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2007 BMW 525XI Owner Complaints

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.
20
Latest Oct 16, 2024
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
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 May 4, 2008

What this page shows

Our database holds 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 BMW 525XI. 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 1–20 of 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
Airbags
Filed Sep 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT PROTECTION MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10762990
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
75,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed May 29, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALER, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 8/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10722313
Incident
May 29, 2015
Mileage
73,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Apr 4, 2015

I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A CITY CAUSEWAY. I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES FOR A RED LIGHT AND HAD NONE. THE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF AND HAD NO HYDRAULIC ASSIST. I PUSHED THE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD AND DOWNSHIFTED, FINALLY STOPPING ABOUT 8 FEET INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR ACTED FINE ALL MORNING UP TO THAT POINT. I HAD NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANYTHING TO ALERT ME TO THE FAILURE. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE ON THE V8 ENGINE BUT NOT FOR THE I6 ENGINE WHICH I HAVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10703729
Incident
Apr 3, 2015
Mileage
108,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 29, 2014

2007 BMW 525XI MODEL NOT LIMITED TO OR EXCLUSIVE OF THIS MAKE/MODEL BUT HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WHERE A RED LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARS ON THE DASH SIGNALING AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN FAULT HAS OCCURRED, DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OFF OR THE CAR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS HAS YET TO MAKE IT ON THE NHTSA DATABASE AS AN OFFICIAL RECALL BUT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND MADE NOTE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE ON THEIR BMW. THIS COULD LEAVE YOU IN A DANGEROUS POSITION IF YOU NEEDED TO LEAVE AN AREA AND WERE UNABLE TO START YOUR CAR AND IT COULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED AS IT COULD CAUSE A NO START SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640052
Incident
Sep 18, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2014

CLICKING NOISE ON CAR OFTEN. AFTER RESEARCHING THERE WERE MORE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING WITH OTHER BMW'S. WAS TOLD BY THE BMW SERVICE CENTER THAT THE LIFTERS NEED REPLACING. THERE ARE FAULTY LIFTERS ON THE CAR COULD EVENTUALLY RUIN THE ENGINE HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10595465
Incident
Jun 9, 2009
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Apr 4, 2014

HELLO, MY 2007 BMW 525XI HAS AN ERROR WITH THE AIRBAGS AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL BUT BMW SAYS I DON'T HAVE ONE CURRENTLY MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT AND BMW DOES NOT WANT TO COVER. PLEASE HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10577469
Incident
Apr 4, 2014
Mileage
84,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 25, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10509591
Incident
Apr 24, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Mar 11, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED STATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY AND WAS NOT ACTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ID
10502317
Incident
Mar 4, 2013
Mileage
95,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 4, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525 XI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIRBAG AND RESTRAINT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID
10454082
Incident
Feb 20, 2012
Mileage
79,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Oct 30, 2011

MY 2007 525XI HAS ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN 08V384000 IN 2008 WHICH DISABLES THE FRONT AIRBAG. MY FOR RECALL IN THAT CAMPAIGN ENDED IN 2006. I WAS ABLE TO VERIFY WITH BMW THAT THE PART NUMBER FOR THE SEAT TO REPAIR THE ISSUE IN MY2007 IS THE SAME AS MY2006. HAS ANY TRACKING OF THE OCCURRENCE IN MY2007 OCCURRED? WHY WOULD THE SAME PART NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES EXTENSION TO THE WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS UNLIMITED MILEAGE? THIS IS APPROXIMATELY A $1200.00 REPAIR TO REPLACE THE SEAT AS BMW DOES NOT SELL THE SENSOR MAT WITHOUT THE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10433573
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
88,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 20, 2011

2007 BMW 525XI MODEL NOT LIMITED TO OR EXCLUSIVE OF THIS MAKE/MODEL BUT HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WHERE A RED LIGHT INDICATOR APPEARS ON THE DASH SIGNALING AN ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN FAULT HAS OCCURRED, DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OFF OR THE CAR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE STARTED AGAIN, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THIS HAS YET TO MAKE IT ON THE NHTSA DATABASE AS AN OFFICIAL RECALL BUT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND MADE NOTE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE ON THEIR BMW. THIS CAR IS OUT OF THE 3 YEAR SERVICE WARRANTY AND THIS IS NOT COVERED OR A RECALLED ITEM AS OF TODAY. I AM FILING MY COMPLAINT AGAINST BMW SINCE IT WILL BE COSTING ME OVER $1000 TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED/FIXED WHEN IN FACT IT IS ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR BY BMW ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING AND IS A DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED FOR ALL BMW CUSTOMERS COVERING THE SPAN OF YEARS IN WHICH THE COMMONALITY HAS OCCURRED 2006-2007 325, 525 MODELS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10413773
Incident
Jul 5, 2011
Mileage
66,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 4, 2008

THIS COMPLAINT IS THE REQUEST FOR MONTHLY COMPLIANCE, ANALYSIS, INSPECTIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP ALL DEFECTIVE, UNSAFE VEHICLES OFF THE STREETS. PLEASE INSPECT FOR COMPLIANCE ALL NEW, USED, RENTAL, AUTO AUCTIONS FOR BMW, BENZ, CADILLAC IN THE TEXAS AREAS OF HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, DALLAS, AUSTIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226603
Incident
May 4, 2008

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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