45 of the 663 complaints filed about the BMW 525I are about the seats — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2004.
45
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
14
Fires
SEATS
I can't even get comfortable in the seats in this car they are twisting cause a very uncomfortable drive /ride for us! Evrryone i hear of that owns a bmw has this issue
NHTSA complaint #11434434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
SEATS FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE TWISTING WHEN ADJUSTED ALSO SEAT CONTINUOUSLY MOVES EVEN AFTER THE CONTROL IS LET OF
NHTSA complaint #11399670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
RED AIRBAG LIGHT AND RED SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A CHIME GOING OFF. PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT IS GIVING A FAULT CODE AND DISABLING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG
NHTSA complaint #11290732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
AFTER HAVING AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SCAN MY VEHICLE WITH AN ADVANCED SCAN TOOL, THE ERROR THAT CAME UP WAS FOR THE "PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR". THIS FAULT HAS CAUSED BOTH THE AIRBAG AND SEATBELT LIGHT TO REMAN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I HAD THE CODE RESET. BUT AFTER A PERSON SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE ERROR CODE CAME BACK WITH THE SAME FAULT CODE.
NHTSA complaint #11061337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TAKATA RECALL THERE'S A AIRBAG SIGNALS ON DISPLAY SCREEN DOESN'T GO OUT OR CLEAR ANYTIME YOU START OR DRIVE THE CAR
NHTSA complaint #11047323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
LITERALLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE BURNING A VERY DEEP HOLE THROUGH TO THE FRONT OF THE SEAT AND BURNING A HOLE IN MY JACKED THEN BURNING MY SKIN. IMMEDIATELY I NOTIFIED BMW WHO WAS EXTREMELY ACCOMMODATING EVEN HELPING ME SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT.. THEN THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T DO RECALLS AND THEY COULDN'T ASSIST ME. AFTER BMW NORTH AMERICA AUTHORIZED THIS. I HAD AN EXTRA VEHICLE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT OUR BMW X3 TO COLLEGE WITH HER. THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED WE NOT USE THE VEHICLE UNTIL ITS REPAIRED THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF AND WON'T TURN OFF AND THEN IT STARTS BURNING . I'VE BEEN AFRAID OF DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THE FRIGHTENING BURNING SMELL. I WOULDN'T BE WRITING U IF I WASN'T BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BY BMW . NOW I'M WITHOUT TRANSPO AND I HAVE A CHILD WITH EPILEPSY WHO I NEED ADEQUATE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR. IT DIFFICULT BEING TOLD YES BY BMW NORTH AMERICA THEN THE DEALER WON'T ACCOMMODATE YOU UNLESS YOU CONSIDER REPLACING YOUR VEHICLE WITH A NEW BMW! I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH W
NHTSA complaint #10954313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I REALLY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. MY SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS TURNING ON AND OCCASIONALLY WON'T GO OFF I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR MAYBE 35 MINUTES TOPS SINCE THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE 3 WEEKS AGO. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS TRIED TO ASSIST ME, UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERS ARE EITHER BOOKED SOLID OR ARE CAPABLE OF FIXING THIS TECHNICAL A PROBLEM. THEY'VE AGREED TO FIX EVERYTHING FOR FREE & PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY RESOLVED BMW DOES NOT WANT MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AGAIN. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THE DEALERSHIP CONSIDER A CAR FIRE TOP PRIORITY. THERE IS A HUGE LIKELIHOOD IT COULD CONTINUE BURNING WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. I WISH BMW NORTH AMERICA WOULD ASSIST ME LIKE THEY SAID. I'VE HAD 8 BMW'S AND NEVER HAVE I HAD AN ISSUE . THAT IS WHY I'VE BOUGHT BMW'S BECAUSE AS LONG AS I DID ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (A SIDE FROM THIS ONE) MY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY RELIABLE BUT A PLEASURE TO OWN. I'VE HAD VERY FEW ISSUES WITH MY CURRENT E60 UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO. SINCE THEN MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHAOTIC BORROWING VEHICLES RENTING VEHICLES AND RELYING ON OTHERS BECAUSE BMW DOESN'T PRIORITIZE CAR FIRES. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS MY MINOR CHILD AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME IF IT WERE TO BECOME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PLEASE CALL ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE SO I CAN BE SAFE . MY CONTACT INFO IS [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] EMAIL [XXX] CALL ME DAY OR NIGHT I'LL BE READY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE PROPER FACILITY FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED ALL DEALERSHIP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE . TULLEY BMW SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS BEYOND THEIR EXPERTISE. I SPOKE TO AN ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS GENTLEMAN NAME [XXX] AT TULLEY BMW NASHUA *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10954390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 525I, MY RIGHT HIP STARTED BURNING. FOLLOWED BY AN ODOR. WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OVER, I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT & ON THE BACK PORTION OF THE SEAT I NOTICED A BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATER GOT SO HOT THAT IT BURNED MY BLOUSE TO THE SEAT. I SENT AN EMAIL TO BMW WHO RESPONDED THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME AFTER ASKING ME TO SEND THEM MY VIN #, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF THE SEAT. I DID SO, AND AS OF TODAY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN IN TOUCH WITH ME. (?) AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BRAND-NEW IN 2004 THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN 2005-06. THE SEAT LITERALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH MY MOTHER SITTING IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MASSACHUSETTS RESPECTFULLY DID THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACED IT, "IMMEDIATELY" FOR ME. ~ IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE, THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS "B-M-W" IS NOT ONLY NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSUMERS TO COME TO SOME RESOLUTION OF THEIR INFERIOR & DAMAGED PRODUCT. WHICH AT SOME POINT, WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM AND POSSIBLY GIVE SOMEONE THIRD DEGREE BURNS. MAYBE IT WILL TAKE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DATELINE NBC TO RUN AN UNDERCOVER PROGRAM, BEFORE BMW MANUFACTURERS SMARTEN UP & FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE WITH A FEATURE WE ALL PAID EXTRA TO HAVE... THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. ~IN CLOSING; I WAS ONCE TOLD BY OTHER OWNERS I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO ANY OTHER CAR ONCE I OWNED A BMW. I HONESTLY CAN SAY THIS EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED MY OPINION OF THAT. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING UNTIL THE WARRANTEES ARE GONE AND UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE RECALLS. AT LEAST AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL. YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE GOING BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WELCOMES & VALUES YOUR CONTINUED BUSINESS! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT FROM SUCH A HIGH END MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10854213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT SIGN CAME ON FEW WEEKS BACK. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NOT COVERED BUT NHTSA SITE INDICATES IT IS COVERED ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. THIS DEALER IS ESTIMATING A $650.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO SEE WHAT NEED TO BE DONE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE? MY LAST OPTION IS THE JUNK YARD, AND NEVER BUY A BMW.
NHTSA complaint #10721898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUG STARTED USING THE SEAT WARMER ABOUT DECEMBER OF 2014. HERE AND THERE UPON USING I'D SMELL SOMETHING BURNING SO I WOULD TURN IT OFF! BUT NOT ALL THE TIME WHEN USING THE WARMER DID I SMELL BURNING! LATE MARCH MY HUSBAND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ON MY DRIERS SEAT, I INSTANTLY REMEMBERED THE BURNING SMELL WHEN SOMETIMES USING THE SEAT HEATER! I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT BURNED BUT MY DRIVER SEAT IS RUINED AND I'M NOW AFRAID TO USE THE HEATERS, EVER!
NHTSA complaint #10703920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE FIRST DAY I GOT MY BRAND NEW 2005 BMW 525I WAS IN DECEMBER OF 2004 AND I WAS DRIVING IT AND A EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TELLING ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, TO PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST BMW DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO GET MY BRAND NEW CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF A CYCLE OF EVENTS THAT NEVER HAPPENED WITH MY HONDA ACCORD, MERCEDES, ACURA, BLAZER OR SATURN. MY SCREEN LIGHTS UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE ALL THE TIME WITH ALL KINDS OF STRANGE WARNINGS THAT UNLESS YOU ARE AN ENGINEER MIGHT AS WELL BE IN SWAHILI. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT STAYING ON AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. I HAVE HAD A FLAT TIRE LIGHT COME ON (IT'S ON RIGHT NOW) WHEN THERE IS NO FLAT TIRE. THE WOOD PANELING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT HAS 3 HUGE CRACKS THAT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. MY GLOVE COMPARTMENT WON'T OPEN BECAUSE THE HANDLE BROKE OFF. MY SUNROOF COVER FLIES BACK INTO THE BACK OF THE TOP OF THE CAR AND GETS LOST BACK THERE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO REACH IT. THE LIGHTER (WHICH I NEED FOR A CHARGER FOR MY PHONE) MALFUNCTIONS AND THE WOODEN PANEL COVER DISAPPEARED INTO THE INTERIOR COMPONENT OF THE CAR AS I WATCHED HELPLESS LEAVING A BIG UGLY GAPING HOLE. I AM SO CAREFUL WITH MY CAR AND CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT I GOT FOR $50,000. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT A 1972 VOLVO MIGHT DEAL WITH BUT MY 2005 BMW? THE REPAIRS AND SERVICE ARE OUTLANDISHLY EXPENSIVE AND TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. THE FRONT DRIVER FLOOR MAT GETS STUCK UNDER THE PEDALS ALMOST MAKING ME WRECK! I'M EMBARRASSED WITH HOW MY BRAND NEW BMW HAS TURNED INTO A "GHETTO" RIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10678628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED DUE TO THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR MAT MALFUNCTION. ALARM LIGHTS UP ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AS WELL AS THE IDRIVE SERVICE SECTION. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALERS ARE ASKING FOR $400 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEY CLAIM THE ISSUE IS COMMON BUT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. BMW USA CANNOT HELP AS THEY WANT AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS AND STANDS BY THEIR POSITION THAT MY CAR IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL OR WHAT EVER TERM THEY LIKE TO USE.
NHTSA complaint #10649817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ELECTRONIC SEAT CONTROL SWITCH WOULD REVERSE WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA complaint #10631963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BURNED, LEAVING A CHARRED HOLE IN THE LEATHER APPROX 1" X 5 " NEAR DRIVERS LEFT HIP AREA ON SEAT BACK, MOST LIKELY BY SEAT HEATING ELEMENT MALFUNCTION. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE IN MARYLAND - - WHERE IT IS HOT. I DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT HEATER ON. THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THIS IS VERY STRANGE AND DESERVES INVESTIGATION.
NHTSA complaint #10598747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN SMELL AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR, I PARK THE CAR AND CHECK, MY SEAT WAS BURN, I TURN OFF THE HEATING AND I'M NOT BE ABLE TO USED AGAIN THE DEALER ON PARK AVE IN SOUTH HACKENSACK NJ DON'T GET BACK TO ME. PLUS NOW LAST WEEK MAY 31 THE PASSENGER SAFETY LIGHT CAME ON WE ARE THINKING THE CAR IS CURS.EVERY REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10577829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT AND PASSENGER POWER MOTOR OF SEAT NOT WORKING, AND CAN I ASKING IF I BUY THIS CAR FROM DEALER USED CAR,THIS CAR HAVE 5 RECALL,,THE DEALER DON'T TELL ME ABOUT THE CAR HAVE RECALL, THAT ILLEGAL OR LEGAL , IF ILLEGAL WITH CUSTOMER,WHERE AND WHAT THE OFFICES CAN I DO COMPLAIN REPORT THIS DEALER,,THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10568061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
I STARTED MY CAR AND TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON LOW. APPROX 5 MINS LATER, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DASH BECAUSE THE SEAT HEATER HAD BURNED TWO HOLES IN THE LEATHER AND SMOKE HAD CIRCULATED IN MY CAR. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE SMOKE CLEARED. I HAD CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND BMW NA IN DEC 2012 BECAUSE I FELT THE SEAT HEATERS WERE GETTING TOO HOT - THE DRIVERS SEAT REGISTERED 132 DEGREES AT THAT TIME. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT HEATER AND BMW NA NEVER RESPONDED, OUTSIDE THE STANDARD FORM EMAIL TELLING ME THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME. TODAY, THE SEAT HEATER FINALLY BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE BEEN BURNED.
NHTSA complaint #10567498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
A PASSENGER ENTERED MY CAR AND SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS LATER, A WARNING CAME UP ON MY DASHBOARD ABOUT A PASSENGER RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION. THE SEATBELT SIGNAL AND AIRBAG SIGNAL REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD THEREAFTER...EACH TIME I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I READ AN ONLINE NOTICE FROM 2008 SAYING THAT BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, UPON ENTERING MY VIN NUMBER ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY SAID THERE ARE NO KNOWN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10566581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WHILE THE HEATED SEAT FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE SEAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM THE SEAT OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,779.
NHTSA complaint #10565747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THERE IS A FAULTY RESTRAINT MALFUNCTION ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AT ALL THE AIRBAG SIGN INDICATES THAT IT IS OFF. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND A MALFUNCTION IN OTHER BMW 5 SERIES AND THE DEALER SHIPS THAT I'VE WENT TO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EVEN THOUGH BMW HEADQUARTERS RELEASED A RECALL FOR SOME A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10563165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.