BMW 545i Complaints (2005)

78 consumer complaints on file.

#10779344October 2, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
2005 BMW 545I E60 FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM: THIS MODEL BMW HAS EXPERIENCED A FAULT IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND IS NOT LISTED IN THE PAST RECALL WHICH CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE MAT OF THE PASSENGER SEAT AND UPON A PASSENGER GETTING INTO MY CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I RECEIVED THE ERROR MESSAGE. I SPOKE WITH VARYING BMW DEALERSHIPS (IN DIFFERENT STATES) AND RECEIVED MIXED INFORMATION FROM THE RECALL WASN'T APPROVED YET TO THE CURRENT VERSION OF NO RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL REPAIR COSTS. SPEAKING WITH BMW OF USA, THERE WAS APPARENTLY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALERSHIP NEVER MENTIONED THIS POSSIBILITY TO ME WHEN SPEAKING WITH THEM. AS OF NOW, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED SO SHOULD THIS ISSUE OCCUR ON YOUR CAR TODAY - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF $1000 AND ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THERE IS A VAST AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON THE POOR QUALITY OF THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT USED BY BMW IN THESE MODELS LEADING TO THIS MALFUNCTION. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY THE E60 BMW MODELS WERE NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL WHEN THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS OTHER MODELS THAT WERE COVERED? THIS CAN GET SOMEONE SERIOUSLY HURT AND BMW IS PLACING THIS RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON THE CONSUMER WHEN THEY ARE AT FAULT. THIS ISSUE CLEARLY SPANS MANY MORE BMW MODELS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE RECALL AND CONSUMERS ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY THE BILL FOR POOR DECISIONS ON BMW'S PART. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE MORE ACTION AND ATTENTION PLACED ON THIS ISSUE BY THE NHTSA. RELATED INSTANCES OF THE SAME ISSUE: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V205000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778844September 30, 2015
AIR BAGS
FRONT OCCUPANCY SEAT SENSOR MAT. THIS IS UNDER CAMPAIGN ID 08V384000. MY MAKE AND MODEL PLUS YEAR IS INCLUDED IN THIS. A CALL TO BMW STATES THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN THIS RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10776600September 25, 2015
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BOUGHT MY TIRE IN FEBRUARY OF 2015. HAD ISSUE IMMEDIATELY WITH IT DEFLATING ON ITS OWN WITH NO NOTICEABLE LEAKS. TOOK TO TIRE STORE I BOUGHT FROM THEY FOUND NO ISSUES. PUT INFLATE A TIRE IN IT AND SEEMED TO HELP FOR 2 MONTHS. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE OTHER DAY MY TIRE SHREDDED AND THE TREAD ALMOST CAME OFF THE WHEEL. GOT THE SAME TIRE ON OPPOSITE BACK WHEEL, HAVE NO ISSUES AT ALL WITH IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10765042September 18, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO THAT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, IT APPEARS THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STRUGGLING TO GET TO THE NEXT GEAR. THE RPMS WILL FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN AND SOMETIMES REV WAY UP BEFORE THE CAR KICKS LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT. IF I TRY TO ACCELERATE FAST FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WILL REV UP TO ABOUT 5K RPM AND STOP RESPONDING UNTIL I LET OFF THE GAS AND LET THE RPMS DROP DOWN AND THEN IT WILL KICK INTO GEAR. IF I SLOW DOWN TO ALMOST A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATE IT WILL MOST CERTAINLY KICK, SO I HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM WHEN PULLING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL ACT UP (WHICH IS MOST OF THE TIME) AND HINDER MY ACCELERATION. ONCE I GET UP TO CRUISING SPEED (ABOVE 45 MPH) IT RUNS SMOOTHLY, BUT IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT I DREAD EVERY TIME I HAVE TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OR SLOW WAY DOWN. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND SAID IF IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION THEN THE SERVICE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HE ASKED ME WHAT KIND OF GAS I USE AND I SAID SHELL HIGH OCTANE AND HE SAID THAT IS GOOD. OTHER THAN THAT, HE DIDN'T TELL ME MUCH MORE. I WANT TO SELL THE CAR NEXT SPRING BUT WHO WILL BUY IT WITH IT PERFORMING THIS WAY?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680728February 2, 2015
AIR BAGS
I TURNED ON MY CAR AND A NOTIFICATION APPEARED ON THE IDRIVE THAT THERE WAS A PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE. I READ THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND CALLED MY LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP TO GIVE THEM MY VIN TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE WOULD BE ON THE RECALL. I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT FITS THE CRITERIA FOR THE RECALL AND IF THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672585January 14, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT CENTRAL MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643690October 9, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627222August 21, 2014
POWER TRAIN
FOR MANY YEARS, AND AFTER MANY "REPAIRS" MY 2005 BMW 545I, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW, HAS NEVER RUN RIGHT. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS AN ISSUE, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. I HAVE SPENT MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SEARCH OF A PERMANENT FIX, BUT THE LAST BMW DEALER I DEALT IS MIFFED ON SOLVING THE PROBLEM. WHEN APPROACHING BETWEEN 25-35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION "SLAMS" AND FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. IT IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE TO SLIGHTLY LET UP ON THE GAS IN THESE SPEEDS IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO RUN RIGHT WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY LIGHT COMING ON SAYING "TRANSMISSION FAULT; DRIVE MODERATELY." THIS CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR IS SENSING THE FAULT AND IT WILL NOT ALLOW ONE TO DRIVE MUCH ABOVE 50 MPH WITHOUT STRAINING THE ENGINE. GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50MPH IN MY AREA CAN BE A HAZARDOUS ACTIVITY! THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS SITUATION WITH THE CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT UP AND THRU THE PRESENT DATE, AUG, 21, 2014. I HAVE NO FAITH IN THE ENGINE/POWER TRAIN/TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST BMW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605623June 24, 2014
AIR BAGS
AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR, THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINT AND AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWED UP AS A MALFUNCTION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I NOTICE THAT BMW HAD A RECALL ON A SEAT MAT SENSOR ON 200,000 5 SERIES. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICE THAT THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE THE SEAT MAT SENSOR IS BAD THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592042May 16, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
I BOUGHT MY 2005 BMW 545I AFTER A WEEK MY SEATBELT AND AND AIRBAG LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT, EVEN WITH SEATBELT LOCKED IN, IS THERE A RECALL SO I CAN GET THIS FIX AND FEEL SAFE WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588289May 14, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE NOTICE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559698January 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10559738January 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAID PROBLEM WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE INTERNET AND BMW SITES SAY IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. I AM AFRAID IF I'M IN AN ACCIDENT, MY PASSENGER COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10541958September 4, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I TURNED MY CAR ON AND IT IMMEDIATELY WARNED ME THAT MY LEFT READ BRAKE LAMP WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. TO BE SPECIFIC, THERE WERE FOUR WARNING LIGHTS ON: ONE FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS, ONE FOR THE BRAKE LAMP, AND TWO OTHER ONES. ALL FOR THE LEFT LIGHT. I OPENED IT UP AND IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WHERE THE WIRING MEETS THE BULB HOLDER HAD SHORTED AT THE GROUND WIRE. THE TWO PIECES WERE MELTED TOGETHER, SUGGESTING THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL FIRE. BITS OF MELTED PLASTIC FELL ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN I MANAGED TO FINALLY PULL OUT THE PLUG. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537024August 23, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:INTEGRATED JACK/LEVELER/STABILIZER
I WAS JACKING UP MY BMW IN MY GARAGE USING A PROPER FLOOR JACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE REAR JACKPOINT STAND BUILT TO JACK THE CAR UP FROM THE RIGHT REAR. THE JACKPOINT FAILED AFTER IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OFF GROUND, AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED BACK TO THE FLOOR WHERE THE ENTIRE JACKPOINT WAS NOW COLLAPSED INSIDE OF THE FRAME. I CONTACTED BMW DEALER IN CHAPEL HILL,NC, AND ALSO BMWNA WHO OPENED A CASE UNDER MY VIN NUMBER, AND HAD ME BRING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THAT THEY WOULD LOOK THINGS OVER, AND CORRECT THE SITUATION. THE DEALER TOOK 4 WEEKS TO GET BACK, AND TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO SEE THE CAR AGAIN TO TAKE PHOTOS, AND LOOK IT OVER AGAIN SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER IN CHAPEL HILL, NC (PERFORMANCEBMW). THEY TOOK ANOTHER 4 WEEKS, AND ASKED IF I COULD BRING IT BACK AGAIN AS THEY NEEDED A SPECIALIST WHO TRAVELS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK OVER THE VEHICLE, AND SO I TOOK IT IN AGAIN A 3RD TIME. I THOUGHT FINALLY THEY WOULD RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT AFTER THE 3RD VISIT THEY HAVE NEGLECTED TO CONTACT ME BACK, AND UPON MYSELF CONTACTING THEM 2 -3 WEEKS AFTER THE VISIT I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED ,AND THAT BMWNA WOULD TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION INTO REPAIRING MY VEHICLE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I HAVE READ HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS, AND THEIR IS ABSOLUTELY NO RUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR, AND IT WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FRAME DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE WHATSOEVER UNTIL THIS JACKPOINT FAILURE, AND NOW THEY JUST WANT TO NOT RETURN MY CALLS, AND NOT HELP AT ALL. ANYONE LOOKING CAN CLEARLY SEE THE JACKPOINT BROKE ON THE INSIDE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE WELD POINTS THAT HAVE FAILED ON THE FRAME. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY DO TO HELP WITH THIS SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THE FIX WOULD MEAN PULLING THE JACKPOINT BACK DOWN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME, AND RE-WELDING THE SIDE OF THE JACKPOINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532712July 30, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS AND FULL BODILY FORCE, THE VEHICLE THEN CAME TO A STOP.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS INELIGIBLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515172June 5, 2013
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR HAVE AN OVERHEATED CABLE CONNECTION AND IS CAUSING INCREASED ELECTRIC RESISTANCE, WHICH IS A RECALL AND ALSO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND BMW REFUSE TO FIX THE ISSUES.. THEY SAY MY VIN WASN'T ONE OF THE CAR THAT'S IN THEIR DATABASE FOR THE RECALLS........ *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510213May 1, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING DEACTIVATED WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED AND AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION WARNING MESSAGE SHOWED UP BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE 120,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503402March 18, 2013
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 99,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493073January 15, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ENTRY MAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) THAT HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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