BMW 525I Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 437 owner complaints across 21 model years of the BMW 525I (1989–2011). The most-complained-about year is 2004.
Pick your BMW 525I model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 BMW 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 BMW 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 BMW 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 BMW 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 BMW 525I | 2 | 72 |
| 2006 BMW 525I | 3 | 77 |
| 2005 BMW 525I | 0 | 35 |
| 2004 BMW 525I | 0 | 84 |
| 2003 BMW 525I | 2 | 32 |
| 2002 BMW 525I | 4 | 28 |
| 2001 BMW 525I | 4 | 22 |
| 2000 BMW 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 BMW 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 BMW 525I | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 BMW 525I | 3 | 24 |
| 1994 BMW 525I | 4 | 7 |
| 1993 BMW 525I | 3 | 5 |
| 1992 BMW 525I | 4 | 18 |
| 1991 BMW 525I | 4 | 13 |
| 1990 BMW 525I | 3 | 11 |
| 1989 BMW 525I | 2 | 4 |
What BMW 525I owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 437 complaints with NHTSA. The 2004 model year has the most, with 84.
All BMW 525I recalls (16)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a BMW 525I, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall is an expansion to…
Model years: 2006
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers…
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may…
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Occupant classification (air bags)
BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if, and how, the passenger…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2017. Owners may…
Model years: 2006
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Occupant classification (air bags)
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant…
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
On certain passenger vehicles, a microprocessor in the air bag control module, which activates the front air bags, the side air bags, the front seat safety belt pretensioners, and the battery safety terminal, may have a malfunction that could lead to an unintended activation of one or more of these components.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the air bag control module. Owner notification began november10, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Model years: 2001
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. This is a supplement to a recall that began during september 2001 (see recall campaign 01v206). Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
Model years: 2001
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Suspension
On certain passenger vehicles, during the strut mount manufacturing process, the thrust bearing was not properly positions and secured. If the suspension is fully unloaded, the front strut could separate from the upper mount.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front spring strut upper mounts. Owner notification began march 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Model years: 2002
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Tires: sidewall
Vehicle description: during the tire mounting process on certain passenger vehicles built with standard (non-sport) suspension and equipped with continental contitouringcontact ch95 ecoplus tires, size 225/65r16 95h, having DOT codes 4001, 4101, or 4201, the outer sidewall surface of the tires may have been cut by a sharp edge.…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect all five tires for a possible cut in the sidewall, and if a cut is found, the tire will be replaced. Owner notification began december 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
Model years: 2002
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. 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…
Model years: 2001
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Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A malfunction or failure of a coolant system component, such as a thermostat, water pump, or fan belt, can result in significantly increased coolant temperature and system pressure. If the indications of a critical overheating condition is not noticed by the driver, it is possible that damage to,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new design radiator cap to control pressure and provide greater coolant overflow in the event of overheating.
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Vehicle speed control
The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a spring steel clip on the outer tube of each cable in the area of the adjusting screw and plastic bushing. The clip is designed to prevent the outer tube from dislodging from the bushing.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
The brake light switch can fail allowing the switch to remain in the "brake lights off" position or in the "brake lights on" position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing brake light switch with a newly designed switch.
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Air bags: frontal
The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly can break without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the locking tab with one of a different design.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
The double-lock feature can engage with occupants and the door/ignition key inside the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the general control module with one containing the revised software to permit window opening with the double-lock engaged and key in the ignition.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.