BMW 525i Complaints

438 consumer complaints on file.

#10294976December 8, 2009
SEATS
THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY DRIVER SEATS AND ALSO A HOLE IN MY PANTS. IF I HAD A PIECE OF PAPER OR SOMETHING IN MY BACK PAPER, IT WOULD HAVE SET IT ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289698October 24, 2009
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
UPON TURNING ON THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED DRIVERS SEAT HEATER, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT CAUSING EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT CAUSE A FIRE, IT WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO CAUSING A FIRE. THE HEATER WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE SMOKE AND HEAT SUBSIDED. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. CONTACTED A BMW MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW. HE CITED A CASE WHICH CAUSED A CUSTOMERS LEATHER SEAT TO BURN AND ALSO BURNED HIS SPORTS COAT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS OVERTIME DO TO THE BREAKDOWN OF THE WIRING WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. OVER TIME, THE WIRES RUB BARE CAUSING THE DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING AND THE INSULATION. THE WIRING IN TURN BUILDS RESISTANCE WITH THE IN ABILITY OF THE ELECTRICITY TO PASS THROUGH THE DAMAGE WIRING, WHICH CAUSES THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284969September 23, 2009
AIR BAGS
2007 BMW 525I WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM ISSUE (WARNING LIGHT ON). I HAVE SEEN THIS BMW RECALL ON MANY MODELS AND YEARS, HOWEVER I AM STILL WAITING ON MINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN GETTING THIS RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284870September 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I WITH 92,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. I EXPERIENCED MY CAR CUTTING BACK AND THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO STATED I DIDN'T NEED A TUNE UP. HE REQUESTED THAT I BRING THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP. THE NEXT WEEK I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN LOSING ACCELERATION. THE MESSAGE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN STATED "TRANSMISSION FAULT". CAR WILL LOSE ACCELERATION AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO INTO "REVERSE". FAILSAFE STATUS..DRIVE MODERATELY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE PUT THE CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND STATED NO CODE WAS INDICATED. IT DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I FOLLOWED UP BY MAKING A CALL TO A LOCAL BMW DEALER. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS DEVASTATED. I CALLED BMW NA AFTER I READ THAT NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE AND ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW NA WAS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE ENGINE'S AT BMW DID NOT AGREE THAT THE "NO REVERSE" TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL ON 9/22/09 FROM BMW NA RESTATING THE FACT THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I FEEL THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINEERING OF ALL BMW TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283339September 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 525I BMW WITH 70,000 MI HAD TRANSMISSION GO OUT SUDDENLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IT IS NOTHING THAT I DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED, BUT THE REPAIR BILL IS ~7,000.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280160August 11, 2009
WHEELS
THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL DRIVING. THE RIM HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AFTER 50K MILES. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE CRACKS IN THE RIM AND CAN PROVIDE THESE IF NEEDED. I'M HAVING THE RIM REPAIRED BECAUSE THE COST IS TO HIGH TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A GENUINE BMW RIM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279801August 8, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ABS / DSC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE . TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME , STABILITY CONTROL IS INOPERABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278390July 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RADIO,NAVIGATION,CD,PHONE,NOT WORKING. I DRIVE IS BLINK. CAR HAS 93,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278465July 27, 2009
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 (WITH ONLY 14,000) I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT MAT SENSOR OF MY BMW 2004. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. IT WAS SERVICED. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES WITH OVER 50,000 MILES, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE TO THE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WEBSITE AND THERE'S A RECALL FOR CAR (SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE) BUT, THEY SAID MINE IS NOT INCLUDED. I WENT TO THIS BMW FORUMS AND I REALIZED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING THIS CONSEQUENCES. (GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE E60 BMW RECALL ) SOME OF THEM RECALLED HAVING REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO YOU GUYS BEFORE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE THAT GOES INSIDE THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SENSES BY WEIGHT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATE THE AIRBAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277320July 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE OVERHEATING WARNING SOUNDED. LOOKED AT INDICATOR AND IT WAS ALL THE WAY IN THE RED. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. 30 SECONDS LATER THE RADIATOR BLEW WITH THE FORCE OF AN EXPLOSION, SHOOTING COOLANT ABOUT FIVE FEET ACROSS THE STREET EVEN THOUGH THE HOOD WAS DOWN. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND A HOLE IN TOP OF RADIATOR, MORE THAN AN INCH IN DIAMETER. I WOULD HAVE OPENED HOOD BEFORE IT BLEW SO I CAME WITHIN HALF A MINUTE OF BEING BADLY BURNED. MY MECHANIC SAID IT HAPPENS REGULARLY WITH BMW 525'S. HE SAID IT HAPPENS AROUND 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAD 75,000 MILES. MECHANIC SAID HE TESTIFIED IN A CASE A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE AN OWNER WAS BADLY BURNED. HE HAD A BOX WITH A BUNCH OF PIECES OF RADIATORS THAT HAD FAILED. I KEPT MY RADIATOR AS EVIDENCE. NONE OF THE HOSES FAILED BUT THE RADIATOR BLEW A HOLE OUT OF THE TOP. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS ONLY ABOUT AN EIGHT OF AN INCH THICK. I WOULD EXPECT THAT ANY POINT OF CONNECTION SUCH AS A HOSE OR A SEAL WOULD BUST UNDER PRESSURE BEFORE THE RADIATOR ITSELF WOULD FAIL. I'D NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING HAPPENING IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT, EITHER IN THE MATERIAL USED OR IT'S THICKNESS. THOUGH THE REPAIR COST ALMOST A THOUSAND DOLLARS I FELT LUCKY BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I OPENED THE A HALF MINUTE EARLIER I COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BADLY BURNED OR EVENED BLINDED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION WAS INCREDIBLE. I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY THAN ABOUT SOMEBODY BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275030June 26, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. THERE WAS ALSO A VERY LOW POWER RESPONSE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY DETECTED FAILURE WITHIN THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272524June 1, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
THE CONTINENTAL TIRES AKA AS " CONTITOURING CONTACT CV95" ARE WEARING OUT PRETTY BAD WITH JUST 23000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED WAVING INSIDE THE WALLS OF THE TIRES AND ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY STARTED TO COME APART. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON LINE REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR TIRE FROM CONTINENTAL WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINS AS MINE, AND IT APPEARS CONTINENTAL IS BLOWING PEOPLE OFF, AND THE AUTO DEALERS ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY EITHER. AS FOR ME I BELIEVE THE TIRE SENSOR ON MY BMW COULD HAVE SAVE OUR LIVES. UPON GETTING A TIRE PRESSURE READING I PULLED OVER, FELT THE TIRES AND FOUND THE LEFT REAR TIRE WITH RIPPLES AND THE INSIDE TREADING COMING APART. I HAD JUST BEEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 70 MILES WITH MY WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED CONTINENTAL VIA E-MAIL AND DO NOT EXPECT ANY RESPONSE SINCE SIMILAR PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED AND I HEAR CONTINENTAL TIRES IS NOT RESPONDING TO PEOPLE'S CONCERNS. THIS IS SCARY AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263226March 27, 2009
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR FAILURE, SENSOR IN SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR AIR BAG WILL NOT FUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259104February 17, 2009
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE, I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE IN THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SEAT WAS CATCHING ON FIRE. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND DOUSED THE FIRE WITH WATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255851January 21, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY EVENLY IN THE EVENT OF A SERIOUS CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL); THEREFORE, HE IS NOT ENTITLED TO A FREE REMEDY AS REFERENCED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253024December 29, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2003 525I BMW FRONT PASSENGER DOOR JAMMED IN "DOUBLE LOCK." THIS CONDITION OCCURRED WITHOUT USER INVOLVEMENT AND COULD HAVE LEFT THE PASSENGER WITH NO MEANS OF A QUICK EXIT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER EVENT REQUIRING A QUICK EXIT. ONLY MEANS OF EGRESS WAS TO CRAWL THOUGHT THE WINDOW OR OVER DRIVERS SEAT. THERE IS NO WAY TO MECHANICALLY OVERCOME THE PROBLEM, I.E., NO KEY ON ANY DOORS EXCEPT DRIVER'S. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251684December 13, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 BMW 525I TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED AND THE CAR INCHED OUT AND JUST STOPPED.. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT PROCEED IN THE INTERSECTION.. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ THAT THE "TRANS DRIVE SAFE DRIVE MODERATELY" OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I TURNED THE CARE OFF. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS GONE UNTIL ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I LOOKED UP ANY INFORMATION THAT I COULD FIND ON BMW TRANSMISSIONS AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED OR ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE DESPERATE FOR HELP. THE MAIN MALFUNCTION AT THIS POINT IS THAT THE CAR IS SLUGGISH AT TAKE OFF AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AT ANY TIME, UNKNOWINGLY THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS CAN FAIL. PEOPLE DRIVING THESE BMW'S WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS AUTOMOBILE IT'S FOUR YEARS OLD AND IT HAS FAILED WITH A MAJOR PROBLEM. PLEASE GO TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON THE INTERNET AND YOU WILL SEE THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE THAT HAS FAILED AND CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET REPAIRS DONE. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A QUOTE ON THE COST AS OF YET, BUT THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NO GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250678December 3, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN MY 1994 BMW 525I. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTEDLY HAPPENING TO MANY OF US. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE REVERSE GEAR FIRST, THEN THE FIRST TWO FORWARD GEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250687December 3, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINT ICONS REMAIN ON VEHICLE DISPLAY WHEN SEAT BELTS ARE ENGAGED/FASTENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249556November 22, 2008
STEERING
BEGAN TO HEAR A "CLICKING NOISE" UNDER FRONT END OF VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED RMFD HYDRO STEERING BOX DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED IT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED NOISE WOULD GET WORSE IF NOT REPLACED BUT COULDN'T ADVISE ME AS TO SAFETY ISSUE. VEHICLE METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH UNDER 40,000 MILES. CONTACTED BMW VIA EMAIL WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to BMW 525i