2009 BMW 525I Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2009 BMW 525I, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2009 BMW 525I
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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…
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2009 BMW 525I have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 123,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While driving down the interstate, suddenly we began to smell 'something' burning, and then the idrive system displayed a battery icon light followed by the message "charging system malfunction" and c”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 28, 2017 · Electrical system
Compare BMW 525I model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 525I model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 BMW 525I | 2 | 4 |
| 1990 BMW 525I | 3 | 11 |
| 1991 BMW 525I | 4 | 13 |
| 1992 BMW 525I | 4 | 18 |
| 1993 BMW 525I | 3 | 5 |
| 1994 BMW 525I | 4 | 7 |
| 1995 BMW 525I | 3 | 24 |
| 1998 BMW 525I | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 BMW 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 BMW 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 BMW 525I | 4 | 22 |
| 2002 BMW 525I | 4 | 28 |
| 2003 BMW 525I | 2 | 32 |
| 2004 BMW 525I | 0 | 84 |
| 2005 BMW 525I | 0 | 35 |
| 2006 BMW 525I | 3 | 77 |
| 2007 BMW 525I | 2 | 72 |
| 2008 BMW 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 BMW 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 BMW 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 BMW 525I | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2009 BMW 525I
How do I know if my 2009 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 2009 BMW 525I; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 17V683000).
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
- 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.