2001 BMW 525I Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 525I years
- Fewer complaints than other years 8th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 22 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 BMW 525I. That ranks 8th out of 15 525I model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints, 27%), typically at around 160,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 6 fires, 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 22owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 BMW 525I problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 27% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 18% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 18% | 168,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 18% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 9% | 54,530 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 9% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 5% | 60 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 5% | 74,900 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 5% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 BMW 525I recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not drive
Problem: 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 steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive
Problem: 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 components.
Risk: Unexpected deployment of the air bag(s) could cause serious injury if an occupant is too close to the deploying air bag(s). In addition, the battery safety terminal may also be activated. If that happens, the starter cable would become disconnected from the battery, and the engine could not be restarted.
Fix: Dealers will replace the air bag control module. Owner notification began november10, 2003. Owners should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. This is a supplement to a recall that began during september 2001 (see recall campaign 01v206). Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan
Problem: 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.
Risk: If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
We arrived at church, and I remained behind finishing my makeup. My husband locked the car with the fob out of habit, and my foot was holding the passenger door open. Forgetting the door had been locked with the fob, I accidentally allowed the passenger door to close. I had no keys. Services began…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Other BMW 525I years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 525I | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 525I | 72 | 2 |
| 2006 525I | 77 | 3 |
| 2005 525I | 35 | 0 |
| 2004 525I | 84 | 0 |
| 2003 525I | 32 | 2 |
| 2002 525I | 29 | 4 |
| 2001 | 22 | 4 |
| 2000 525I | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 525I | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 525I | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 525I | 24 | 3 |
See all BMW 525I problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW 525I?
Owners most often report electrical system, air bags, engine problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 BMW 525I?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 BMW 525I a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 525I model years, the 2001 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.