Illustration1995 BMW 525I CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES *NM
1995 BMW 525I
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 525I years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 24 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
4 reportsTHE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE HOUSING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRACK RESULTED FROM TOO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. RELATED RECALL 98V178000. *NLM
COOLANT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN RED PLASTIC PART, COOLANT SYSTEM MELTS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOT UNDER RECALL.*AK THE COOLING SYSTEM CONTAINS A PLASTIC WATER PUMP, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA CONSIDERING IT WILL GET HOT AND NOT HOLD UP, THE WATER PUMP…
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COOLANT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN RED PLASTIC PART, COOLANT SYSTEM MELTS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOT UNDER RECALL.*AK THE COOLING SYSTEM CONTAINS A PLASTIC WATER PUMP, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA CONSIDERING IT WILL GET HOT AND NOT HOLD UP, THE WATER PUMP SHATTERED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. *SLC
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (98V178000), CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE, CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE REPAIRS PERFORMED, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSMENT BECAUSE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY. …
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PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (98V178000), CONSUMER EXPERIENCED COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE, CONSUMER THEN TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE REPAIRS PERFORMED, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSMENT BECAUSE FAILURE HAD ALREADY OCCURRED BUT WAS DENIED REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY. *JB
Official recalls
398V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Aug 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM PRESSURE. IF THE INDICATIONS OF A CRITICAL OVERHEATING CONDITION IS NOT NOTICED BY THE DRIVER, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A CRACK WERE TO FORM OR A SEAM WERE TO SEPARATE IN THE HEATER CORE END PIECE, HOT COOLANT COULD SUDDENLY BE EXPELLED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 19, 1997
THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO REMAIN PARTIALLY OPEN. IT HIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE CAR MIGHT NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.
94V219000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Nov 8, 1994
THE DOUBLE-LOCK FEATURE CAN ENGAGE WITH OCCUPANTS AND THE DOOR/IGNITION KEY INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT EITHER FROM THE DOORS OR FROM THE WINDOWS OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVE-AWAY PROTECTION WOULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GENERAL CONTROL MODULE WITH ONE CONTAINING THE REVISED SOFTWARE TO PERMIT WINDOW OPENING WITH THE DOUBLE-LOCK ENGAGED AND KEY IN THE IGNITION.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.