2005 Bmw 5 Series problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (5) · Electrical System (3) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 5 Series model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan 2012-08-10 · campaign 12E029000 · 585 vehicles
Defect: This recall involves aftermarket parts sold by Valeo. Valeo is recalling certain engine cooling fans, part numbers 696121, 696273, and 696275, used as service replacement parts for model year 2008-2011 BMW 1-Series, 2006-2011 BMW 3-Series, 2000-2009 BMW 5-Series, 2004-2005 BMW 6-Series, and 2006-2007 BMW 7-Series vehicles. A metal-oxide semiconductor may overheat due to insufficient screwing of the semiconductor on the aluminum heat sink. This primary failure could cause adjacent components on
Risk: This condition could cause the fan motor to become inoperative, or cause the motor circuit board in the assembly to overheat, potentially leading to a fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Valeo will notify owners and replace the fans free of charge. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. This recall is being conducted by Valeo, not by BMW. For further information, owners may contact Valeo at 1-888-718-2536.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2012-03-26 · campaign 12V126000 · 367,682 vehicles
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES. THE INSULATED BULKHEAD CONNECTOR FOR THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE TRUNK FLOOR PANEL, WHICH CAN LEAD TO A LOOSENING OF THE BOLT CONNECTION. AS IT LOOSENS, AN INCREASE IN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AT THIS CABLE CONNECTION IS POSSIBLE AND COULD CAUSE THE CABLE CONNECTION TO OVERHEAT.
Risk: OVERHEATING COULD LEAD TO A FIRE, EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN USE. AS A PRECAUTION, OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO PARK OUTSIDE UNTIL THE REMEDY HAS BEEN MADE.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BATTERY BOLT CABLE CONNECTION AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES AT 1-800-525-7417.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2010-10-01 · campaign 10V446000 · 198,352 vehicles
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Risk: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
Service bulletins (55)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Electrical System 2024-01-11 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle ã¢ââdischarged batteryã¢ââ complaints.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2023-12-20 · B160623 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
engine will crank but not start. there is no communication with the integrated fuel module (tfe) whendiagnosing with ista. the following two fault codes will be stored in the dme: 032b43 - low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low cda594 - message (- 0x33e) missing, rec
Equipment 2023-11-22 · B653423 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
customers may state that the alarm system (dwa) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. depending on the vehicleã¢ââs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. additionally, the red anti-theft alarm led in
Vehicle Speed Control 2023-10-19 · B660523 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (adcam system) can lead to customer complaints.
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2020-10-01 · B611305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
discharged battery energy diagnosis must be performed: the electrical system of bmw vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. this has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. this document covers important information for the dealer on how to
Showing the 6 most recent of 55 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2017-04-28 · Service Brakes · 80,000 mi · 💥 crash“there are 3 recalls reported for my year make and model of a car i just purchased that at giving me problems and i'm receiving warning messages on my navigation but my vin is not registering with dealership for being eligible for resolution please reply back with steps to repair…”
2016-01-11 · Electrical System · 177,777 mi“bmw i-drive cuts out while driving, and blinks or reboots. while driving home it cut out, and would not stop blinking. this distraction and malfunction is dangerous.…”
2015-03-25 · Seat Belts · 29,500 mi“on the morning of 3/18/2015 at 8 am. i started the car and received a passenger restraint system warning on the display. the car was parked in the garage. *tr…”
2015-03-19 · Air Bags · 71,000 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2005 bmw 5-series. the contact stated that the air bag and seat belt warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the front passenger seat sensor mat needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 08v384000 (air bags). the vehicle was not repaired. …”
2014-08-26 · Power Train“transmission jerks as if you are missing a spark or it is trying to find a higher or lower gear while cruising in traffic between 32-40 mph. *tr…”
2014-05-24 · Air Bags · 106,240 mi“hello, i've got an airbag light on the dashboard about two months ago on my bmw e60 530i 2005. the board computer it says: "passenger restraint system" malfunction. i went to the dealer in vegas and he took the light off, after one week it came out again. i'm wondering about myself safety and my passengers as well. i'm asking you to help me to fix …”
2014-05-10 · Seats · 72,025 mi“2005 bmw 525i. passenger seat air bag malfunction light illuminated. took vehicle to independent mechanic for diagnosis. conclusion from mechanic was that passenger air bag seat mat was broken per nhtsa action number ea08001. took vehicle to irvine bmw for repair under extended seat mat warranty. irvine bmw said that passenger seat mat did not…”
2013-07-19 · Electrical System“same issue as every other 2005 530i owner has had. my battery was low and needed replaced and after a new battery was purchased and installed the fault light came on the i-drive system for the airbag. bmw dealer refuses to do anything about it as my vehicle is not included in the recall.. i don't understand why when there are numerous complaints on…”
2012-09-09 · Air Bags · 65,007 mi“on 12/5/2011 - when i started the car, i noticed the message on my dashboard indicating a fault on passenger restraint system. there was not any incident that i can recall that would result in the error message. after further research, i discovered that the error message was a common fault on these type of cars due to a faulty mat sensor located un…”
2012-06-13 · Air Bags · 100,000 mi“while driving with my family over the weekend, i noticed the passenger air bag and seat belt light illuminate on the dash. the idrive stated there was a malfunction in the pass air bag. i took my car to the nearest dealer the next morning after finding that this is an ongoing/ common issue with the 5 series. but what i don't get is why is my vehicl…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.