There are 6 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2004 BMW X5in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, BACK, AND NECK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THE NECK AND BACK WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THE SENSOR MODULE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT CONTROLLED THE AIR BAGS BECAME INOPERABLE AND CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 05/10/2013 *JS
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY TWO YEARS AGO. THE LOCAL DEALER AND ANOTHER SERVICE SHOP HAVE TOLD US THE AIRBAG SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE RESULT BEING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS REPAIR FOR OUR SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, WHEN WE CONTACTED BMW THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL IS VIN # SPECIFIC AND OUR VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IT IS OUR FEELING THAT OUR VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT BMW'S EXPENSE AS THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF OUR VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 BMW X5 A PERSON RAN A STOP SIGN AND HIT ME IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD MY SUV WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS "BLOWN OUT". THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE BUT AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I HAVE SUSTAINED A CERVICAL AND A THORACIC SPINE INJURY (HERNIATED DISCS) AND CONTINUE TO BE UNDER MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS. IN DECEMBER I HAD TO STOP WORKING AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. MAYBE IF THE AIRBAG WORKED PROPERLY I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SEVERLY INJURED. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026