FaultScore report
Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1991 BMW 525I with NHTSA between 1998 and 2012. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
21
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
0
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.
Median failure at 167,446 miles
Median failure at 108,000 miles
Median failure at 167,446 miles
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN CONTAINS A FLAW, WHEN REMOVING RADIATOR CAP CONSUMER SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES DUE TO CAP NOT HAVING A TWO-STAGE RELEASE, O-RINGS AT THE BASE OF THE CAP ENSURE THAT THE PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED WITHIN THE RADIATOR UNTIL THE CAP IS FULLY UNSCREWED.
NHTSA complaint #530970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TRAVELING 65MPH GOING AROUND A CURB WHEN SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING & NO OTHER VEHICLE HAD HIT BMW. STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TAPED TO BE DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #830898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING
I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AS USUAL. WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE HOME THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE AFTER PARKING IT OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IT. THE LIGHTS FOR THE RADIO CAME ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS, THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE LIGHT UP, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN MORE THAN A FEW CENTIMETERS.
NHTSA complaint #10481271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AS USUAL. WHEN I WENT OUT TO LEAVE HOME THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS DONE AFTER PARKING IT OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IT. THE LIGHTS FOR THE RADIO CAME ON, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS, THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE LIGHT UP, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN MORE THAN A FEW CENTIMETERS.
NHTSA complaint #10481271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE SITTING IN MY 1991 BMW 525I THE SEAT SUDDENLY FELL BACKWARD,AND SIDEWAYS. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT, AND ALMOST COMPLETELY DISSASSEMBLING IT SO I COULD TRY TO REALIGN THE THING LONG ENOGH TO MAKE IT HOME,I WAS ABLE TO THROUGH BRUTE FORCE PUT IT BACK IN PLACE. LATER AFTER SEVERAL SUBSEQUENT FAILURES I WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM.THE CABLES THAT GO BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTORS AND THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT GEARBOXES WERE SHEATHED IN A FAILURE-PRONE PLASTIC! THE PLASTIC THROUGH TIME WEARS AND STRETCHES UNTILL THE DRIVE CABLE SLIPS OUT OF GEARBOX ALLOWING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I JUST CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS ITEM HAD BEEN RECALLED WITH NO LUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10081274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT STAY ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE SOCKETS. THE PLASTIC SOCKETS HAVE MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS AND NO LONGER HOLD THE BULBS IN PROPERLY. THEY BLINK ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES STAY OFF ALL TOGETHER. DEALER ADVISED ME TO BUY NEW ONES @ $320 EACH TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, BMW SHOULD REPLACE THEM. DT
NHTSA complaint #769401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DOOR PADDING ON BOTH REAR DOORS IS SEPARATING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS POOR DESIGNED BECAUSE IN ORDER TO REPAIR A BROKEN HEADLIGHT THE DEALER HAD TO REMONE THE ENTIRE GRILL RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE REPAIR COST. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THREE BMW BATTERIES HAVE FAILED WITHIN THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
THE COOLING SYSTEM FAN CLUTCH FAILED WITHIN 45,000 MILES. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
THE TRUNK APPEARS TO BE CLOSED AND CAN STILL BE UNLOCKED WITH THE TRUNK LIGHT ON CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DOWN, WHICH IN TURN UPSET THE DOOR LOCK PROGRAM WHICH IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #552975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
UPPER RADIATOR "PLASTIC MALE" OUTLET CONNECTING TO UPPER RUBBER HOSE EXPLODED CAUSING EXTRIME ENGINE OVERHEATING AND ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING EVEN AFTER DEALER INSTALLED NEW RADIATOR CAP RECALL IN AUGUST 1999. ALMOST CAUSED A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT. CAR HAS EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE RECORD AT DEALERSHIP. REPORTED PROBLEM TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA. REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT WAS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BMW OF NORTH AMERICA.
NHTSA complaint #713258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP BUT THE NEW CAP CAUSED A HOLE IN THE RADIATOR.
NHTSA complaint #843991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM DESIGN CONTAINS A FLAW, WHEN REMOVING RADIATOR CAP CONSUMER SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES DUE TO CAP NOT HAVING A TWO-STAGE RELEASE, O-RINGS AT THE BASE OF THE CAP ENSURE THAT THE PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED WITHIN THE RADIATOR UNTIL THE CAP IS FULLY UNSCREWED.
NHTSA complaint #530970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER DOOR LOCK MECHANISM FAILED CAUSING ERRATIC PERFORMANCE OF THE LOCKS.
NHTSA complaint #543257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE SRS {A SAFETY SYSTEM} LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING.
NHTSA complaint #702525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE SPEEDOMETER OPERATES IRRATICALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. IT FUNCTIONS OK WHEN WARM. THIS IS CAUSED BY BAD MATERIALS USED ON THE SPEEDOMETER PCB BOARD. A NUMBER OF BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND FIXES ARE SUGGESTED ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING LINKS. HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BMW/SPEEDO/SPEEDO.HTM AND AT HTTP://WWW.ESKIMO.COM/~DALUS/BMW/E30/INTERIOR/E30_SPEEDO_SENDER_PROBLEM.HTML. UNRELIABLE OR LACK OF INDICATION OF DRIVING SPEED CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MANY BMW OWNERS HAVE SUFFERED AS INDICATED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REPORTED IT ON THE WEB. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $600 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #701329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. RECEIVED FORM LETTER SAYING "SORRY, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY." THIS $45K+ AUTO
NHTSA complaint #701020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. RECEIVED FORM LETTER SAYING "SORRY, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY." THIS $45K+ AUTO
NHTSA complaint #701020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FLUID LEAKS SINCE '11/95. HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 3 COILS REPLACED; R/R LOWER TIMING COVER, REPLACED GASKETS/NEW DRIVE BELTS - R/R OIL PAN AND REPLACED GASKET TO THE TUNE OF $1,125.00 AT 39,243 MILES. WARANTY IS 4 YRS./50K MILES. ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT DUE TO LOW MILEAGE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. RECEIVED FORM LETTER SAYING "SORRY, CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY." THIS $45K+ AUTO
NHTSA complaint #701020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TRAVELING 65MPH GOING AROUND A CURB WHEN SUDDENLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. IT OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING & NO OTHER VEHICLE HAD HIT BMW. STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TAPED TO BE DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #830898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
VEHICLE COLLISION DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES, RECALL ISSUED AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURED.
NHTSA complaint #541446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.