32 of the
663 complaints filed about the BMW 525I
are about the braking system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
I am encountering persistent issues with my 2005 BMW 525i. Despite having replaced several critical components, including the ignition coils, spark plugs, mass air flow sensor, and throttle body sensors, the vehicle continues to experience performance problems, specifically failing to advance beyond the fourth cylinder when driving uphill. After conducting numerous diagnostic tests, I have concluded that there may be an air leak in the intake manifold. Additionally, after prolonged use under these conditions, the positive battery cable from the trunk has shown signs of overheating, evidenced by smoke, which I suspect is related to repeated uphill driving. While the vehicle performs adequately on flat surfaces, it exhibits hesitation and jerking once it surpasses the fourth cylinder.
NHTSA complaint #11621558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abs module failure trifecta abs light traction amd brake light. Sometimes used to auto Accelerate when brake was pressed and cruise control doesnt work
NHTSA complaint #11432446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE BOOSTER IS LOOSING VACUUM WHEN SITTING OVER NIGHT CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE ROCK HARD AT STARTUP. THE BRAKES ARE FINE AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTS. I KNOW THAT THE E65 FROM THE SAME YEARS HAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM LINE AND CHECK VALVE.
NHTSA complaint #11271265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 BMW 525I ON A CITY STREET AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES WERE NON EXISTENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ALL OF ITS PRESSURE AND WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH BARELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK SO I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION UNDER MY HOOD, I FOUND A BROKEN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE WHICH BROKE APART AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #11043021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING (STALLING) AFTER FULLY STOPPING AND REAPLYING BRAKE AT A LOWER SPEED. BRAKE PADEL IS BECOMING VERY HARD AND EVEN WITH ALL FOOT FORCE BRAKE PADEL IS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. I HAD MY KIDS IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I READ IT ONLINE SIMILAR PROBLEM ACCURED IN OTHER BMW MODEL AND RECALL BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS AND I'M WILLING TO LET INVESTIGATORS CHECK MY VEHICLE IF THEY WISH TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11014976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I REALIZED A LIGHTBULB IN MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT I BOUGHT THE BULB ONLINE READY TO REPLACE IT. I REALIZED WHEN REPLACING THAT THE WIRES CONNECTING TO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY FLAKED OFF. SO I WANTED MONEY ON A NEW BULB BECAUSE IT WON'T LIGHT UP REGARDLESS. NOW THIS NOT ONLY CAUSES THE BULB TO NOT WORK BUT IT MESSES WITH THE LIGHTS IN THE WHOLE SIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT. MY ENTIRE LEFT HEADLIGHT TWEAKS. SOMETIMES JUS ONE PARKING LIGHT IS OUT, THEN IT'S THE HIGH BEAM THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEN IT'S THE LOW BEAM. SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE LOW BEAMS ON THE LEFT HEADLIGHT HAS ITS HIGH BEAMS ON BY ITSELF. ALL THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I TRIED TO CHANGE A BULB AND THE WIRINGS JUS FLAKED OFF AS SOON AS THEY MOVED OR BENDED A BIT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE MY HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK SOMETIMES AND THAT MAKES ME NOT SO VISIBLE AT NIGHT. ALSO I END UP UNINTENTIONALLY HAVING MY HIGH BEAMS ON WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO TURN IT OFF BESIDES COMPLETELY TURNING OFF MY HEADLIGHTS. PRETTY SURE IT'S AN ELECTRICAL OR FIRE HAZARD TOO TO HAVE A BUNCH OF NAKED WIRES SIDE BY SIDE. FAULT NUMBER 2 IS THE BRAKES. WHEN COMING TO COMPLETE STOP MY CAR JERKS. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I TALKED TO A COUPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MODEL CAR AS ME AND THEY ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST HAPPENS ONCE THE CAR GETS TO A HIGH NUMBER OF MILES. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A FUNCTIONAL CAR SHOULDN'T BE JERKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ESPECIALLY IF THE BRAKES ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #10882844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I EXPERIENCED A ROUGH IDLE WHILE PARKED OR STOPPED AT LIGHT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A VAC LEAK ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE VAC PUMP WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE DAMAGE AND/OR FAILURE. BMW STATED THAT THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS VIN SPECIFIC. #2 PASSENGER RESTRAINT AND AIR BAG LITE ARE ON, SAME ANSWER FROM BMW.
NHTSA complaint #10822225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOOSTER VACUUM WAS TURNED AT THE VACUUM PUMP CAUSING THE BRAKE PUMP TO LEAK OIL AND CONTAMINATE THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10760041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREAT FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED PRIOR TO COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REGULARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10597043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 525 BMW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CONTAMINATION. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10595583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 525 BMW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CONTAMINATION. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10595583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE APPLIED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE BRAKES HAD NOT PROPERLY WORKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE APPLYING FORCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THREE REPAIR SHOPS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER VACUUM PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10583291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR CARS BRAKES FAILED AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP WE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND SENSORS AND TESTED THE CAR AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AS THE OLD PADS WERE STILL OVER 60%.WE TOOK THE CAR TO BMW OF ARLINGTON TEXAS FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND TOLD US THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED,THEY ORDERED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND AT THAT TIME THE QUOTE WAS A LITTLE OVER $1000.THEY CALLED US BACK AND SAID THAT WHEN THEY TOOK OUT THE MASTER CYLINDER THEY NOTICED THE BRAKE BOOSTER SERVO HAD OIL IN IT AND THE DIAPHRAGM WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NOW THE QUOTE WENT UP OVER $2000 THEY INSTALLED ALL THE PARTS AND GAVE THE CAR BACK TO US SAID EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. WE WENT ON THE FREEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POUNDING NOISE,PULLED OVER ON THE FREEWAY AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE BRAKING IT WAS THE SAME AS WE HAD ORIGINALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT .WE TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COVER WAS MISSING I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS FINE EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES SO THEY KEPT THE CAR IN THE SHOP AND ORDERED THE MISSING PARTS AND INSTALLED THEM FOR NO CHARGE. THEY DELIVERED THE CAR BACK TO US FRIDAY APRIL 10TH NOW NEARLY 3 WEEKS LATER WE LEFT THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND USED OUR OTHER CARS AS IT WAS LOW ON GAS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REFILL IT. TODAY APRIL 12TH MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO GET IT GASSED UP AND READY FOR MONDAY. SHE DROVE OFF AND TRIED TO STOP AT THE FIRST STOP SIGN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND SINCE SHE WAS REALLY SLOW THE CAR DID STOP BUT WAY PAST THE STOP SIGN ALMOST HITTING THE CURB. THE BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY HAD LOOKED AT THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE. THEY RELEASED AN UNSAFE MOTOR VEHICLE ON THE STREET WHEN THE BRAKES WERE CLEARLY NOT REPAIRED TO STANDARD I HAVE PAID OVER $2000 AND I HAVE A CAR THAT IS STILL BROKEN PLEASE HELP RESOLVE THIS. *TR UPDATED 10/3/2014
NHTSA complaint #10579404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE BRAKES FURIOUSLY UNTIL THE BRAKES RESPONDED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND MOTOR OIL INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND THE VACUUM PUMP. THE BRAKE BOOSTER, VACUUM PUMP AND VACUUM PIPE WERE ALL REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,300.
NHTSA complaint #10520189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525-I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE BRAKES BOOSTER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #10475941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED, IT ABNORMALLY TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING A BRAKING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE WAS LEAKING OIL AND CONTAMINATED THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 10/15/12 *CN UPDATED 10/22/12
NHTSA complaint #10475958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WERE HESITANT TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING OIL AND CONTAMINATED THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
NHTSA complaint #10471159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SO THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT LUBRICATING OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP, BRAKE BOOSTER, AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #10456497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.