2003 BMW 5 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 5 Series years
- More complaints than other years 6th of 19 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 5 Series. That ranks 6th out of 19 5 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (4 complaints, 27%), typically at around 68,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 BMW 5 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 | 27% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 27% | 107,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 13% | 59,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 13% | 84,250 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 7% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 7% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 7% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 7% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 7% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 7% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 7% | 83,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 BMW 5 Series recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 BMW 5 Series.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Takata recall. More than a year ago, i received information in the form of a warning that my car had airbags that should be replaced. I contacted the bmw center on s.dixie highway near 160 street in miami and was told that they will get back to me. After a long enough wait, i called again and was…
I'm getting the run around about replacing the driver's airbag in my car. I received the initial notice over 6 months ago and was told the air bags were released over a month ago but i still haven't gotten a second notice. The bmw dealership says there isn't an issue with the bmw it's just…
Takata recall - i recently found out that my vehicle, which has been mine since it was new in 2003, is part of the takata recall and has been since almost a year ago. I never received a single notification in the mail. I have lived at the same address since 2003, so there seems to be absolutely no…
I was driving appx 40mph while on a local road slightly uphill, engine shut off without warning, lost power steering and brake assist. Luckily no cars around me so i was able to barely roll over to the roadside. Car would not start again, was towed to dealership. Replaced ecu for a total cost of…
I backed my 2003 bmw m5 out of the drive way and heard a terrible sound, i attempted to drive the car forward, and the noise got worse. I returned the car to the drive way and put it on jacks and stands to find the noise. I discovered that the rear subframe was broken (i have pictures and will be…
Other BMW 5 Series years
← 2002 5 Series · 2004 5 Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 5 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 5 Series | 10 | 0 |
| 2011 5 Series | 81 | 4 |
| 2010 5 Series | 6 | 5 |
| 2009 5 Series | 8 | 3 |
| 2008 5 Series | 105 | 3 |
| 2007 5 Series | 13 | 3 |
| 2006 5 Series | 85 | 7 |
| 2005 5 Series | 21 | 4 |
| 2004 5 Series | 64 | 6 |
| 2003 | 15 | 0 |
| 2002 5 Series | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 5 Series | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 5 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 5 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 5 Series | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 5 Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 5 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 5 Series | 3 | 0 |
See all BMW 5 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 5 Series?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, latches/locks/linkages problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW 5 Series?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 BMW 5 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 5 Series model years, the 2003 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.