BMW 545i Complaints (2005)

78 consumer complaints on file.

#10490963January 3, 2013
AIR BAGS
UPON TURNING ON VEHICLE I DRIVE SAID PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. I CALLED BMWNA AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL, SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE HTTPS://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/VEHICLECOMPLAINT/INDEX.XHTML STATING THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED AND I AGREE SINCE THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490393December 28, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS
GOT INDICATION PASSENGER AIR BAG/ RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ON IDRIVE. TOOK CAR TO REPAIR SHOP AND I WAS TOLD OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT WAS BAD. I CHECKED FOR A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE WITH BMW. I WAS TOLD NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE WAS COVERED. I CHECKED WITH THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS ONLY ONE SENSOR FOR THIS CAR. IF THAT'S THE CASE HOW CAN BMW ONLY COVER 200,00 OF THE DEFECTIVE UNITS AND NOT ALL THAT WERE MADE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. FURTHER, ON THE ONES THEY DID COVER THEY INCREASED THE WARRANTY PERIOD TO 10 YEARS FROM DATE OF ORIGINAL SALE WITH NO MILEAGE RESTRICTIONS? IT SEEMS TO ME A DEAL WAS MADE WITH THE NTSB TO COVER AT LEAST SOME OF THE DEFECTIVE UNITS BUT NOT ALL. BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY PERIOD TO 10 YEARS ON THE SAME PART THAT IS USED IN ALL VEHICLES ON THIS CLASS, INDICATES BMW HAS ADMITTED ALL THE PARTS ARE FAULTY. BMW SHOULD INCLUDE ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THIS PART IN THE RECALL, RECALL #08V384000 NOT JUST A LIMITED NUMBER. ACCORDING TO MY RECORDS THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE, AND WELL BEFORE 2015 WHEN THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION WOULD HAVE EXPIRED. ALSO THIS INDICATES THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR ARE NOT HOLDING UP WELL. IT IS MY OPINION A PROGRAMMING CHANGE SHOULD BE MADE, WHERE THE ONBOARD COMPUTER, CONTROLLING THE AIR BAG, USES A INPUT FROM A SEAT BELT CONNECT SENSOR TO DETERMINE IF THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED? NOT THE FAULTY MAT IN THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479580October 10, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST VACUUM) AND NOW THE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE BRAKE VACUUM LINE WAS REPLACED, BUT THAT DID NOT PREVENT THE VACUUM PUMP FROM FAILING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE RECALL SINCE ONLY THE BRAKE LINE HOSE, BRAKE BOOSTER AND BRAKE CALIBUR WERE LISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479620October 10, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPLAIR.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472992August 30, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, VISIBILITY/WIPER
FREQUENT ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTIONS (AVERAGES 1 PER HOUR). CAR WILL ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL WITH NO WARNING. OCCASIONALLY WILL INCREASE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY 5 MILE PER HOUR INCREMENTS. WILL RANDOMLY SPRAY & WIPE WINDOWS. FREQUENTLY UNLOCKS DOORS & WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO BE LOCKED AGAIN UNTIL THE CAR IS STOPPED & TURNED OFF. MAKES FREQUENT EMERGENCY CALLS (OFTEN 3-4 TIMES IN AN HOUR). MOVES & ADJUSTS STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. ACTIVATES TURN SIGNALS. ACTIVATES 4 WAY FLASHERS. ROLLS UP & DOWN WINDOWS WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES WILL GO OUTSIDE TO CAR TO FIND WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. ACTIVATES ALARM SIREN WHILE DRIVING. AND MORE ..... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458292May 14, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456520April 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN
CAR SLAMS LIKE YOU JUST GOT REAR ENDED IF YOU SPEED UP WHILE ROLLING AT AROUND 35MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M TRYING TO CHANGE LANES AND SPEED UP. ALSO 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. IT JERKS NOTICEABLY WHERE MY SON ASKS WHY ARE YOU DRIVING LIKE THAT. THIS IS TERRIBLE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH, REGARDLESS WHETHER THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. NONE OF THESE INCIDENTS SIGNALS A CHECK ENGINE WARNING. THE BANG AT ROLLING IS ENOUGH TO GIVE ONE WHIPLASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455925April 20, 2012
WHEELS
FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE FLAT TIRES. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING ME I HAD BAD TIRES AND I BOUGHT NEW TIRES EVERY TIME. THIS YEAR AGAIN I HAVE 2 FLAT TIRES AND NOW THE DEALER IS TELLING ME I HAVE 3 CRACKED RIMS AND 1 BENT RIM. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. MY INSURANCE CARRIER STATE FARM TOLD ME THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH BMW WHEELS AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO FIX. THE DEALER IS SAYING THEY KNOW NOTHING OF A RIM PROBLEM. BUT WHEN I SEARCHED IT ON LINE I FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE DANGER TO ME AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE NEAR ME WHEN THESE RIMS AND TIRES FAIL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455602April 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AN EXCESSIVELY HARSH 2-1 DOWNSHIFT WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP, OR TRANSMISSION "BANGS" INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL OR A "ROLLING" STOP (VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP). *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453182March 27, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MAT SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND NOTED THE VIN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED AN INVESTIGATION WAS TAKING PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,120 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,150. UPDATED 05/02/12*BF UPDATED 05/04/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444862January 23, 2012
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A WEEK FROM THE DATE THAT I LAST DRIVEN IT AND TO THE TIME I WENT AND START UP THE CAR. AFTER A WEEK OF NO USAGE 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 BUT AFTER TALKING TO BMW MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. 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
#10442679January 6, 2012
SEATS, AIR BAGS
A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION LIGHT HAS CAME ON MY 2005 545 BMW. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON ON BMWS AND I FEEL AS ITS AN ISSUE WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR A FAULTY PRODUCTION. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS REPAIR AND I'VE CONTACTED THE BMWNA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY CAR. THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $2000 AND I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BMW NEEDS TO ADDRESS SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440933December 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY BMW 545I 2005 HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH MECHATRONICS FOR SOME TIME. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY CAR HAS DOWN SHIFTED FROM HIGH 4TH GEAR TO 2ND AND CAUSED ME TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH. LUCKILY I WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT BUT STILL EXPERIENCED NECK INJURIES FROM HITTING THE DITCH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. BMW CAN NO LONGER COVER THIS UP AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. MANY FORMS ON THE INTERNET HAVE ADDRESSED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS NO LONGER A ISSUE, ITS A LIFE SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10440203December 16, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,656 UPDATED 03/16/12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437142December 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2005 BMW 545I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE TO INCLUDE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND LEAKS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS RECALLED. EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS REPLACED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS STATED IN THE RECALL, THE CONSUMER'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A JOLT/DELAY WHEN PULLING AWAY. WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH AS IF IT WERE NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. THERE WAS ALSO A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM THE VALLEY PAN, A HOSE AND THE COOLANT TANK WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 2008, AND SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE USED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF COOLANT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436891November 23, 2011
POWER TRAIN, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG AND POWER TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE ALSO OCCASIONALLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V504000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436284November 17, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
OCCURRENCE IS VERY SIMILAR TO OID 10399328, 10328989 AND 10407868. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AT SLOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED NORMALLY BUT DID NOT COME TO A FULL STOP. HAD TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES WILL EXTREME FORCE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE CAR IN FRONT. PROBLEM RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY 3 TIME BEFORE REPAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, FREQUENTLY WHEN FOOT WAS ON BRAKE WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF THE PEDAL WOULD FORCEFULLY PUSH BACK AGAINST FOOT. SERVICE ON RECALL FOR HYDRAULIC POWER VACUUM PUMP ON THE BOOSTER WAS PERFORMED IN JANUARY. DEALER SAID THE CURRENT PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AS IT IS A COMPLETE BOOSTER FAILURE NOT THE VACUUM PUMP. MY PERCEPTION IS THAT THE FIRST RECALL WAS NOT COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO ADDRESS A LARGER GENERAL PROBLEM VEHICLE'S BOOSTER BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428680October 4, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE COOLANT TRANSFER PIPE WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE ENGINE LEAKED ALL OF THE COOLANT AND REQUIRED AN IMMEDIATE SHUT DOWN. IT REQUIRED A REPAIR COSTING APPROXIMATELY $6,700 WHICH INCLUDED 38 HOURS OF LABOR. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IT IS WIDELY CITED ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407674June 21, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407103June 16, 2011
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW 545I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL DEFLATED WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WHEEL WAS FRACTURED IN HALF. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED AND BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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