NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 BMW X5 SAV Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 BMW X5 SAV has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 BMW X5 SAV. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 BMW X5 SAV owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW X5 SAV, describing incidents dated May 1, 2019.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11206991 · Filed May 11, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A CARD IN THE MAIL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG FOR MY 2003 BMW X5. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN AMARILLO TEXAS, AUTOPLEX BMW, WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER KENDRA THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO BUY NEW CARS FROM THEM BUT…

Read the full complaint

Inflators In Sports Steering Wheels May Explode

NHTSA #19V015000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Driver Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 14, 2019 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 157,549 vehicles

Repair completion: 23.18% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 14, 2019 · Vehicles built April 2, 2000 – September 30, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

DO NOT DRIVE — this recall carries a "do not drive" advisory. Contact a BMW dealer immediately.

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 BMW X5 SAV. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW X5 SAV.

Air Bags

ODI #11206991

Incident: May 1, 2019 · Filed: May 11, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A CARD IN THE MAIL FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INFORMING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG FOR MY 2003 BMW X5. WHEN WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IN AMARILLO TEXAS, AUTOPLEX BMW, WE WERE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER KENDRA THAT WE ARE WELCOME TO BUY NEW CARS FROM THEM BUT THEY WILL NO LONGER HONOR WARRANTY OR RECALL. WORK FOR ANYONE WITH THE LAST NAME (XXXX) OR WHO IS RELATED TO OR AFFILIATED WITH DR. (XXXX). IS THERE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE WITH THIS MATTER?3 THE RECALL STATES THAT THE INFLATOR COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF UN RESOLVED, DOES THE BMW DEALER HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PERFORM THE RECALL, JEPRODIZING MY SAFETY FOR WHATEVER PERSONAL VENDETTA THEY HAVE AGAINST DR. (XXXX), MY SON? (XXXX) (BEST PERSON TO CONTACT) (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Other BMW X5 SAV model years

Check your 2003 BMW X5 SAV VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW X5 SAV at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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