BMW 525i Airbag Problems

Airbag complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Frontal
  18
• Sensor › Occupant classification
  5
• Frontal › Sensor/control module
  2
• Side/window
  1
• Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  54%
• 25k–50k
  109%
• 50k–75k
  2421%
• 75k–100k
  2925%
• 100k–150k
  3631%
• 150k+
  1110%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger's side air bag warning light remain illuminated, indicating a possible failure to the air bag system. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

The contact owns a 2007 BMW 525I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

I was on my way to work and had driven only 4 1/2 miles at 6:55 am on Thursday, August 15, 2019. I was about 1/2 from work on a city street when smoke began coming out the air vents and steering column. A smell of plastic, electrical filled the car and I pulled into the nearest place when the smoke was quickly increasing. My son and I jumped out of the car and called 911. The fire department arrived almost immediately, and upon pulling up, before they could get out of the truck, the driver's side curtain airbag exploded, the firemen heard the explosion. By the time they pulled their hoses and lifted the hood, smoke was heavily coming from the car. When the airbag exploded, a large piece of plastic shrapnel was blown to the passenger side of the car and stuck between the windshield and the window and stuck into the edge windshield frame. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 525i. The contact stated that the air bags warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer passport BMW (4730 auth pl, suitland-silver hill, md 20746, [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing a bolt tightened. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 17V428000 (air bags). The vehicle was previously repaired under recall however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 BMW 525i. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the fault in passenger restraint system displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger side air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08V384000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 115,712. Updated 04/22/16

I own a 2005 BMW 525i. While driving at an unknown speed, the passenger side air bag and passenger side seat belt warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the passenger side occupancy seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure which said it was not covered under a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 525i. The contact stated that the passenger restraint system, fault in passenger restraint system affecting air bag, and belt tensioner/belt force limiter warning lights were continuously illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact about NHTSA campaign number: 08V384000 (air bags); however, the statute of limitation surpassed and the vehicle was no longer eligible for the repairs. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 BMW 525i. While driving at an unknown speed, the "passenger restraint system fault" message displayed and the passenger side air bag sensor illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger side air and restraint systems were faulty. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired again. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 47,000.

Related recalls (5)

NHTSA investigations