BMW 525i Complaints

438 consumer complaints on file.

#11432446September 10, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Abs module failure trifecta abs light traction amd brake light. Sometimes used to auto Accelerate when brake was pressed and cruise control doesnt work
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432327September 9, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER
I purchased said automobile from my neighbor for my son to drive. I figured it was a good car to buy because it was serviced by Hendrick BMW (Charlotte, NC) only and regularly. BMW's also have a reputation for being safe as well as reputable so this also weighed into my decision. Fast forward 18 months. The passenger rear brake bulb went out. We replaced the bulb, it worked for a short time, then went out. We replaced the bulb again. This time it didnt work. About a week later the front passenger side head light went out, then the other side. We took it to Hendrick BMW for repair. Hendrick has told us the car wiring basically needs to be replaced due to the protective coat wearing off and corroding the bare wire underneath. The headlights/ brake light will also need to be replaced due to the corrosion blowing out the bulb. For the front headlight the whole assembly needs to be replaced at a tremendous cost. I performed a google search on this and found many, many instances of the same issue. Ive seen many of these cars while casually driving around town. It would seem to be a MAJOR issue if an active drivers head and tail lights suddenly stopped working on a busy road. Also due to the cost most people probably wouldnt fix the issue on their own and drive the car anyway causing an ever bigger safety issue. I have never had this issue with any other vehicle brand ive owned. Ive looked into this issue with other brands and most tell me they use wiring which will not do this. I am not sure why BMW would not do the same. The car is also up for inspection. The car will not pass inspection unless I pony up over $6k ($2500 NADA value) to fix. My taxes are also due. In NC you cant pay the tax unless the car passes inspection. This is costing me daily penalties in addition to the major safety issue. I believe the NHTSA has a duty to look into this major manufacturing defect and have BMW provide remedy to those other unfortunate folks who are experiencing the same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431768September 5, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The car was off and caught fire due too electrical malfunctioning. The a/c unit was staying on even after cutting the car off . Along with my steering wheel randomly adjusting at start of the car . The fire started inside out .
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419808June 6, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving and antitheft system went off while driving. Then wiper failed to work. I was told by dealer mechanic that the body control module was failing and advised not to drive the car because the antitheft system may cause the car to stop and the wiper system will stop when raining causing multiple accidents.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11399670March 8, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, SEATS
SEATS FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE TWISTING WHEN ADJUSTED ALSO SEAT CONTINUOUSLY MOVES EVEN AFTER THE CONTROL IS LET OF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11394638February 4, 2021
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PASSPORT BMW (4730 AUTH PL, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, MD 20746, (301) 423-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A BOLT TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11366789October 28, 2020
AIR BAGS
BMW IS USING THE RECALL TO FORCE PEOPLE BACK INTO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. EVEN WHEN A REPAIR ISN'T REQUIRED. THEN, THEY TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE 100 OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED ON YOUR VEHICLE. ATTACHED ARE THE SAMPLES OF THE DOCUMENTS. THIS BEHAVIOR IS FRAUDULENT AND DECEPTIVE. EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW MY VEHICLE DOES NOT NEED THIS AIRBAG, THEY CONTINUE TO SEND ANNOYING LETTERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350120August 18, 2020
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION GOES IN TO SAFE MODE SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED RANDOMLY AND SLOWS DOWN MAKING IT DANGEROUS SITUATION. CODE P17EC .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11340546July 21, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT WIRING INSULATION ROT LEAD TO FAILED HIGH AND LOW BEAMS ON DRIVER SIDE AND INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF BOTH BEAMS ON PASSENGER SIDE. SEE PHOTO FOR EXAMPOLE OF DISINTEGRATED WIRING ON DRIVER HIGH BEAM WIRING HARNESS. ONLY KNOWN OPTION IS TO BUY A COMPLETE NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ($1250+ PER SIDE) OR ATTEMPT DIY. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN AND HAS LONG BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER BMW E60 (5 SERIES 2004-2010) OWNERS AT BIMMERFEST.COM AND 5SRIEST.NET. SEE THESE URLS FOR MORE INFORMATION: HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=798640 HTTPS://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=883000 HTTPS://5SERIES.NET/FORUMS/E60-E61-PARTS-ACCESSORIES-MODS-22/OPENING-UP-E60-HEADLIGHTS-138473/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11316372March 5, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I DROVE THE CAR A MILE TO THE STORE AND A MILE BACK AND WHEN I WAS WALKING AWAY YOU COULD SEE A SPARK AND THEN A MINUTE LATER ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER UNTIL THEN THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND WITHIN 4 MINUTES THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SECURITY CAMERAS CAUGHT THE WHOLE THING ON TAPE. WE TRIED OUR BEST TO CONTAIN THE FIRE BUT IT TOOK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11310203February 19, 2020
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PARKING AND RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE DETECTED A BURNING ODOR AND FLAMES EXITING THE FRONT OF HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN OPENING THE HOOD HE SAW FIRE LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT STATED HE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER HE HAD AVAILABLE. NO POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT WIRES FOR THE ELECTRICAL FAN AND CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED NIELLO BMW ELK GROVE (8580 LAGUNA GROVE DR, ELK GROVE, CA 95757 (916) 687-9000) WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING IN 2002.THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11309992February 18, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I HAD TAKEN A LONGER ROAD TRIP, AND WAS ON MY WAY BACK, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WAY WHEN WE STOPPED FOR DINNER. I PARKED, AND EVERYTHING WAS USUAL. A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, I WENT TO MOVE THE CAR, AND WHILE I WAS WAITING IN A DRIVE-THRU LINE, I SEE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I SMELL A BURNING SMELL. I PARKED THE CAR BACK WHERE IT HAD BEEN, AND, THINKING IT WAS A COOLANT ISSUE, OPENED THE HOOD TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN, AND LEFT MY PASSENGERS WITH THE CAR AND WALKED ACROSS THE STREET TO BUY SOME COOLANT. WHEN I RETURNED, MY PASSENGERS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NOTICED A FLAME AT THE EXTREME FRONT OF THE ENGINE AND HAD TO DOUSE IT WITH WATER. I CHECKED, AND I SAW THAT THE WIRES LEADING TO THE AUXILIARY COOLING FAN IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR HAD MELTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE PLASTIC NEAR THEM (AS SEEN IN THE PICTURE). I THEN FOUND THE CONNECTOR FOR THOSE WIRES AND DISCONNECTED THEM SO THAT THEY COULD NOT RELIGHT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM RESULTING FROM THE WIRES PULLING TOO MUCH POWER AND THUS MELTING THEMSELVES. THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIRES DID NOT SET OFF ANY WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, AND DID NOT AFFECT THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AT LEAST AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE BATTERY CAN RUN THIS FAN FOR UP TO 11 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, THUS BEING ABLE TO START A FIRE IN A GARAGE WHEN NO ONE IS AROUND. THIS PROBLEM IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THE WHOLE CAR COULD GO UP IN FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290732December 22, 2019
AIR BAGS, SEATS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
RED AIRBAG LIGHT AND RED SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A CHIME GOING OFF. PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT IS GIVING A FAULT CODE AND DISABLING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11271265October 26, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE BOOSTER IS LOOSING VACUUM WHEN SITTING OVER NIGHT CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE ROCK HARD AT STARTUP. THE BRAKES ARE FINE AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTS. I KNOW THAT THE E65 FROM THE SAME YEARS HAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE AND CHECK VALVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11270887October 24, 2019
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE NHTSA DATABASE IS SHOWING A RECALL FOR MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. HOWEVER I AM CURRENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA WITH MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE IS TELLING ME THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THIS IS A CONFLICT. I CAN NOT SHIP MY CAR BACK TO THE US WITHOUT THIS RECALL BEING CLEARED. CAN SOMEONE PROVIDE ME DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN SATISFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256761September 19, 2019
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
WAS ROTATING MY TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE OVER HALF THE USABLE THREAD LEFT ON THEM. FOUND CRACKING AND BLISTERS ON THE TIRE WALL ON THE INSIDE NEAR THE RIM EDGE WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL I GOT THE WHEELS OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256763September 19, 2019
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
WAS ROTATING MY TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE OVER HALF THE USABLE THREAD LEFT ON THEM. FOUND CRACKING AND BLISTERS ON THE TIRE WALL ON THE INSIDE NEAR THE RIM EDGE WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL I GOT THE WHEELS OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246298August 25, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HAD DRIVEN ONLY 4 1/2 MILES AT 6:55AM ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019. I WAS ABOUT 1/2 FROM WORK ON A CITY STREET WHEN SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT THE AIR VENTS AND STEERING COLUMN. A SMELL OF PLASTIC, ELECTRICAL FILLED THE CAR AND I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST PLACE WHEN THE SMOKE WAS QUICKLY INCREASING. MY SON AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AND UPON PULLING UP, BEFORE THEY COULD GET OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG EXPLODED, THE FIREMEN HEARD THE EXPLOSION. BY THE TIME THEY PULLED THEIR HOSES AND LIFTED THE HOOD, SMOKE WAS HEAVILY COMING FROM THE CAR. WHEN THE AIRBAG EXPLODED, A LARGE PIECE OF PLASTIC SHRAPNEL WAS BLOWN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AND STUCK BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDOW AND STUCK INTO THE EDGE WINDSHIELD FRAME. THE FIREFIGHTERS TRIED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES TO GET THE SOURCE UNDER CONTROL AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO WHEN THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO BMW COLUMBUS, THEY "REPAIRED THE RECALL" AND SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS NOT A RESULT OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE FIREFIGHTERS DID NOT RESPOND AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID BECAUSE THEY WERE NEARBY, THEN MY CAR WOULD HAVE GONE UP IN FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11240285July 29, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525-I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, SMOKE STARTED EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND A REPORT WAS ISSUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 307,726.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222350June 25, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF MANY TIMES. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER I EXIT THE HIGHWAY CAR SHAKED AND ALMOST CANNOT DRIVE. BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OR PARK ONE DAY, IT CAN DRIVE AGAIN, WHEN IT CAN DRIVE, IT RUNS EXCELLENT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IF I DRIVE A LONG DISTANCE, THE LIGHT TURN ON AGAIN. IT EVEN SLOW DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. CURRENTLY IT CANNOT DRIVE. IT EVER STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY 60TH NOGALES EXIT. TEMPERATURE LIGHT IS ON. I DRIVE IT OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER I EXIT HIGHWAY, THE STEERING IS LOCKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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