2003 Bmw 530I: complaints, problems and recalls

THE LATCH ANCHOR BARS IN THE 2003 BMW 530 WERE TOO FAR RECESSED INTO THE VEHICLES SEAT WHICH MADE INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SEAT, USING THE LATCH SYSTEM, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. (THE EVENFLO VANGUARD CHILD SAFETY SEAT, MANUFACTURED 03-25-03, CORPORAL JENNIFER S. ROSS - DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIAN, TECH # T022421). *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019640 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY LOW SPEED VEHICLE BEGINS TO RACE, THEN JUMPS FORWARD. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033545 at NHTSA ↗

2003 BMW 530I GAS PEDAL DESIGN.*MR THE GAS PEDAL FELL OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE GAS PEDAL FELL OFF, THERE WAS NO METAL PIECE OF ANYTHING THAT BACKED THE PEDAL. THERE WAS ONLY A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT WAS LIKE A NOODLE, I.E., IT HAD NO STIFFNESS TO IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING ONE COULD PUT THEIR FOOT ON. *PH *JB *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034474 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042126 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. *AK AS THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ACCELERATED BACKWARDS INTO THE STREET. THE CONSUMER PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE ACCELERATION BUT IT DID NOT RESPOND. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME. *SCC THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042494 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CLUTCH STOPPED RESPONDING, THE TACHOMETER SOARED AND THE CLUTCH BURNED, THE CAR WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CLUTCH CONTINUED TO SMOLDER. IT APPEARS LIKE IT ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043378 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON SURFACE STREET, CAR IN FRONT SLOWED TO A STOP. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR BECAUSE WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR ACCELERATED UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 8,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051091 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE SLOWLY ENTERING MY GARAGE FROM DRIVEWAY, CAR ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. I APPLIED BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT COULD NOT STOP CAR. CRASHED INTO REFRIGERATOR AT BACK OF GARAGE. SUBSEQUENTLY, TOOK VEHICLE TO BMW DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE REPORT FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID, "COULD NOT REPRODUCE FAULT. CAR IS OPERATING PROPERTY. NO FAULTS ARE STORED IN THE SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM SAFEGUARDS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY." *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 8,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051093 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-05-28 (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: 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.

Reported: 2019-01-14 (January 14, 2019)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.