1994 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 1994 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
A SHORT INSIDE THE FUSE BOX CAUSED A MELTDOWN OF THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK
APPEARS TO BE POWER DRAINAGE OF THE BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM WHEN LOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE. *SD
WHEN YOU LOCK THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE THE PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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
POWER STEERING PUMP CONTINUOSLY LEAKS. *AW
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 .