Wiring dash fire. Heavy smoke from dash and vehicle completely in flame in minute. My son sent me a recording while it was happening, he did no know what to do or what was happening.
The worst 2003 BMW X5 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine35
- Electrical17
- Transmission16
- Airbags15
- Seats7
- Lights6
- Acceleration5
- Fuel system5
- Body4
- Brakes3
- Locks3
- Steering3
- Suspension3
- Driver assistance1
- Seat belts1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 BMW X5
Fire or smoke 13Stalling 11Engine failure 5Headlights 5Loss of power 5
Recalls 3
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 17V047000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V‑348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
Recall number 15V318000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, it is possible that the distance between the brake line and the steering shaft joint is not sufficient. If this occurs, the brake line could come into contact with the joint and eventually suffer damage and corrosion.
- Risk
- A loss of brake fluid, indicated by a warning light in the instrument panel, could occur. This will be accompanied by a reduction in front brake performance. This could lead to a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the distance between the brake line and the steering shaft joint, and if necessary, increase the distance. Owner notification began june 23, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1‑800‑831‑1117.
Recall number 03V197000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 BMW X5 71
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- Engine will crank but not start
- Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle
- Second seat row blocking access to third seat row, program seat modules
- Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer...
- This situation can result in two customer complaints: 1. Wind noise 2. Excess water entry
- Coolant is leaking from under the car which is equipped with the S63 engine
- The driver's side (left rear) of the 60/40 split 2nd row seat may intermittently not fully latch into...
- Customer is unable to power up or charge accessories through a plug adapter inserted in the front 12-volt...
- Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may...
2003 BMW X5 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
| 4.4L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 13 | 17 | 14 |
| 4.6L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 12 | 16 | 14 |
What 2003 BMW X5 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW X5. The contact stated the vehicle was parked, while entering the vehicle he noticed the dashboard was melted, which was caused by a fire that occurred independently. The contact stated he reviewed a camera that was near the location of the vehicle and saw the fire occur on the video. The contact did not call the fire department to report the incident. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000.
My 2003 BMW X5 was parked outside of my house, turned off and not driven for hours and burst into flames consuming the whole dashboard, fire department said that fire was due to some electrical problem with car, very scary please help could of killed my family the incident was recorded on home surveillance footage, but I cannot upload because of size
LH - Driver side seat caught fire and melted through seat material and melted onto my coat. there are burn marks / holes through the seat due to the heater malfunction/ short. My coat was also ruined with plastic melted onto it from the seat.
The windows keep getting stuck. Not just one but both. We have replaced the windows 3 times. The window regulator keeps getting wound up in the gear. The motor in the window has to keep getting replaced. This is causing the window to get stuck or tight. Which ever you choose to call it. when it gets this way it causes the window to pop the crack or break. This has happened twice. my BMW is still in good shape all but the 2 front windows. This needs to be addressed.
2003 bmw x5 involved in a accident. Hit by oncoming traffic on passenger side. Air bag was deployed but did not inflat. No one sitting in passenger area thank god or would have been injured. Happened on city street
The car started losing power while on the road. It got slower and slower, till it finally came to a complete stop. It had to be towed the rest of the way to the house. The engine would start up, but it would not engage any of the gears.
I purchased a bmw x5 and the fail trans light cam on and the gears are shifting out of control. Almost got my son killed. The check engine light came on and the lights flicker on and off. My son was driving when this happened.
This morning 03/13/2020 at aprox. 2:30am my bmw x5 2003 was engulfed in flames for no reason and my two german shepherds hey you and my baby diesel were inside,and how one made it out and the baby didnt, I busted windows cause I heard him crying ,,,,I couldnt get him I tried to I tried oh my god my poor baby , I was injured and scared for life with that. My car was off and parked in front of a friends house on a side street, all a loss. No pictures taken ,several police and fire dept. Came.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 bmw x5. While attempting to drive the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke under the hood. When he opened the hood, he noticed flames around the motor. The contact quickly extinguished the fire. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called bmw of dallas (6200 lemmon ave, dallas, tx 75209, (972) 763-5528) and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Compare the 2003 BMW X5
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2003 BMW X5
Is the 2003 BMW X5 reliable?
Owners have filed 99 complaints about the 2003 BMW X5, close to a typical X5 model year.
What is the 2003 BMW X5 year score?
The 2003 BMW X5 scores 74 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW X5: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 BMW X5?
Engine and cooling, with 35 complaints, typically around 74,200 miles. Next is electrical (17).
How many recalls does the 2003 BMW X5 have?
3 recalls, covering air bags and service brakes, hydraulic.
What gas mileage does the 2003 BMW X5 get?
Official estimates for the 2003 BMW X5 range from 14 to 16 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, 4WD) gets 14 city and 19 highway.
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