RecallMyCar

1991 BMW 525I Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1991 BMW 525I, and owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
13
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1991 BMW 525I

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cooling system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 98V178000 Reported 340,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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.

  2. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 97V131000 Reported 410,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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.

  3. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 96V110000 Reported 75,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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.

  4. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 96V111000 Reported 180,000 vehicles potentially affected BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE

    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.

13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1991 BMW 525I have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 137,723 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 5 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I parked my car in the garage as usual. When i went out to leave home the steering was locked. Nothing out of the ordinary was done after parking it or when attempting to start it. The lights for the”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 20, 2012 · Steering

“While sitting in my 1991 BMW 525i the seat suddenly fell backward,and sideways. After removing the seat, and almost completely dissassembling it so i could try to realign the thing long enogh to make”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 17, 2004 · Seats

Compare BMW 525I model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 525I model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1989 BMW 525I24
1990 BMW 525I311
1991 BMW 525I413
1992 BMW 525I418
1993 BMW 525I35
1994 BMW 525I47
1995 BMW 525I324
1998 BMW 525I02
1999 BMW 525I01
2000 BMW 525I10
2001 BMW 525I422
2002 BMW 525I428
2003 BMW 525I232
2004 BMW 525I084
2005 BMW 525I035
2006 BMW 525I377
2007 BMW 525I272
2008 BMW 525I11
2009 BMW 525I11
2010 BMW 525I10
2011 BMW 525I10

Checking a specific 1991 BMW 525I

How do I know if my 1991 BMW 525I has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1991 BMW 525I; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 96V110000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other BMW models

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.