BMW 525I Problems by Year
BMW 525I years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 525I year: 2004, 2006, 2007. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2004 525I: 84 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2006 525I: 77 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007 525I: 72 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW 525I problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 148 | 8 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 70 | 9 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 42 | 7 | 2 |
| Seats | 39 | 6 | 1 |
| Power Train | 22 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 18 | 7 | 0 |
| Engine | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 16 | 7 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW 525I model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 525I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2010 525I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2009 525I | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2008 525I | 1 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2007 525I | 72 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 525I | 77 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 525I | 35 | 0 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 525I | 84 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 525I | 32 | 2 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 525I | 29 | 4 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 525I | 22 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 525I | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1999 525I | 1 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 1998 525I | 2 | 0 | — | Equipment | |
| 1995 525I | 24 | 3 | — | Latches/locks/linkages | About as many complaints as other years |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW 525I years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2004 (84), 2006 (77), 2007 (72) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 525I year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW 525I?
Air Bags, with 148 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW 525I have?
14 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.