CarRecallWatchThe 2003 BMW X5 has 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA, including 4 crashes, 13 fires, 3 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Engine And Engine Cooling (25 reports).
2003 BMW X5 recalls
Driver Airbag Inflator May Rupture in a Crash
Certain BMW vehicles may have a replacement driver-side airbag module installed, either after a prior crash or as a remedy part for an earlier recall.
Driver air bag may rupture and spray metal fragments
The driver's frontal air bag inflator can be affected by moisture over time.
Most common 2003 BMW X5 problems
Problem areas named in the 99 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 25 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Structure | 4 |
What owners report
Wiring dash fire. Heavy smoke from dash and vehicle completely in flame in minute. My son sent me a recording while it was happening, he did no know what to do or what was happening.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW X5. The contact stated the vehicle was parked, while entering the vehicle he noticed the dashboard was melted, which was caused by a fire that occurred independently. The contact stated he reviewed a camera that was near the location of the vehicle and saw the fire occur on the video. The contact did not call the fire department to report the incident. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
My 2003 BMW X5 was parked outside of my house, turned off and not driven for hours and burst into flames consuming the whole dashboard, fire department said that fire was due to some electrical problem with car, very scary please help could of killed my family the incident was recorded on home surveillance footage, but I cannot upload because of size
LH - Driver side seat caught fire and melted through seat material and melted onto my coat. there are burn marks / holes through the seat due to the heater malfunction/ short. My coat was also ruined with plastic melted onto it from the seat.
The windows keep getting stuck. Not just one but both. We have replaced the windows 3 times. The window regulator keeps getting wound up in the gear. The motor in the window has to keep getting replaced. This is causing the window to get stuck or tight. Which ever you choose to call it. when it gets this way it causes the window to pop the crack or break. This has happened twice. my BMW is still in good shape all but the 2 front windows. This needs to be addressed.
2003 BMW X5 questions
Does the 2003 BMW X5 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls for the 2003 BMW X5: Driver Airbag Inflator May Rupture in a Crash; Driver air bag may rupture and spray metal fragments; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW X5?
Based on 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Engine And Engine Cooling (25), Electrical System (17), Power Train (17).
How do I check if a recall on my 2003 BMW X5 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.