2003 BMW 5 Series Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

No safety recalls on file

The 2003 BMW 5 Series has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA.

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, including 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury.

The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (4 reports).

0Recalls
15Owner complaints
1Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your 5 Series?

A recall covers specific vehicles. Your VIN shows whether yours still needs the free repair.

2003 BMW 5 Series recalls

No safety recalls on file for the 2003 BMW 5 Series.

Most common 2003 BMW 5 Series problems

Problem areas named in the 15 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem areaReports
Air Bags4
Electrical System4
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Steering2
Fuel System, Other1
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Tires1
Power Train1
Suspension1
Engine1

What owners report

2016-10-27, Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL. MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, I RECEIVED INFORMATION IN THE FORM OF A WARNING THAT MY CAR HAD AIRBAGS THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED THE BMW CENTER ON S.DIXIE HIGHWAY NEAR 160 STREET IN MIAMI AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME. AFTER A LONG ENOUGH WAIT, I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. AFTER ANOTHER PERIOD OF TIME, I TOOK MY CAR TO THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIRBAG HAD BEEN ORDERED AND THAT I WILL BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS IT COMES IN. AFTER ANOTHER LONG WAIT, I CALLED AND LATER WENT BACK WITH MY CAR BUT STILL GOT THE SAME RUN-AROUND. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 YEARS SINCE I CONTACTED BMW. I AM LUCKY THAT NOTHING BAD HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. W
2016-08-25, Air Bags
I'M GETTING THE RUN AROUND ABOUT REPLACING THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IN MY CAR. I RECEIVED THE INITIAL NOTICE OVER 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD THE AIR BAGS WERE RELEASED OVER A MONTH AGO BUT I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SECOND NOTICE. THE BMW DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE ISN'T AN ISSUE WITH THE BMW IT'S JUST PRECAUTIONARY BUT THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE AIRBAGS IN.
2016-05-19, Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL - I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE, WHICH HAS BEEN MINE SINCE IT WAS NEW IN 2003, IS PART OF THE TAKATA RECALL AND HAS BEEN SINCE ALMOST A YEAR AGO. I NEVER RECEIVED A SINGLE NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE 2003, SO THERE SEEMS TO BE ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. WHEN I CALLED MY BMW DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE RECALL, I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO CURRENT REMEDY BUT THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK ABOUT MY OPTIONS. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND NO ONE HAS CALLED ME. I THEN SENT AN E-MAIL TO BMW, WHICH RESULTED IN A FORM RETURN MESSAGE. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR SOMEONE WITH THIS RECALL AND NO REMEDY? I CAN'T SAY THAT I FE
2014-03-12, Engine
I WAS DRIVING APPX 40MPH WHILE ON A LOCAL ROAD SLIGHTLY UPHILL, ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST. LUCKILY NO CARS AROUND ME SO I WAS ABLE TO BARELY ROLL OVER TO THE ROADSIDE. CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN, WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED ECU FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2K. *TR
2013-05-23, Power Train
I BACKED MY 2003 BMW M5 OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND HEARD A TERRIBLE SOUND, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR FORWARD, AND THE NOISE GOT WORSE. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DRIVE WAY AND PUT IT ON JACKS AND STANDS TO FIND THE NOISE. I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS BROKEN (I HAVE PICTURES AND WILL BE GETTING THE ORIGINAL PARTS BACK FOR TESTING) FROM THE MOUNT HOLDING IT TO THE FRAME. I HAVE RESEARCHED FORUMS FOR 1999-2004 BMW 5 SERIES CARS AND HAVE LOCATED 14 MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE (IS HAS HAPPENED IN 528, 540, AND M5 MODELS FROM 1999-2004). THE REPAIR IS COSTING ME APPROXIMATELY $4000.00. IF THIS BREAK HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL WOULD HA

2003 BMW 5 Series questions

Does the 2003 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?

No. NHTSA has no safety recalls on file for the 2003 BMW 5 Series at this time.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 5 Series?

Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (4), Electrical System (4), Latches/Locks/Linkages (2).

How do I check if a recall on my 2003 BMW 5 Series has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.

Other BMW 5 Series years

Other 2003 BMW models