Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–84 of 84

2004 BMW 525i complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Air Bags
Filed Jan 6, 201261,000 milesFL

PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, RIGHT HIGH BEAM MALFUNCTION. BMW DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHILE I REFERRED THEM TO THE SAFETY RECALL. THEY STATE THAT OUR BMW DOESN'T HAVE ANY OPEN ITEMS. HOW DO I KNOW THAT ALL THE 2004 525'S WERE INPUT INTO THE BMW DATABASE PROPERLY? I CAN'T PAY FOR THIS $1600 WARRANTY WHEN A SAFETY RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2008 (WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER AN BMW EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Dec 11, 201189,627 milesWA

MY PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WAS ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY CAR ONLY THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS UNLOCKED. MY REAR DOORS REMAINED LOCKED. I CANNOT OPEN MY DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE AND I AM WORRIED IF I EVER HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND MY PASSENGERS HAVE TO GET OUT THEY CANNOT. ALSO WITH THIS PROBLEM MY INTERIOR LIGHTING WENT OUT. THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE BUT MY DOORS ARE. *TR

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 24, 2011175,200 milesCA

WENT TO START CAR AFTER A 5 MINUTE DRIVE. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, NO SOUND, IGNITION NOT WORKING. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED. BMW IS SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN, IGNITION SWITCH, TO THE TUNE OF $3300! THE CAR IS A 2004 BMW 525I. SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

Power Train
Filed Nov 16, 2011119,000 milesIN

I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I WITH 119,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. I EXPERIENCED MY CAR MAKING A THUMP SOUND AND THEN THE I WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION. I CALLED THE MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT DID NOT SHOW THE DASH ERRORS. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 WEEKS AND THEN THE MECHANIC TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. I WILL NEVER BUY A BMW AGAIN. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Oct 31, 2011100,000 milesPR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V384000 (AIR BAG: FRONTAL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/22/11*LJ UPDATED 02/03/12

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 10, 201156,000 milesTX

JUNE 2007. WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC SYSTEM ISSUED ALERTS, AND INTERRUPTED FUNCTION OF SEVERAL SUBSYSTEMS INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ELECTRONIC DISPLAY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REDUCED STEERING. THE DISPLAY FLASHED, "CONTINUED DRIVING NOT POSSIBLE" AND THEN FURTHER ALERTS. THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN A HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WATER ENTERED THE CAR. THE BMW CENTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND STATED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH A UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER FLOOR, AND TRUNK WERE FILLED WITH WATER. THE PLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS WAS IN TO BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK. THAT IS WHERE ALL THE WATER COLLECTED AND CAUSE MAJOR ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. BMW STATED THAT THE ITEMS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTROL UNIT WAS MOVED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FLOOD WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. CAR PARKED IN GARAGE GOING FORWARD. SECOND MAJOR INCIDENT OCT 2011 . WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A HEAVY RAIN, WATER ENTERED THE CAR AND FLOODED THE CAR. UPON ENTERING THE CAR,I NOTICED THE WET ROOF LINER. MOISTURE WAS CONCENTRATED IN ONE SPOT. I CALLED BMW TO ASK IF THE WINDOW, DOOR, OR SUNROOF COULD BE DAMAGED AND CAUSE THE FLOOD IN MY CAR. THEY SAID YES AND TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. I ASKED IF THIS WAS CHECKED THE FIRST TIME THE CAR FLOODED AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH UNCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SUNROOF DRAIN LI

Steering
Filed Jun 30, 201192,302 milesMS

ACTIVE STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

Air Bags
Filed May 2, 201196,000 milesAZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Feb 22, 2011NY

CONSUMER IS THE OWNER OF A 1997 328I AND A 2004 525I BMW. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE MESSAGE IN VEHICLE AND SEAT SENSOR MAT. CONSUMER EXPRESSED DISCONTENT CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR REPAIRS *TGW WHILE EXITING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A MESSAGE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE APPEARED AS ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, THE WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE DOING SOME RESEARCH , THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL IDENTIFYING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MATS IN BMW MODEL YEARS 2004-2006. IT ALSO STATED BMW EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS WITHOUT ANY MILEAGE LIMIT TO SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING THE CONSUMERS 2004 MODEL. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER. THE NEXT THE DAY, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR MAT IN THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY AN UPDATED SEAT MAT AND THEREFORE, HE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THE COST WOULD BE $1,242.78. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE UPDATED SENSOR MAT WAS JUST AS FAULTY AS THE NON-UPDATED MAT AND FAILED AFTER 6 YEARS UNDER NORMAL USAGE. *JB

Seats
Filed Feb 6, 201187,000 milesNC

FRONT SEAT HEATING ELEMENTS GOT EXTREMELY HOT AND MADE A BURNING SMELL. PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S LEGS GOT UNCOMFORTABLY HOT TO THE POINT OF DISCOMFORT BEFORE THE HEATER WAS SHUT OFF. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Feb 2, 201162,000 milesHI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER SEATED. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO RECALL 08V384000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED HER A 50% PERCENT DISCOUNT TOWARDS REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,805 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

SeatsFire
Filed Dec 7, 201078,000 milesNJ

THE DRIVERS SEAT CATCH FIRE FROM SEAT HEATER ON BMW 525I FROM YEAR 2004 . *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 12, 2010FL

2004 BMW 525I AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON*CW THE CONSUMER STATED 7 TO 8 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AGAIN. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL. THE CONSUMER WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN AND SAID EVERY THING WAS OK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 5, 201079,000 milesCA

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HAD A PASSENGER SITTING NEXT TO ME WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT HAS STAYED ON AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN SAYS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

SeatsFire
Filed Dec 8, 200951,545 milesMN

THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED A HOLE IN MY DRIVER SEATS AND ALSO A HOLE IN MY PANTS. IF I HAD A PIECE OF PAPER OR SOMETHING IN MY BACK PAPER, IT WOULD HAVE SET IT ON FIRE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 200992,000 milesNC

I OWN A 2004 BMW 525I WITH 92,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE. I EXPERIENCED MY CAR CUTTING BACK AND THOUGHT I NEEDED A TUNE UP. I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO STATED I DIDN'T NEED A TUNE UP. HE REQUESTED THAT I BRING THE CAR IN TO THE SHOP. THE NEXT WEEK I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN LOSING ACCELERATION. THE MESSAGE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC SCREEN STATED "TRANSMISSION FAULT". CAR WILL LOSE ACCELERATION AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO INTO "REVERSE". FAILSAFE STATUS..DRIVE MODERATELY. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC. HE PUT THE CAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND STATED NO CODE WAS INDICATED. IT DID NOT SHOW ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I FOLLOWED UP BY MAKING A CALL TO A LOCAL BMW DEALER. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED. I WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WAS DEVASTATED. I CALLED BMW NA AFTER I READ THAT NUMEROUS BMW OWNERS HAVE AND ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. BMW NA WAS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE ENGINE'S AT BMW DID NOT AGREE THAT THE "NO REVERSE" TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I RECEIVED A FOLLOW UP CALL ON 9/22/09 FROM BMW NA RESTATING THE FACT THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I FEEL THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINEERING OF ALL BMW TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 8, 200970,000 milesPA

2004 525I BMW WITH 70,000 MI HAD TRANSMISSION GO OUT SUDDENLY. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS A TOTAL LOSS AND IT IS NOTHING THAT I DID OR COULD HAVE PREVENTED, BUT THE REPAIR BILL IS ~7,000.00. *TR

Wheels
Filed Aug 11, 200950,000 milesIL

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS NORMAL DRIVING. THE RIM HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK AFTER 50K MILES. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE CRACKS IN THE RIM AND CAN PROVIDE THESE IF NEEDED. I'M HAVING THE RIM REPAIRED BECAUSE THE COST IS TO HIGH TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A GENUINE BMW RIM. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 27, 200993,000 milesCT

RADIO,NAVIGATION,CD,PHONE,NOT WORKING. I DRIVE IS BLINK. CAR HAS 93,000 MILES. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 27, 200914,791 milesFL

SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 (WITH ONLY 14,000) I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT MAT SENSOR OF MY BMW 2004. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. IT WAS SERVICED. RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRES WITH OVER 50,000 MILES, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT ONLINE TO THE BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WEBSITE AND THERE'S A RECALL FOR CAR (SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE) BUT, THEY SAID MINE IS NOT INCLUDED. I WENT TO THIS BMW FORUMS AND I REALIZED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING THIS CONSEQUENCES. (GO TO GOOGLE AND TYPE E60 BMW RECALL ) SOME OF THEM RECALLED HAVING REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO YOU GUYS BEFORE. THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE THAT GOES INSIDE THE PASSENGER SEAT AND SENSES BY WEIGHT ACTIVATE OR DEACTIVATE THE AIRBAGS IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jan 21, 200967,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY EVENLY IN THE EVENT OF A SERIOUS CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V384000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL); THEREFORE, HE IS NOT ENTITLED TO A FREE REMEDY AS REFERENCED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000. UPDATED 2/23/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. UPDATED 02/25/09. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 13, 200842,000 milesCA

MY 2004 BMW 525I TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED AND THE CAR INCHED OUT AND JUST STOPPED.. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT PROCEED IN THE INTERSECTION.. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ THAT THE "TRANS DRIVE SAFE DRIVE MODERATELY" OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I TURNED THE CARE OFF. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS GONE UNTIL ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I LOOKED UP ANY INFORMATION THAT I COULD FIND ON BMW TRANSMISSIONS AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED OR ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE DESPERATE FOR HELP. THE MAIN MALFUNCTION AT THIS POINT IS THAT THE CAR IS SLUGGISH AT TAKE OFF AND DEFINITELY WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND AT ANY TIME, UNKNOWINGLY THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS CAN FAIL. PEOPLE DRIVING THESE BMW'S WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOME ONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS AUTOMOBILE IT'S FOUR YEARS OLD AND IT HAS FAILED WITH A MAJOR PROBLEM. PLEASE GO TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON THE INTERNET AND YOU WILL SEE THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE THAT HAS FAILED AND CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET REPAIRS DONE. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK, I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A QUOTE ON THE COST AS OF YET,

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 3, 200835,600 milesCA

AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINT ICONS REMAIN ON VEHICLE DISPLAY WHEN SEAT BELTS ARE ENGAGED/FASTENED. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Sep 27, 200735,600 milesAE

1) WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED, WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHILE TRAVELING, WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN WE GOT IN, WE NOTICED THAT A AIRBAG LIGHT AND SEATBELT LIGHT WERE INDICATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (RED FAULT LIGHTS). SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS THE BMW I-DRIVE WE ALSO NOTICED THE WARNING THAT "THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM, KEEP SEATBELT FASTENED, AND SEE BMW SERVICE CENTER" OR VERY CLOSE TO THIS. 2) I ASSUME THAT SINCE THERE IS THIS ERROR, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS DISABLED BY THE ECM. PART OF THE REASON FOR BUYING THE VEHICLE WAS FOR ITS SAFETY, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF US NOT HAVING AN AIRBAG AVAILABLE SHOULD THERE BE A CRASH COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. WE ARE LIVING IN GERMANY SUPPORTING THE US, AND AM NOT SURE OF THE RIGHT WAY TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. 3) I TOOK THE CAR TO A BMW DEALER WHO CHARGED ME 31.00EURO DOLLARS TO RETRIEVE THE TROUBLE CODE, AND TELL ME I HAD A BAD PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR MAT. I ALSO RECEIVED A QUOTE FOR A NEW ONE OF AROUND 720.00 EURO DOLLARS ($1036 US DOLLARS). THE CAR HAD A ONE YEAR WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER, BUT I HAVE NOT YET FOUND OUT IF THEY WILL COVER THIS. SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I THOUGHT THAT BMW WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE. *TR

Electrical System › Wiring › Rear Compartment/TrunkFire
Filed Jul 12, 200729,000 milesFL

I BELIEVE MOISTURE COLLECTED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE "SPARE TIRE WELL" IN THE TRUNK- DUE TO CHANGING FLAT TIRE AND OPENING TRUNK IN THE RAIN. THERE IS AND ELECTRONIC MODULE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE "SPARE TIRE WELL BMW STOCK #W61 35 6 982 347) IT WENT ON FIRE-BECAUSE OF MOISTURE. REPAIR WAS MADE, MODULE WAS RELOCATED TO UPPER LEFT LOCATION OF TRUNK (AS WAS DONE ON MODELS AFTER 2004 LD PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/CoolerFire
Filed Jun 11, 200751,653 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. ON APRIL 6, 2007, WHILE DRIVING 55MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. THE HEATED PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACTS COAT BURNED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SALES TEAM IS AWARE THAT THE FAILURE EXIST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE CAUSE WAS FALSE MEMORY. THE FRONT AND BACK SEATS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAS AN INVOICE WITH THE SPECIFICS RELATED TO THE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS PRESENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51653.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 16, 2006TX

I ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM ON MY 525I BMW. I TOOK IT IN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. *JB

Equipment
Filed Dec 23, 2005CA

THE I-DRIVE SOFTWARE OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF "BUGS" THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 12/13/05, WHEN PRESSING THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTONS, THE MODE (FM/AM/CD) WOULD NOT CHANGE; THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT HAS GONE ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IN ADDITION, MOST TIMES WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS, THE RADIO STATION FREQUENCY DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE DISPLAY UNLESS I CHANGE THE STATION. PRESSING THE UP/DOWN STATION BUTTON DID NOT WORK EITHER. AS I WAS NEARBY MY DEALER, I STOPPED BY SO A SERVICE REP COULD DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM. HE DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ME TO BRING IN THE CAR ON 12/21/05. ON 12/21/05, THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEPT IT THROUGH 12/22. THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I SPOKE WITH BOTH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND THE LEAD SERVICE TECH. TOLD THEM THAT I WORK IN IT AND THAT IT APPEARS THE SOFTWARE MUST HAVE A BUG, SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE LEAD SERVICE TECH SAID THAT RELOADING THE SOFTWARE AT THIS TIME WOULD NOT HELP, AS TO HIS KNOWLEDGE, THE SOFTWARE HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN MONTHS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE I-DRIVE SYSTEM. THE SOFTWARE IS FRAUGHT WITH PROBLEMS AND IT IS ABOUT TIME BMW DEMAND OF THE SOFTWARE ENGINEERS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS ONCE AND FOR ALL! *JB

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Apr 27, 200511,000 milesNJ

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICE THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. ORGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE 245/45R17, DOT # JNK2707. THIS TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON BMW, 525I ,2004 VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 7, 2005DC

2004 BMW 525I EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH BREAKS SQUEAKING AND THE GLOVE BOX LATCH WHICH WAS BROKEN BY THE SERVICE TECHICIAN. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO GET BACK WITH CONSUMER. *TT *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Nov 1, 20042,700 milesVA

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. *AK *SC

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Sep 21, 20041,700 milesCA

CAR HAD SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY.*AK

Air Bags
Filed Jun 23, 2004NY

FAULTY AIR BAG SYSTEM.*MR THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WA A MONTH FROM THAT DATE. *NM

Structure › Body › Hood
Filed Feb 19, 2004CA

CONSUMER NOTICED HOOD MISALIGNMENT. ALSO, DEALER NOTICED A DEFECT ON THE SOS SYSTEM. (NAR) *LA *CB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2004 BMW 525i → · Every 525i year → · How the figures are calculated →