RoadVitals

1989 BMW 525I Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
4
Latest Mar 13, 2001
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
3
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.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 BMW 525I, 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

  • Visibility250.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Interior & seats125.0%

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

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

VEHICLE PARKED IN GARAGE. NOTICED LEAKAGE ON FLOOR OF GARAGE. CONTACTED DEALER & TOOK VEHICLE IN OCT. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE HEATER CORE HAD CORRODED & WAS WEAKENED. THE PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN & THE HEATER CORE NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

NHTSA ID 854935 · filed Jan 12, 2000

HEATER CORE EXPLODED FILLING THE CAR WITH SUFFOCATING STEAM, VAPORS, AND HOT LIQUID ANTIFREEZE WHICH SATURATED BOTH PANT LEGS OF 3 YEAR OLD SCALDING BOTH HIS LEGS CAUSING SECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO BOTH THIGHS, LEGS AND RIGHT FOOT.

NHTSA ID 543613 · filed Feb 1, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1 YEAR AGO MOTOR WENT INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IT SPLIT RADIATOR IN THE SEAM. CONSUMER TOOK RECALL 98V178000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98V178 INTO DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE. BECAUSE OF DAMAGES IT COULDN'T BE TAKEN CARE OFF. *AK THE FAILURE OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

NHTSA ID 882836 · filed Mar 13, 2001

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BACK END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. PINS THAT ACTUATE THE BACK OF THE SEAT BROKE AND ALLOWED THE SEAT TO TWIST. IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED WITH FORCE THE SEAT MAY BREAK AND SLAMM CONSUMER AGAINST DASHBOARD. CONSUMER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY IN HAVING THE SEAT REPLACED DUE TO OTHER DEALERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS OF THE PINS BREAKING FROM THE BACK OF THE SEAT.*AK

NHTSA ID 865542 · filed Jul 17, 2000

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

Data on this page last refreshed .