Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
18
Latest Nov 6, 2014
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.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 6, 1996
What this page shows
Our database holds 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 BMW 525I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–18 of 18
Airbags
Filed Nov 6, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE BURNS. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THE THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO HER FACE AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10653182
Incident
Mar 7, 2004
Mileage
99,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 30, 2011
BODY APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE BODY LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART, IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FIELDS BMW NORTHFIELD 700 W FRONTAGE ROAD NORTHFIELD, IL 60093 MAY HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT. THEY INSPECTED VEHICLE ON JUNE 11TH 2011 AND DID NOT MENTION THIS ISSUE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA ID
10417229
Incident
Jul 30, 2011
Mileage
286,508 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE ENGINE'S OVERALL COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ID
10153617
Incident
Mar 24, 2006
Mileage
142,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 14, 2006
THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS NOTICEABLE, A CLICK OR GRAB TYPE FEEL, WHEREVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO MY BMW SHOP TO CORRECT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BUT THE CLICK WAS REMOVED. ON RECALLS FOR BMWS THIS FAULT WAS LIMITED TO THE 3 SERIES AND NOT A 5 SERIES WHICH I OWN. I HAD REPORTED THIS EARLIER BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE FROM THE NTSB SO THEREFORE I AM RESUBMITTING. *NM
NHTSA ID
10150229
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
DT: VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN FRONTAL IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO THE CHIN AREA, AND HAD TO HAVE ROOT CANAL WORK ON A TOOTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS A SMALL DEPLOYMENT AND IT WAS LIKE IT WAS FIRE, RED FLAMING AREA ON THE AIR BAG THAT ACTUALLY IGNITED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10127190
Incident
Mar 7, 2004
Mileage
96,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 27, 2005
I AM WONDERING HOW THE MANUFACTURE DETERMINES WHICH VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY A PARTICULIAR RECALL. A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES, I HAVE A 1992 BMW 525I AND HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES RELATED TO RECALLS ONE CONCERNED THE RING IN THE STEERING COLUMN RELATED TO THE AIRBAG BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE OTHER HAD TO DO WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WHERE THE TERMOSTAT STUCK AND THE PRESSURE CRACKED THE RADIATOR. THESE FAILURE OCCURRED A FEW YEARS BACK AND I WOULD NED TO CHECK MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO GET THE EXACT DATES.
NHTSA ID
10118557
Incident
Jul 15, 2001
Airbags
Filed Apr 22, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT QUARTER PANEL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS BURNED IN THE FACE AND CHEST. *AK
NHTSA ID
10071399
Mileage
103,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2001
BMW HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD RADIATOR PROBLEMS / RECALLS - AND CLAIM MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL - IN WHICH 370M VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. NOSAFETY DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ID
742849
Incident
Mar 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Feb 26, 2001
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
741534
Incident
Feb 22, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 3, 2000
WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH NOTICED VIBRATION. CONUSMER PULLED VEHICLE, AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS RIDING ON RIM TIRE, TREAD SEPARATED. *AK THE WHOLE TIRE PEELED OFF AND ONLY THE RUINED RIM WAS LEFT. *YH
NHTSA ID
872139
Incident
Sep 9, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 20, 2000
WATER PUMP RELEASED THE RADIATOR CAP. THIS MALFUNCTION CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER WILL NOT COVER PROBLEM UNDER RECALL 98V178000. *AK
NHTSA ID
865764
Incident
Jul 5, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 22, 2000
KEY CAN BE REMOVED FORM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE IN ANY OTHER GEARS. DEALER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
862329
Incident
Feb 15, 1998
Fuel system
Filed Sep 2, 1999
Crash reportedFire reported
CONSUMER WAS REARENDED WHILE TRAVELING ABOU 30-40MPH. UPON IMPACT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOTALING THE VEHICLE, FIRE DEPARTEMENT UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE, FIRE MAYBE LINKED TO THE GAS FILLER AND THE TAILIGHTS. ALSO, BUMPER ONLY HAD A SIX INCH DENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
846502
Incident
Aug 27, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 1999
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (98V-178), OWNER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS DUE TO DEFECT. MJS
NHTSA ID
548004
Incident
Feb 25, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 25, 1999
Fire reported
SMOKE CAME FROM AIR VENTS WHILE DRIVING. CAR CABIN IGNITED IN FLAMES AFTER GETTING OUT OF CAR.
NHTSA ID
709152
Incident
Jul 19, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 1999
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL (98V178) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS
NHTSA ID
546495
Incident
Feb 23, 1999
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Jun 9, 1999
EXHAUST HANGERS FALL OFF CAUSING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TO HIT AGAINST THE FRAME. MJS
NHTSA ID
546055
Electrical
Filed Nov 6, 1996
BATTERY EXPLODED.
NHTSA ID
511133
Incident
Sep 29, 1996
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.