Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1990 BMW 525

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › buckle assembly. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › Pump1
100
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1
000
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings94V066000
Filed Apr 11, 1994116,300 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. FEED FUEL HOSES CAN HARDEN AND "SET" OVER TIME, ALLOWING A SEEPAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING. THE CLAMP USED TO HOLD THE HOSE TO THE FITTING IS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE HARDENING OF THE FEED FUEL HOSE.

Risk. FUEL SEEPAGE BETWEEN THE FEED FUEL HOSE AND THE ENGINE FITTING CAN RESULT IN FREE FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy. A REDESIGNED FEED FUEL HOSE AND HOSE CLAMP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ALLEVIATE THE FUEL SEEPAGE.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly90V016000
Filed Jan 30, 199062,000 vehiclesBayerische Motoren Werke

Defect. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, FRONT SEAT CENTER, FOLD-DOWN ARM REST MAY CONTACT THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RELEASE BUTTON AND PREVENTING THE BELT TONGUE FROM LATCHING WHEN BUCKLING UP.

Risk. OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE INJURED IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES WITH SHORTER VERSION THAT WILL NOT CONTACT THE ARMRESTS. NOTE: OWNER NOTIFICATION DATE; 2/90 IS PREPARED IN DRAFT FORM.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Dec 7, 1999NC

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK AFTER USE. LOCKING MECHANISM BROKE. ALSO, SEAT ADJUSTER RAIL HAD COLLAPSED, CAUSING SEAT TO LEAN TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHEN GOING UP HILL. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Apr 24, 1999FL

COOLING SYSTEM FAILED DUE TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE. SAID DEFECT IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL TO FIX THE ADMITTED DEFECT BY BMW OF NORTH AMERICA INC, RECALL NO. 98V-178000. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Apr 1, 1997NJ

BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED; ALSO COULD NOT OPEN UNLOCKED DOOR FROM INSIDE/DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLED AND SEA THEATER OVERHEATED, BURNING DRIVER. *AK

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Oct 11, 1996DE

THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A RAIN STORM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 30, 1996CA

PERSISTENT GAS FUMES IN PASSENGER AREA, DUE TO FUEL LINE HOSE/FITTINGS AFTER RECALL. (94V066000) *DH

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed May 30, 1995TX

DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE, PLASTIC PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO LATCH MECHANISM FROM RELEASE BUTTON, MALE WON'T GO INTO FEMALE PORTION. TT

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist › PumpCrash
Filed Mar 10, 1995MI

WHEN IT RAINY OR THERE IS WATER ON GROUND WATER GET INTO OR ON THE BELT WHICH CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT AND LOSS CONTROL. TT

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20020100Do not drive
20013110Do not drive
19982000Routine
19971000Routine
199515010Routine
19948000Routine
19933100Routine
199214130Routine
199115220Routine
1990 — this page7200Routine

Compare every 525 year →

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Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 11, 1994. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.