RoadVitals

1994 BMW 525

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest May 8, 2000
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 BMW 525, most frequently naming the electrical, interior & seats and body & structure categories. 6 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical337.5%
  • Interior & seats225.0%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Driver assistance112.5%
  • Steering112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed May 8, 2000

CONSUMER GOT INTO VEHICLE, TURNED KEY IN IGNITION NOTHING HAPPENED. DOORS LOCKED ON VEHICLE & CONSUMER WAS STUCK INSIDE FOR 20 MINUTES IN 90 DEGREE PLUS HEAT. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP BLOWING HORN. SOMEONE HEARD CONSUMER AND KEY WAS PUSHED THROUGH RUBBER SEAL SKYLIGHT TO UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANT WAS CALLED & TOLD CONSUMER TO CARRY A HAMMER TO BREAK WINDOWS OUT. BMW DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER TO BRING VEHICLE IN. CONSUMER SCARED TO GET BACK IN. *AK

NHTSA ID
861601
Incident
May 7, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 11, 1996

A SHORT INSIDE THE FUSE BOX CAUSED A MELTDOWN OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

NHTSA ID
508450
Incident
Aug 8, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 21, 1996

DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM WHEN LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. *SD

NHTSA ID
502206
Incident
Feb 2, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 16, 1995

WHEN YOU LOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ID
975012
Incident
Apr 18, 1994
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 10, 1995

AUTO/TRANS: ACCELERATOR CABLE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION DUE TO CRUISE CONTROL MODULE; NOT ENGAGED IN CRUISE CONTROL POSITION; SPEED 40 MPH; NO WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
970165
Incident
Aug 9, 1995
Electrical
Filed Mar 16, 1995

APPEARS TO BE POWER DRAINAGE OF THE BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. TT

NHTSA ID
962071
Incident
Jan 5, 1995
Steering
Filed Feb 10, 1995

POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUOSLY LEAKS. *AW

NHTSA ID
479581
Incident
Aug 1, 1994
Electrical
Filed Jan 21, 1995

COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURE, PREVENTING USE OF POWER DOOR LOCKS AND WINDOWS, TRAPPING DRIVER IN VEHICLE. *AW

NHTSA ID
480715
Incident
Jan 21, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

41/03/96

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WIND NOISE DIAGNOSTICS. *TW

MSG1016

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

RECALL 96V111 - THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN INVOLVES THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *TW

720294(4138)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

INTERNAL SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN ZAE CONTROL MODULE CAUSING SRS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION. *TW

720294(4138)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

UNKNOWN

120794(4116)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ENGINE WILL NOT START, PRIMARILY DURING COLD WEATHER OR HIGH ALTITUDE. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 525 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002010—
2001310—
1998200—
1997100—
1996000—
1995150046.2
1994Viewing800—
1993311—
1992141156.3
1991152366.6
1990720—
1989330—
1988000—
1985100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.