2001 BMW 525I

31 complaints filed with NHTSA.

31
Complaints
3
Crashes
9
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
ENGINE4
AIR BAGS3
POWER TRAIN2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
STEERING1

Recalls (4)

03V42100024/10/2003

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE FRONT AIR BAGS, THE SIDE AIR BAGS, THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONERS, AND THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL, MAY HAVE A MALFUNCTION THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED ACTIVATION OF ONE OR MORE OF THESE

01V20600021/06/2001

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

02V13800016/05/2002

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ENGINE AUXILIARY/COOLING FAN OPERATION, INCLUDING VARIABLE SPEED, IS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED. FAILURE OF THE FAN MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY OF THE FAN CONTROL UNIT TO OVERLOAD AND FAIL, CAUSING THE FAN TO STOP OPERATING.

19V01500014/01/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steeri

Recent Complaints

20200305FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 177,000

20200305FireENGINE

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.

Mileage: 177,000

20200219FireENGINE 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

Mileage: 160,000

20200218FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 ST

Mileage: 160,000

20200218FireENGINE

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 ST

Mileage: 160,000

20171120FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

POSSIBLE BMW RECALL ISSUE (CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE CAR OFF). CAR PURCHASED ON 11/8/17. ON 11/16/17, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION OFF AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, DRIVER HEARD THE CAR ALARM GO OFF WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO GO OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER CALLED 911. CAR CONTINUED TO COMBUST SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FIRE DEPT GOT TO OUR HOUSE. SEE PICTURES FOR DAMAGE. WE STILL HAVE THE BMW CAR

Mileage: 206,000

20171120FireENGINE

POSSIBLE BMW RECALL ISSUE (CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE CAR OFF). CAR PURCHASED ON 11/8/17. ON 11/16/17, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION OFF AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, DRIVER HEARD THE CAR ALARM GO OFF WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO GO OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER CALLED 911. CAR CONTINUED TO COMBUST SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE FIRE DEPT GOT TO OUR HOUSE. SEE PICTURES FOR DAMAGE. WE STILL HAVE THE BMW CAR

Mileage: 206,000

20130826FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO READ EXTREMELY HOT WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. ALSO, LIGHT GRAY SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V138000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 01V206

Mileage: 86,990

20130826CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL PARKING GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND ABRUPTLY AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED JAW FROM THE AIR BAG STRIKING HER FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 102,000

20050312FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILURE (OF A 525I BMW 2001) DUE TO THE ENTRANCE OF LEAVES AND DIRTY THROUGH THE COOLING HOSE OF THE ALTERNATOR AND GETTING INTO THE ELECTRICAL PARTS OF THE ALTERNATOR (IODES). THIS LEAD TO FIRE AND DAMAGE OF THE ALTERNATOR. THE HOSE IS APROXIMATELY 2.5 IN. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FILTER TO CLEAN THE AIR OR AVOID PARTICLES TO COME IN.

Mileage: 41,200

20040827CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING LEFT TURNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER THE SIDE OR FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST, SHOULDERS, AND ARM INJURIES FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

20040827CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING LEFT TURNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER THE SIDE OR FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST, SHOULDERS, AND ARM INJURIES FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK