FaultScore report
Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 1992 BMW 525 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2001. The largest single group is the electrical system.
19
Complaints
5
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 2 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
2 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
AIR BAG WIRING FAILURE
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
IN MAY OF 1998 VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO ROLL ACROSS A PARKING LOT, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 DAMAGE TO THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. THEN, IN MAY OF 2001, PARKING BRAKE FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A TREE, CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL OWN IT OWN CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #889857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
IN MAY OF 1998 VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO ROLL ACROSS A PARKING LOT, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 DAMAGE TO THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. THEN, IN MAY OF 2001, PARKING BRAKE FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A TREE, CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL OWN IT OWN CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #889857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #842964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, NOT SEEN BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #807772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
PURCHASED CAR NEW, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE DASH, PULLED OVER AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #980782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BRAKE LIGHT/CIRCUIT LIGHT CAME ON, 1 MIN AFTER LIGHT CAME ON NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH NEAR THE STEERING AREA, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #967996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
IN MAY OF 1998 VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO ROLL ACROSS A PARKING LOT, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 DAMAGE TO THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. THEN, IN MAY OF 2001, PARKING BRAKE FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A TREE, CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL OWN IT OWN CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #889857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
IN MAY OF 1998 VEHICLE'S PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO ROLL ACROSS A PARKING LOT, STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 DAMAGE TO THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. THEN, IN MAY OF 2001, PARKING BRAKE FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ROLL FORWARD INTO A TREE, CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 DAMAGE TO FRONT END. DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE UNCOOPERATIVE IN HANDLING THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL OWN IT OWN CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #889857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH SMELLED SMOKE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #842964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WIRES IN THE HATCHBACK ARE RUBBING TOGETHER WHICH CAUSES A SHORT, AND THE BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN. ALSO, ALL THE ELECTRICAL PARTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #837032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRES IN THE HATCHBACK ARE RUBBING TOGETHER WHICH CAUSES A SHORT, AND THE BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN. ALSO, ALL THE ELECTRICAL PARTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #837032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRES IN THE HATCHBACK ARE RUBBING TOGETHER WHICH CAUSES A SHORT, AND THE BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN. ALSO, ALL THE ELECTRICAL PARTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #837032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
GEAR SHIFTS WHILE THE ENGINE IS OFF AND THE CAR IS IN PARK, RESULTED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #537286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, THERE WAS A SMELL OF SMOKE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY EXPLODING. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #813435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER GOING ABOUT 35 MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED, NOT SEEN BY DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #807772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DOOR PILLAR TOO THICK ON THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SIDES, OBSTRUCTING REAR VIEW, CAUSING A BLIND SPOT.
NHTSA complaint #512228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION WHEN GOING FROM 4TH TO 3RD GEAR AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT TO 1ST GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #803886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AIR CONDITIONER IS NOT ENOUGH, TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND BAD GAS FUMES IN THE CAR . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #986587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
PURCHASED CAR NEW, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE DASH, PULLED OVER AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #980782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILURE, BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY. TT
NHTSA complaint #975376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BRAKE LIGHT/CIRCUIT LIGHT CAME ON, 1 MIN AFTER LIGHT CAME ON NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH NEAR THE STEERING AREA, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #967996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE WANDERS/JUMPS.
NHTSA complaint #489825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #489825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN WHEN KEY INSERTED. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #489825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/INJURY. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #480850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.