2004 Bmw 5 SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 64 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 10.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 9.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 24 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 7 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 4 |
Air Bags: 24; Electrical System: 8; Seat Belts: 7; Seats: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Exterior Lighting: 4; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 7; 2010: 11; 2011: 12; 2012: 7; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10095682 · 2004-10-13 (October 13, 2004)
MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING AND TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES WITH SAME EFFECT. DROVE CAR TO BMW DEALER. DEALER TECHNICIAN SAW SAME RESULTS. HE DISCONNECTED BATTERY, RESTARTED CAR, REBOOTING THE I-DRIVE COMPUTER, AND COULD NOT RECREATE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134838 · 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)
DT: 2004 BMW 530 I. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON/WINDOWS ROLLING DOWN AND THEN MALFUNCTIONING/TRUNK OPENING, AND HALO LIGHTS STAYING ON. THE ONSTAR OR SOS SYSTEMS WAS NOT WORKING. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THIS VEHICLE A LEMON. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT COMPLYING WITH THE LEMON LAW. THIS PROCESS WAS TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THEY WERE TAKING TOO LONG TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23,281 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324351 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 545. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED; AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. ADDITIONALLY, PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN REGARDS TO A BURNING ODOR AND A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK IN WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344193 · 2010-07-20 (July 20, 2010)
TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN TAKING OFF FROM AN ALMOST STOPPED POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD VIOLENTLY. THIS HAS LAUNCHED ME INTO INTERSECTIONS AND CAUSED ME TO ALMOST REAR-END SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS HAPPENS ON A WEEKLY BASIS OF DAILY DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AT A COST TO ME(VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY) EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062111 · 2004-03-13 (March 13, 2004)
BMW 545I SYSTEM FAILURE 1. BRAKING AND DYNAMIC-RESPONSE 2. PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10339901 · 2010-06-24 (June 24, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FULLY ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED BUT WOULD NOT STOP. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC ADVISED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM HAD FAILED. MILEAGE 60,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367336 · 2010-11-23 (November 23, 2010)
BMW 2004 545I ACTIVE STEERING PROBLEM. MY STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT. THE ACTIVE STEERING LIGHT WENT ON. NOW THE CAR DRIVES STRAIGHT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TILTED TO THE RIGHT. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE BATTERY VOLTAGE DROP. CAR STARTS TO SHUT DOWN MAJOR COMPONENTS ACTIVE STEERING, TRANSMISSION, NAVIGATION, AND I-DRIVE SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS THE WHOLE CARS ELECTRONICS. SCARY WHEN YOU HAVE A 8 MONTH OLD KID IN A CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418480 · 2011-08-11 (August 11, 2011)
I OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I E60 HAD "ACTIVE STEERING FAULT CAME ON AT ALL TIME .THE DEALER WANTS 4000USD TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE STEERING CONTROL IS FINE . I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE HAD RELATED TO STEERING ANGLE SENSOR DEFECTIVE FROM BMW FACTORY AND DEALERS IN US DID NOT WANT TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THIS PROBLEMS HAD HAPPENED TO ALL BMW'S . ALL OVER THE BLOGS .CUSTOMERS HAD FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. PLEASE LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM(S). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418480 at NHTSA ↗