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.
84
Latest Dec 3, 2018
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.
17
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 Feb 19, 2004
What this page shows
Our database holds 84 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 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 1–25 of 84 · page 1 of 4
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Dec 3, 2018
Fire reported
ON DEC.2 MY 2004 BMW 525I WAS SITTING OUTSIDE MY HOUSE WHEN IT COUGHT ON FIRE AT THE FUSE PANEL IN THE TRUNK ON THE RIGHT FENDER WELL. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN OVER 100 MILES THAT DAY. MY STEP-DAUGHTER HAD GOTTEN HOME AT MIDNIGHT AND PARKED THE CAR. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS FINE WHEN SHE GOT HOME AT 3;30 AM MY NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT IT OUT AS EVER TIME WE WOULD GET THE FIRE OUT IT WOULD SPARK AND START AGAIN. THEY REPORTED THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE FIRE.
NHTSA ID
11155751
Incident
Dec 2, 2018
Mileage
211,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 25, 2018
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, A NEIGHBOR NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY CABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL BMW DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ID
11098001
Incident
May 17, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 26, 2017
MICRO POWER MODULE (MPM) STARTED SMOKING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ERRATIC ENGINE RPM, AND CAUSING SMOKE INSIDE CABIN AND BURNT ELECTRONICS SMELL. COMPLETE LOSS OF RADIO AND IDRIVE FUNCTIONALITY. MODULE IS LOCATED IN TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE. NOTIFIED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY JUST SAID THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE. SEVERAL BMW ONLINE FORUMS HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE. OTHERS HAVE REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BY RELOCATING THE MODULE TO A HIGHER PLACE IN THE TRUNK. MOST OF WHO OWN THESE CARS DO NOT KNOW THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE THIS VULNERABILITY. VEHICLE WAS MOVING IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA ID
11010814
Incident
Jul 20, 2017
Mileage
184,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 15, 2017
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING APPEARS EACH TIME WE GET INTO THE VEHICLE AND START THE IGNITION. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RED ICON CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE CAR DOES NOT COOL OR GET COLD UNTIL THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WE HAD A MECHANIC WHO WE PURCHASED THE CAR FROM 3 YEARS AGO TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO NOT COOL PROPERLY.
NHTSA ID
11005486
Incident
May 1, 2017
Mileage
158,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 7, 2017
Fire reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BLEW UP IN THE GARAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY THE BATTERY CABLE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE CONTACT'S HOME WAS DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CHAPMAN BMW IN PHOENIX, AR) WHERE A RECALL REPAIR OF THE BATTERY CABLE WAS PERFORMED. THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ID
11003723
Incident
Apr 17, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Mar 5, 2017
PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT ON,EFFECTING AIRBAG,BELT TENSIONER OR BELT FORCE LIMITER. CALLED BMW WAS TOLD VIN NUMBER NOT IN RECALL HOW CAN THAT BE RECALL IS FOR 2004 BMW. COST IS OVER 1000. CAR WAS STATIONARY.
NHTSA ID
10958698
Incident
Dec 5, 2016
Mileage
142,354 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Feb 13, 2017
Fire reported
I REALLY NEED SOME ASSISTANCE. MY SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS TURNING ON AND OCCASIONALLY WON'T GO OFF I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR MAYBE 35 MINUTES TOPS SINCE THE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE 3 WEEKS AGO. BMW NORTH AMERICA HAS TRIED TO ASSIST ME, UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERS ARE EITHER BOOKED SOLID OR ARE CAPABLE OF FIXING THIS TECHNICAL A PROBLEM. THEY'VE AGREED TO FIX EVERYTHING FOR FREE & PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER CAR UNTIL THE ISSUES ARE TOTALLY RESOLVED BMW DOES NOT WANT MY VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AGAIN. I WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE IT UNFORTUNATELY NONE OF THE DEALERSHIP CONSIDER A CAR FIRE TOP PRIORITY. THERE IS A HUGE LIKELIHOOD IT COULD CONTINUE BURNING WITHOUT IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. I WISH BMW NORTH AMERICA WOULD ASSIST ME LIKE THEY SAID. I'VE HAD 8 BMW'S AND NEVER HAVE I HAD AN ISSUE . THAT IS WHY I'VE BOUGHT BMW'S BECAUSE AS LONG AS I DID ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (A SIDE FROM THIS ONE) MY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY RELIABLE BUT A PLEASURE TO OWN. I'VE HAD VERY FEW ISSUES WITH MY CURRENT E60 UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO. SINCE THEN MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHAOTIC BORROWING VEHICLES RENTING VEHICLES AND RELYING ON OTHERS BECAUSE BMW DOESN'T PRIORITIZE CAR FIRES. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME OTHERWISE I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS MY MINOR CHILD AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME IF IT WERE TO BECOME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PLEASE CALL ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE SO I CAN BE SAFE . MY CONTACT INFO IS [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] EMAIL [XXX] CALL ME DAY OR NIGHT I'LL BE READY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE PROPER FACILITY FOR REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED ALL DEALERSHIP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE . TULLEY BMW SAID THAT THE REPAIR WAS BEYOND THEIR EXPERTISE. I SPOKE TO AN ABSOLUTELY CLUELESS GENTLEMAN NAME [XXX] AT TULLEY BMW NASHUA *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB
NHTSA ID
10954390
Incident
Jan 23, 2017
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 13, 2017
Fire reported
LITERALLY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE BURNING A VERY DEEP HOLE THROUGH TO THE FRONT OF THE SEAT AND BURNING A HOLE IN MY JACKED THEN BURNING MY SKIN. IMMEDIATELY I NOTIFIED BMW WHO WAS EXTREMELY ACCOMMODATING EVEN HELPING ME SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT.. THEN THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T DO RECALLS AND THEY COULDN'T ASSIST ME. AFTER BMW NORTH AMERICA AUTHORIZED THIS. I HAD AN EXTRA VEHICLE UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY DAUGHTER BROUGHT OUR BMW X3 TO COLLEGE WITH HER. THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED WE NOT USE THE VEHICLE UNTIL ITS REPAIRED THE SEAT HEATER KEEPS INTERMITTENTLY GOING OFF AND WON'T TURN OFF AND THEN IT STARTS BURNING . I'VE BEEN AFRAID OF DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THE FRIGHTENING BURNING SMELL. I WOULDN'T BE WRITING U IF I WASN'T BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BY BMW . NOW I'M WITHOUT TRANSPO AND I HAVE A CHILD WITH EPILEPSY WHO I NEED ADEQUATE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR. IT DIFFICULT BEING TOLD YES BY BMW NORTH AMERICA THEN THE DEALER WON'T ACCOMMODATE YOU UNLESS YOU CONSIDER REPLACING YOUR VEHICLE WITH A NEW BMW! I AM VERY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH W
NHTSA ID
10954313
Incident
Jan 23, 2017
Mileage
118,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 3, 2016
Fire reported
I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING. ALL ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHTS STARTED LIGHTING UP THE DASH AND THEN DISPLAYS GO BLANK. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS FILLING UP WITH SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER GLOVE BOX. I PULLED OVER AND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE DISCONNECTED BATTERY AND TOOK TO BMW. THEY SAID MICRO-PROCESSOR LOCATED IN SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO WATER. I DON'T CARRY COOLERS AND DON'T LEAVE MY TRUNK OPEN WHEN IT RAINS. HOW DID WATER GET THERE. BULLETINS SHOW THAT SUNROOF DRAINS GET CLOGGED AND WATER GETS INTO TRUNK AND SHORTS OUT ELECTRICAL. SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS IF THIS HAPPENS, CUSTOMER PAY BUT MOVE ELECTRICAL TO WHERE IT CAN'T GET WET. SO BMW KNOWS IT'S A PROBLEM AND CAN CAUSE A FIRE BUT DOESN'T CARE TO COVER REPAIR. NOW I'M STUCK WITH $1000 REPAIR FOR MICRO-PROCESSOR JUST TO BE ABLE TO TELL WHAT ELSE IS BURNED UP. I HAVE TO PAY BEFORE I WILL KNOW IF IT WILL COST AN ADDITIONAL $5,000 TO REPAIR. I'M LUCKY ELECTRICAL DIDN'T CATCH FIRE AND BURN UP ENTIRE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10924120
Incident
Sep 30, 2016
Mileage
156,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,799.
NHTSA ID
10882166
Incident
May 1, 2016
Mileage
116,799 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Apr 7, 2016
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 BMW 525I, MY RIGHT HIP STARTED BURNING. FOLLOWED BY AN ODOR. WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OVER, I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT & ON THE BACK PORTION OF THE SEAT I NOTICED A BURN MARK. THE SEAT HEATER GOT SO HOT THAT IT BURNED MY BLOUSE TO THE SEAT. I SENT AN EMAIL TO BMW WHO RESPONDED THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME AFTER ASKING ME TO SEND THEM MY VIN #, ALONG WITH PICTURES OF THE SEAT. I DID SO, AND AS OF TODAY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN IN TOUCH WITH ME. (?) AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR BRAND-NEW IN 2004 THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT IN 2005-06. THE SEAT LITERALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH MY MOTHER SITTING IN IT. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MASSACHUSETTS RESPECTFULLY DID THE RIGHT THING AND REPLACED IT, "IMMEDIATELY" FOR ME. ~ IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE, THAT A COMPANY SUCH AS "B-M-W" IS NOT ONLY NOT STANDING BEHIND THIS ONGOING ISSUE, BUT REFUSES TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSUMERS TO COME TO SOME RESOLUTION OF THEIR INFERIOR & DAMAGED PRODUCT. WHICH AT SOME POINT, WILL CAUSE BODILY HARM AND POSSIBLY GIVE SOMEONE THIRD DEGREE BURNS. MAYBE IT WILL TAKE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DATELINE NBC TO RUN AN UNDERCOVER PROGRAM, BEFORE BMW MANUFACTURERS SMARTEN UP & FIX THIS UNACCEPTABLE ISSUE WITH A FEATURE WE ALL PAID EXTRA TO HAVE... THE COLD WEATHER PACKAGE. ~IN CLOSING; I WAS ONCE TOLD BY OTHER OWNERS I WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO ANY OTHER CAR ONCE I OWNED A BMW. I HONESTLY CAN SAY THIS EXPERIENCE HAS CHANGED MY OPINION OF THAT. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OUTSTANDING UNTIL THE WARRANTEES ARE GONE AND UNTIL THERE ARE NO MORE RECALLS. AT LEAST AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL. YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE GOING BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHO WELCOMES & VALUES YOUR CONTINUED BUSINESS! WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT FROM SUCH A HIGH END MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA ID
10854213
Incident
Jan 5, 2016
Engine
Filed Feb 16, 2016
SINCE 2012, THE NIGHTMARES BEGIN WITH TRYING TO GET MY 525I SMOGGED, FROM WEBER BMW FRESNO UNDER A WHOOPING $500.00. EVERY TIME THE SMOG IS DUE WHICH IS EVER 2-YRS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.... AND BMW GIVES YOU THE CODE YOU REPLACE WHAT THE CODE SAYS AND THEN GUESS WHAT THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON THEY KEEP CHARGING YOU A DIAGNOSTICS CHARGE OF $130.00 EACH TIME AND WHEN YOU GET TO $500.00 THEY NOW KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WHICH WILL COST YOU AROUND $1000.00 OR SO. BMW GAVE HIM A CODE FOR $130.00, HE MADE THE REPAIR BASED ON THEIR INFORMATION AND GUESS WHAT IT DIDN'T PASS SMOG. SO, MY MECHANIC TOOK IT BACK, SERVICE ADVISER NOT IN WHO HANDLED THE CAR THE FIRST TIME SO THEIR IS ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS FEE OF $130.00, MY MECHANIC TELLS THEM FINE JUST SMOG IT. WELL IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS WITH THE BMW SERVICE CENTER, THEY CLAIM TO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS BUT THEY NEED AUTHORIZATION NOW FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS WHICH WOULD BRING THE TOTAL TO $520.00, AND YOU GUESSED IT THE CAR STILL HASN'T PASSED SMOG. I CALLED TO SPEAK TO THE SERVICE MANGER ON 2/11, FOR ASSISTANCE AND OF COURSE HE IS GOING TO LOOK INTO IT AND CALL ME BACK. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE WAS LAST INFORMED THIS SAME THING BY THE SERVICE MANAGER BUT THE SERVICE ADVISER SAID HE WOULD NEED AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH THE CHARGE OF $520.00 IN ORDER TO DO ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS?? ...WHEN IN FACT ALL THEY DO IS RAKE UP FALSE CHARGES AND CODES BASED ON THE MILEAGE OF YOUR VEHICLE, YOU CAN FORGET THE FACT THAT YOU KEEP UP THE MAINTENANCE ON YOUR VEHICLE, IT WON'T MATTER WHEN THE TIME COMES TO GET YOUR VEHICLE SMOG BE PREPARED TO BE SCAMMED BY WEBER BMW IN FRESNO.
NHTSA ID
10836455
Incident
Feb 6, 2012
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Feb 8, 2016
I PURCHASED A USE 2004 BMW 525I AND WITHIN 2 DAYS THE A MESSAGE CAME UP INDICATING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG/SEAT BELT ISSUE, REMAIN USING YOUR SEAT BELT BUT SEE YOUR NEAREST BMW CENTER.
NHTSA ID
10824768
Incident
Feb 7, 2016
Mileage
148,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jan 26, 2016
I EXPERIENCED A ROUGH IDLE WHILE PARKED OR STOPPED AT LIGHT. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A VAC LEAK ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKE VAC PUMP WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE DAMAGE AND/OR FAILURE. BMW STATED THAT THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS VIN SPECIFIC. #2 PASSENGER RESTRAINT AND AIR BAG LITE ARE ON, SAME ANSWER FROM BMW.
NHTSA ID
10822225
Incident
Jan 12, 2016
Mileage
147,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 6, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART UNTIL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ID
10780148
Incident
Jul 7, 2010
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 30, 2015
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE SEAT FELT VERY HOT ON MY LOWER BACK. WHEN I GOT TO WORK NOTICED THAT THE LEATHER WAS BURNED THROUGH ON THE DRIVERS LEFT SIDE. YOU CAN SEE THE EXPOSED WIRING. VERY DANGEROUS. BMW WOULD NOT REPLACE. IN SEARCHING ON LINE, I SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION ON THE SEAT HEATER ELEMENT.
NHTSA ID
10731387
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 16, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT" MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
NHTSA ID
10725466
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
47,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 15, 2015
THERE WERE NO ACCIDENT BUT IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT WE MAY NOT BE PROTECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG DEFAULT MESSAGE IN MY CAR. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST .THANK YOU
NHTSA ID
10725294
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
143,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHTING WIRES WERE ZIP TIED TOGETHER AND THE CASING WAS MISSING. AS A RESULT, THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA ID
10722847
Incident
May 2, 2015
Mileage
190,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed May 28, 2015
I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT SIGN CAME ON FEW WEEKS BACK. THE DEALER SAYS ITS NOT COVERED BUT NHTSA SITE INDICATES IT IS COVERED ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. THIS DEALER IS ESTIMATING A $650.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO SEE WHAT NEED TO BE DONE. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE? MY LAST OPTION IS THE JUNK YARD, AND NEVER BUY A BMW.
NHTSA ID
10721898
Incident
May 20, 2015
Mileage
106,100 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 31, 2015
I OWN BMW 525I 2004 SINCE 2004. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGN TURN ON IN 2010 AND I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT "STATING THAT IT IS NOT A COVERED ITEM". I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE WHICH HAS THIS BMW RECALL ON BMW 525I 2004 VEHICLES. I CALLED INTO THE DEALER AGAIN AND TELL THEM ABOUT THE RECALL, BUT THEY STILL REFUSE TO SERVICE AND STATED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED FOR YOUR PARTICULAR VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THIS SITE MY04 THROUGH MY06 SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/30/05 HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR FAULT ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT AS IN CASE OF ANY INCIDENT, AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE HELP ME AS YOU ARE THE SAFETY GRAIL FOR AUTOS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10702781
Incident
Mar 31, 2015
Airbags
Filed Feb 26, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, FAULT IN PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIR BAG, AND BELT TENSIONER/BELT FORCE LIMITER WARNING LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATION SURPASSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
NHTSA ID
10690833
Incident
Feb 10, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 6, 2014
VERY UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE WITH THE DECISIONS OF BMW UPON THIS CAR AND ITS HEADLIGHTS. ANY CAR OF THIS CHASSIS E60 FROM THE DATES 2004-2010 HAVE ROTTING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. ASKING AROUND DID NOT HELP MY SITUATION ONE BIT AT ALL. ALL THE WIRES ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED SINCE THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THEM HAVE BEEN DEGRADED DOWN. CAUSING SHORTS, MASSIVE PROBLEMS WITH ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS, ETC. GOOGLING THIS FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FRUSTRATED ALL ACROSS ONLINE FORUM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS, YOU CANNOT DRIVE ON THESE FOR TOO LONG. MY ADAPTIVE HEADLIGHTS FAILING PUT MY SECURITY AT RISK WHEN I RELIED ON THEM TO HELP ME WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ID
10662492
Incident
Dec 5, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 19, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.
NHTSA ID
10604569
Incident
Jun 17, 2014
Mileage
209,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jun 17, 2014
DRIVER'S SEAT BURNED, LEAVING A CHARRED HOLE IN THE LEATHER APPROX 1" X 5 " NEAR DRIVERS LEFT HIP AREA ON SEAT BACK, MOST LIKELY BY SEAT HEATING ELEMENT MALFUNCTION. THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE IN MARYLAND - - WHERE IT IS HOT. I DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT HEATER ON. THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THIS IS VERY STRANGE AND DESERVES INVESTIGATION. *TR
NHTSA ID
10598747
Incident
Jun 15, 2014
Mileage
44,400 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.
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