RoadVitals

2003 BMW 525I Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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 Sep 10, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
25%
of 32 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 BMW 525I submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 10, 2021

Abs module failure trifecta abs light traction amd brake light. Sometimes used to auto Accelerate when brake was pressed and cruise control doesnt work

NHTSA ID
11432446
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Sep 10, 2021

GM3 Body module failure interior lights dont function, alarm whipers sprayers locks doors dont funtion

NHTSA ID
11432444
Incident
Sep 9, 2021
Electrical
Filed Jun 6, 2021

I was driving and antitheft system went off while driving. Then wiper failed to work. I was told by dealer mechanic that the body control module was failing and advised not to drive the car because the antitheft system may cause the car to stop and the wiper system will stop when raining causing multiple accidents.

NHTSA ID
11419808
Incident
May 27, 2021
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2010

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ENGINE STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR HAVE TO BE TOWED TO THE BMW DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE ALL OF THE IGNITION COILS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR THEN HAD ONLY 29K+ MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10307921
Incident
May 30, 2009
Mileage
29,600 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 24, 2009

UPON TURNING ON THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED DRIVERS SEAT HEATER, THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHORTED OUT CAUSING EXTREME HEAT AND SMOKE TO RISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT CAUSE A FIRE, IT WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO CAUSING A FIRE. THE HEATER WAS TURNED OFF, AND THE SMOKE AND HEAT SUBSIDED. THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. CONTACTED A BMW MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW. HE CITED A CASE WHICH CAUSED A CUSTOMERS LEATHER SEAT TO BURN AND ALSO BURNED HIS SPORTS COAT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS OVERTIME DO TO THE BREAKDOWN OF THE WIRING WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVER GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. OVER TIME, THE WIRES RUB BARE CAUSING THE DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING AND THE INSULATION. THE WIRING IN TURN BUILDS RESISTANCE WITH THE IN ABILITY OF THE ELECTRICITY TO PASS THROUGH THE DAMAGE WIRING, WHICH CAUSES THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10289698
Incident
Oct 24, 2009
Mileage
72,690 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 17, 2009
Fire reported

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND TURNED THE SEAT HEATER ON. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO MY DRIVE, I STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE IN THE CAR. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SEAT WAS CATCHING ON FIRE. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF AND DOUSED THE FIRE WITH WATER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259104
Incident
Feb 15, 2009
Mileage
45,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 30, 2005

2003 BMW 525I DIED TWICE LEAVING THE CONSUMER STRANDED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***.*MR THE IGNITION COILS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN IT WAS FIRST STARTED, THE DEALER REPLACED NUMEROUS PARTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135620
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 2004

REPEATED IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON MY 2003 BMW 525I SERIES. THE DEALERS HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR PAIR THIS SAME PROBLEM FOUR TIMES. I QUESTION THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100530
Incident
Sep 21, 2004
Mileage
12,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags10

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .