2003 BMW M5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other M5 years
- Not enough data 10th of 21 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW M5. That ranks 10th out of 21 M5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (3 complaints, 100%). There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 3owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 BMW M5 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 | 3 | 100% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2003 BMW M5 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 bmw m5. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
Takata recall. Bmw has yet to issue a fix for this recall. It has been almost a year since the initial notice went out. My local dealer and bmw usa has no information as to when a fix will be available. I consider this to be unacceptable.
I have been waiting since july 2015 for bmw to have the parts to fix the potentially fatal air bag flaw in my car. I am still waiting. This is recall campaign 15v-318: driver side front air bag module
Other BMW M5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 M5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 M5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 M5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 M5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019 M5 | 8 | 3 |
| 2018 M5 | 6 | 3 |
| 2016 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 M5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 M5 | 2 | 1 |
| 2013 M5 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010 M5 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 M5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 M5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2007 M5 | 6 | 1 |
| 2006 M5 | 39 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 |
| 2002 M5 | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 M5 | 4 | 3 |
| 2000 M5 | 4 | 2 |
| 1995 M5 | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW M5 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 M5?
Owners most often report air bags problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW M5?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 BMW M5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other M5 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.