Model line

BMW 525

Every BMW 525 model year on file, 1985 to 2002. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years7224 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years141985 to 2002
Recall campaigns5Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins54Summed across model years
By model year

The 1991 model year drew the most complaints, 15, 21% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

051015198519891991151993199519972002
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Electrical system leads the BMW 525 complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Electrical system
15
Speed control
12
Airbags
10
Engine and cooling
8
Powertrain
7
Visibility and wipers
7
Steering
5
Brakes
5
Latches and locks
4
Seats
4
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each BMW 525 model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

BMW 525 by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2002Not decoded0NoneNone103
2001Sedan366.714106
1998Sedan20.08002
1997Not decoded1100.0100003
1996Not decoded0NoneNone005
1995Sedan1540.081002
1994Sedan80.050006
1993Sedan30.013115
1992Wagon1450.0108116
1991Not decoded1540.01,500235
1990Sedan714.370206
1989Sedan333.330302
1988Not decoded0NoneNone002
1985Not decoded10.0100001
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the BMW 525

  • 17V-047 Jan 20, 2017
    These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating…
    Airbags · 230k vehicles
  • 94V-066 Apr 11, 1994
    Feed fuel hoses can harden and "set" over time, allowing a seepage of fuel at the connection between the hose and the engine fitting
    Fuel system · 116k vehicles
  • 92V-174 Dec 2, 1992
    80-ampere fusible link located in the engine compartment can develop mechanical weakness due to aging and thermal stresses, and can break
    Electrical system · 16k vehicles
  • 91V-029 Feb 15, 1991
    Insufficient axial clearance exists for throttle valve, shaft, and housing due to the different thermal expansion rates of the separate parts when…
    Speed control · 5,644 vehicles
  • 90V-016 Jan 30, 1990
    Under certain conditions, front seat center, fold-down arm rest may contact the safety belt buckle, causing damage to the release button and…
    Seat belts · 62k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.