1991 BMW 525 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 BMW 525, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Interior & seats318.8%
- Driver assistance318.8%
- Airbags318.8%
- Engine212.5%
- Transmission16.3%
- Visibility16.3%
- Electrical16.3%
- Fuel system16.3%
- Steering16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING ON THE DASH WENT OUT. AFTER AN HOUR EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. THEN WENT OUT AGAIN. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
SEAT WIRING FAILED RESULTING IN MELTING OF THE PLASTIC CASING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE THROTTLE STICKS AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT/INJURIES PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-029). *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL 96V-1100000; MS. RUSSO WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. MS. RUSSO HAD THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED BEFORE HEARING ABOUT THIS RECALL, AND LATER SHE WAS INFORMED THROUGH SOMEONE THAT THERE IS A RECALL. SO, MS. RUSSO CHECKED OUT THE RECALL AT BELL IMPORTS AND THEY TOOK CARE OF THE RECALL . *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND THE SRS LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER WAS AWARE, BUT HAD TO RESCHDULE TO ANOTHER APPOINTMENT DURING THAT TIME. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY REPLACED WATER PUMP. CURRENTLY, CONSUMER IS NOW HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THERMOSTAT. *AK
REPLACED LEAKING ENGINE GASKET. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFT HANDLE CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO JUMP FROM PARK TO REVERSE GEAR. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON SUNNY DAY CONSUMER SPILLED COLD WATER ON THE WINDSHIELD AND THE GLASS CRACKED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD, SOON AFTER CONSUMER NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL WIRE SMELL AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS, AND WITHIN SECONDS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT/INJURIES PRIOR TO RECALL (91V-029). *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .