISTED TO FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE UNDER SEAT DESIGN. THE CABLE END ADJACENT TO EACH MOTOR MAKES CONTACT DURING NORMAL SEAT MOVEMENT WITH OTHER UNDER-SEAT COMPONENTS. AFTER SOME UNKNOWN NUMBER OF MOVEMENTS THE CABLE END(S) FAIL RENDERING ITS SEAT MOTOR INOPERABLE (THESE COMPONENTS ARE INACCESSIBLE SO THE OPERATOR CANNOT IN ANY WAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRODUCT FAILURE). WE BELIEVE THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MADE DESIGN AND MATERIAL CHANGES IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS TO REMOVE THE AFFECTED SEATS ENTIRELY FROM THE VEHICLE SO THAT THE TECHNICIANS CAN ACCESS AND REPLACE THE BROKEN DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS (COST PER SEAT IN EXCESS OF $1000). WHILE THE DEFECT OFTEN OCCURS DURING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE PERIOD, THE PROBLEM OFTEN IS NOT BE READILY APPARENT TO DRIVERS). THIS DEFECT PRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS, OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLES, AND TO BMW DRIVERS OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS WHO SUFFER FROM SPINAL OR OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671711

Official recalls

17V047000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 20, 2017

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 & remedy

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.

15V318000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

May 28, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.