Model year record

2003 BMW 7 Series

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 11 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 10V446000

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum
Manufacturer
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Vehicles affected
198,352
Reported to NHTSA
2010-10-01
Owners notified
2010-11-24

Defect description

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Safety risk

POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V575000

Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler

Component
Seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Manufacturer
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Vehicles affected
17,905
Reported to NHTSA
2004-12-06
Owners notified
2004-12-14

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS, UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SIDE BOLSTER THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SEAT'S BACKREST MAY DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY FEEL EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THIS AREA.

Safety risk

IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags1101,085 mi
Engine199,000 mi
Equipment164,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline199,000 mi
Seat belts1139,000 mi
Seats1
Seats: front assembly: power adjust1
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum162,300 mi
Tires1105,000 mi
Unknown or other1100,858 mi
Wheels164,500 mi

The 2002 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.