2003 BMW 530I air bags problems
17 complaints about air bags have been filed for the 2003 BMW 530I, which is 28% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 17 28% of this year's complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
What the data shows
These complaints mention 1 fire.
What owners wrote
I was driving my 2003 BMW 530I, while I was driving I used the volume control on the steering wheel to turn the radio down, after depressing the button immediately I smelled and recognized there was smoke coming from the steering wheel. I pulled over, and turned the car off. After several minutes I turned the ignition and proceeded to inspect the car. The volume controls did not work any more along with the horn does not blow anymore. Actually when I depress the horn it makes the steering wheel rise up and down.
I was driving on a mountain road on pine mountain in kern county, ca when the driver's side air bag on the door and headliner deployed. The rear seat air bag also deployed. It was completely unexpected - I did not hit anything before they deployed. The deployment caused the car to stop which then skid over the icy road, and the emergency flashers came on.