What 64 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW 535i

UNKNOWN passenger restraint system malfunction message started coming.

NHTSA ODI 11637534

Based on research it appears BMW has a long history of issues and even a recall on select years around the passenger seat sensor detector becoming faulty and impacting the ability of the air bags to deploy in a collision. This seems to a critical issue since it could result in serious injury to the passenger in the event of a collision.

NHTSA ODI 11438883

AT 72,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND IT WILL NOT RESET. NO ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG. IT WAS NOT IN MOTION AND THE LIGHT CAME ON AT ENGINE START AND DID NOT GO OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11287834

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION WARNING KEEPS POPPING UP. I'VE SPENT CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS AT BMW DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED. THEY HAVE INSPECTED AND REPLACED A FEW SENSORS AND THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS.

NHTSA ODI 11128255

THE SEAT MAT SENSOR (AIRBAG) HAS FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. THE ITEM IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SEVERAL OTHER YEARS, HOWEVER IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED ON THE 2012 YET. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTING PROBLEM. THEY WANT ME TO PAY $1200 TO FIX THE ITEM THEY KNOW HAS FAILED ON NUMEROUS YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY ARE NOT RESOLVING IT. THEY TOLD ME MY CASE WAS CLOSED AND IT WOULD NOT BE INVESTIGATED ANY FURTHER THEN MY PHONE CALL.

NHTSA ODI 11122851

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 5-SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V138000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, BMW OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE ORDERED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V020000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, VIN TOOL CONFIRMS REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AND PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10993684

I HAD TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF A CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNING ANY DIRECTION, SOUND HEARD WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE OR PARK. I HAD ABOUT 43,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE NOISE STARTED. I HAD CALLED BMW TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY WARRANTY ON THIS ITEM BEING IT IS PART OF THE SRS SYSTEM FOR THE CAR, AND THEY TOLD ME FOR MY VEHICLE VIN THERE WAS NOT. BEING APART OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM I AM WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY SAFETY GUIDELINES OR EXTENDED WARRANTY I AM NOT BEING INFORMED OF FOR THE PART I HAD TO REPLACE 61-31-9-354-047. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10938578