Three problems related to seats have been reported for the 2001 BMW X5. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Seats have heat control l option n. Drivers side gets too hot and burns driver creating a burn hole on the seat.
The airbag warning light on the instrument cluster turned on when I had a passenger in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. It would go off after a few start cycles with no passengers, but then come back on the next time a passenger was in the front passenger seat. I was able to read the codes which indirectly indicated a fault in the occupancy sensor mat in the front passenger seat. I replaced the sensor mat and related wiring interface and the warning light and errors have not returned. There are many owners groups that discuss the apparent high failure rate of these occupancy sensor mats and we have noted that more recent X5 models were recalled, but that earlier models were not. I suspect that the earlier models have the same - or a related - problem.
Failure of driver seat heating mechanism. Hole burned in bottom seat cushion and burn to occupant's (me) leg. This appears to be due to a short or break in the heating element. On-line research I've done indicates this is a widespread problem with this vehicle.
| Front Seat Heater/cooler problems | |
| Seats problems |