Vehicle safety record

2003 BMW X5 Problems, complaints & recalls

No owner complaints about the 2003 BMW X5 have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in January 2017 for the inflator module.

Share your experience See 3 recalls

NHTSA data checked yesterday

81/100Safety Index

AFar fewer problems than a typical X5 year, for its age

Complaints: 0
Recalls: 3
Crashes: 0
Fires: 0
Injuries: 0
Deaths: 0

2003 BMW X5 recalls 3

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: inflator module

17V047000Jan 20, 2017230,117 vehicles affected

Do not drive

The problem: 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.
The 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.
The fix: 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.

Air bags: inflator module

15V318000May 28, 2015419,235 vehicles affected

Do not drive

The 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.
The 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.
The 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.

Service brakes: hoses, lines / piping, and fittings

03V197000May 27, 2003357 vehicles affected

The problem: 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.
The 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.
The fix: 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.

What owners say

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No complaints about the 2003 BMW X5 yet

No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.

BMW X5: every year compared

'99 '00 '01 '02 0'03 '04 '05 '06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25

Year	Recalls	Top problem	Grade
2007	8	-	C
2006	2	-	A
2005	3	-	A
2004	4	-	B
2003	3	-	A
2002	3	-	A
2001	12	-	D
2000	6	-	B
1999	1	-	A

All X5 years

2003 BMW X5 vs rivals

Vehicle	Complaints	Recalls	Crashes	Grade
2003 BMW X5	0	3	0	A
2003 Acura MDX	212	13	13	C	Compare
2003 Land Rover Range Rover	127	1	3	F	Compare
2003 Lincoln Aviator	111	1	5	B	Compare
2003 Porsche Cayenne	2	2	0	A	Compare
2003 Volvo XC90	0	5	0	B	Compare
2003 BMW 3 Series	489	0	17	F	Compare
2003 BMW Alpina Roadster	414	0	5	-	Compare
2003 BMW M3 Convertible	141	0	8	D	Compare

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

Questions about the 2003 BMW X5

Does the 2003 BMW X5 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2003 BMW X5: inflator module (January 2017); inflator module (May 2015); hoses, lines / piping, and fittings (May 2003). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

How many complaints has the 2003 BMW X5 had?

None have been filed with NHTSA so far.

Is the 2003 BMW X5 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 81 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical BMW X5 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

What should I do if my 2003 BMW X5 has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked yesterday. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data