2004 BMW 5 Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2004 BMW 5 Series, and owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 2004 BMW 5 Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Cables (electrical system)
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Vacuum (service brakes)
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.
Remedy: 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.
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Air bags: frontal
BMW is recalling 200,000 my 2006 3 series sport seat, my 2004-2006 5 series standard and sport seat, and my 2004-2006 x3 passenger vehicles. Depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit, small cracks have developed in the mat. If this occurs, the front passenger air bags, with the exception of the head…
Remedy: Dealers will rework the front passenger seat sensor mat so that external force application to the seat does not cause a crack to the mat. The recall began on november 6, 2008. BMW will also extend the warranty on these…
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Seat heater/cooler (seats)
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with front seat heating systems, upon entering and exiting the vehicle, excessive contact with the side bolster that is contained in the seat's backrest may damage the heating mat located in this area. If such damage were to occur, with the system turned on, the vehicle occupant may feel excessive…
Remedy: Dealers will modify the seat heating circuit. The recall is expected to begin during december 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
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Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (emc) units were not produced according to specifications.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new digital engine management control unit. The recall began on july 16, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
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Fuel system, gasoline
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8-cylinder engines, a circular retention clip at the quick-release coupling along the fuel supply line was inadvertently not installed.
Remedy: Dealers will install a circular retention clip at the quick-release coupling along the fuel supply line. The recall began on july 5, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2004 BMW 5 Series have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 9 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,585 miles. Complaints peaked in 2011 with 12 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Passenger side seat belt and AIRBAG light stays on.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 14, 2019 · Air bags
“Passenger seat/AIRBAG warning malfunction. This warning has been on since i purchased vehicle. It is obviously the common seat mat sensor failure. And it would appear that either my VIN isn't on the p”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 21, 2018 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2004 BMW 5 Series (525i, 530i, 545i). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–19 / 22–28 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 2.5/3/4.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare BMW 5 Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 5 Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1996 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2000 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 3 |
| 2002 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 7 |
| 2003 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 15 |
| 2004 BMW 5 Series | 6 | 64 |
| 2005 BMW 5 Series | 4 | 21 |
| 2006 BMW 5 Series | 7 | 85 |
| 2007 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 13 |
| 2008 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 105 |
| 2009 BMW 5 Series | 3 | 8 |
| 2010 BMW 5 Series | 5 | 6 |
| 2011 BMW 5 Series | 4 | 81 |
| 2012 BMW 5 Series | 0 | 10 |
| 2023 BMW 5 Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2004 BMW 5 Series
How do I know if my 2004 BMW 5 Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2004 BMW 5 Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V303000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.