RoadVitals

2007 BMW 525XI

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
20
Latest Oct 16, 2024
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 12, 2013
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 BMW 525XI, most frequently naming the airbags, steering and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 58 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags830.8%
  • Steering519.2%
  • Engine415.4%
  • Electrical311.5%
  • Interior & seats27.7%
  • Fuel system13.8%
  • Exterior lighting13.8%
  • Seat belts13.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
13V564000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Nov 12, 2013
76,565 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
The risk: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 20
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 2024

battery problems, was supposedly recalled for it and now the car is dying and the alarm is going off in my driveway at 10:30pm after being off for hours. the alarm doesn’t turn off with the fob or if key is in ignition, i need to remove the battery panel find a ratchet and remove one of the battery terminals while my alarm is simultaneously going off for long period over and over and over.

NHTSA ID
11620269
Incident
Oct 16, 2024
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 2021

My car is seeing error lights for the passenger restraint system, and the dealer informed me that I should replace the OC3 mat at a cost of $2021. I see that this part is covered under recall for some similar age 525xi models, so I am unclear why this problem doesn't extend to my vehicle if this is a common problem with these models. Is this under evaluation for a possible future recall?

NHTSA ID
11432915
Incident
Sep 13, 2021
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 2018
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT DETECTED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (DANIELS BMW, 4600 CRACKERSPORT ROAD, ALLENTOWN, PA 18104) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. - (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS

NHTSA ID
11105138
Incident
Oct 30, 2017
Mileage
72,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW OF OMAHA (716 N 102ND ST OMAHA, NE) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
11100551
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 21, 2017

THE WIRES FOR THE PARKING LIGHTS ARE BRITTLE AND FRAYING APART

NHTSA ID
11047686
Incident
Nov 12, 2016
Mileage
106,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 23, 2017

ELV BLOCKED MESSAGE POPS ON FROM NO WHERE WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL GETS LOCKED

NHTSA ID
11035898
Incident
Oct 22, 2017
Mileage
124,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 2, 2016

THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM/AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS NEEDING TO REPLACE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT, OC3. THEY SAID MY VIN NOT PART OF RECALL #13V564000 SO I HAD TO PAY LABOR COST. DEALER PAID FOR PART AS A COURTESY. CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR LABOR. THEY REFUSED BECAUSE VIN NOT PART OF RECALL. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 85,000. MY VIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS THIS IS SAME PROBLEM, ON SAME YEAR & MODEL OF CAR AS THOSE INCLUDED IN RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10839524
Incident
Feb 16, 2016
Mileage
85,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2016

THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN # 13V564000. TRIED TO CONTACT BMW NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING BECAUSE THE RECALL IS BASED ON VIN NUMBER. IF IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM, BMW SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIX THE ISSUE FOR FREE. MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10817689
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
Mileage
90,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

B510819

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

B160623

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE

B653423

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. Depending on the vehicle’s equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. Additionally, the red anti-theft alarm LED in the interior mirror does not briefly flash every 2 seconds, indicating the alarm is armed.

B340414

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC; STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW 525XI by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2011100—
2007Viewing201034.8
2006283050.9

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.