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BMW 525iYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 438 NHTSA owner complaints across 21 model years, no BMW 525i year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006. The 525i has 16 safety recalls on record.

BMW 525i
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2004Best years'02 '03 '05 '06Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints438Top: Air bagsSafety recalls161989–2011 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: RL GNZLZ from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Best & worst years

BMW 525i years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 525i median. Tap a year for its full report.

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2010Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2009Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2008Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2007Solid44/10072 complaints · 2 recalls2006Solid44/10077 complaints · 3 recalls2005Solid60/10035 complaints · 0 recalls2004Caution36/10084 complaints · 0 recalls2003Solid58/10032 complaints · 2 recalls2002Solid65/10029 complaints · 4 recalls2001Not rated–/10022 complaints · 4 recalls2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/10024 complaints · 3 recalls1994Not rated–/1007 complaints · 4 recalls1993Not rated–/1005 complaints · 3 recalls1992Not rated–/10018 complaints · 4 recalls1991Not rated–/10013 complaints · 4 recalls1990Not rated–/10011 complaints · 3 recalls1989Not rated–/1004 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common BMW 525i problems

All model years combined: 438 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags15713
Electrical system8123
Engine and engine cooling435
Seats4317
Seat belts422
Power train291
Exterior lighting240
Steering231
Structure224
18 other systems12813
16 recalls

BMW 525i recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

31%Emission control: crankcase (pcv)19V-273 · 2006 · Apr 4, 2019 · 184,505 vehicles23%Driver side: inflator module19V-015 · 2000–2003 · Jan 14, 2019 · 157,549 vehiclesDo not drive52%Emission control: crankcase (pcv)17V-683 · 2007–2011 · Oct 30, 2017 · 740,561 vehicles30%Sensor: occupant classification17V-428 · 2006 · Jul 6, 2017 · 2,158 vehicles32%Driver side: inflator module15V-318 · 2002–2003 · May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehiclesDo not drive45%Sensor: occupant classification13V-564 · 2006–2007 · Nov 12, 2013 · 76,565 vehicles–Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive03V-421 · 2001 · Oct 24, 2003 · 23,000 vehicles–Cooling system: fan02V-138 · 2001 · May 16, 2002 · 1,550 vehicles–Suspension02V-057 · 2002 · Feb 19, 2002 · 4,672 vehicles–Tires: sidewall01V-352 · 2002 · Nov 26, 2001 · 1,318 vehicles–Cooling system: fan01V-206 · 2001 · Jun 21, 2001 · 76,469 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: cooling system98V-178 · 1989–1995 · Aug 4, 1998 · 340,000 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the 525i

  1. BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONEA08001 · 2004–2005 · closed Dec 31, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-384
  2. BMW AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATIONPE07045 · 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2008
    No recall