2004 BMW 5 Series problems
The 2004 BMW 5 Series has 89 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (35%) concerns air bags. After that come seats (12%) and electrical system (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 89 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 35% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 11
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 80,000 miles 76 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 5 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 22 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 76 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 80,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 81,000 miles (29 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 11 complaints mention a fire; 6 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 81% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2004 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the BMW 5 Series with enough data (35 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The drivers side seat warmer caused a fire in my 2003 BMW 545. I was real lucky that I smelled a strange odor and was able to put the fire out after shutting off the seat warmer.
Tl*the contact owns a 2004 BMW 5 series. The contact noticed a burning smell and felt something burning her leg. She sustained burns to her thigh and buttocks area due to the seat warmer. The manufacturer was unable to assist. The contact was able to locate NHTSA campaign id number 08v384000 (air bags:frontal) for the same year, make, and model vehicle. She also stated that the passenger side air bag was inoperable.
For three years blue smoke occasionally comes from exhaust in spite of major engine repair. Electrical problem for 1 and 1/2 years results in car not starting has been in for repairs 4 times.
Wire rot deterioration at the headlight assembly. Concern electrical fire due to bare exposed wires. Notified the dealer and manufacture without resolution. Personally had to pay over $500 to he dealership just to wrapped with electrical tape. After 3 months, currently experiencing high beam failure (hid adoptive passenger side) which the dealer to replacement cost of $2599.