Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
525–50K
2050–75K
1275–100K
14100–150K
3150K+
56 reports with mileage · 16 unknown
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.
Air Bags. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
72 reports
120,000 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 525 BMW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CONTAMINATION. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 525 BMW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME STIFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM BOOSTER HAD MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO CONTAMINATION. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10595583
86,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NOTICE: 13V564000. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NOTICE: 13V564000. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA ODI #10592529
70,000 miles · Apr 21, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND WOULD SPORADICALLY FLASH ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VIN WAS NOT IN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND WOULD SPORADICALLY FLASH ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA
NHTSA ODI #10583881
96,673 miles · Feb 2, 2014
Air BagsSeats
2007 BMW SEAT MAT SENSOR FOR ACTIVATION OF AIR BAG, FAILED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED, IS NOW THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER SOLD THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, HE IS STILL SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. UPDATED 02/19/14 UPDATED 06/09/14. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10562542
84,000 miles · Oct 9, 2013
Power Train
TRANSMISSION JERKS AND THE CAR GIVES A KICK WHEN THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS FROM 2 TO 1. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. SEEN MANY REFERENCES OF TRANSMISSION JERK / KICK ISSUES ONLINE ON BIMMERFEST. REPORTS TO BMW USA AS WELL. BMW USA REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10547438
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2013
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
UPDATED: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS A REAR PASSENGER AND WAS THROWN FORWARD AS THE LAP BELT CUT INTO HER STOMA…
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UPDATED: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS A REAR PASSENGER AND WAS THROWN FORWARD AS THE LAP BELT CUT INTO HER STOMACH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENDURE SURGERY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO HER STOMACH CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/30/13*CN
NHTSA ODI #10546253
73,000 miles · Aug 8, 2013
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control
TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO STOP, DOWNSHIFTING TRANSMISSION ISSUE FROM 2 TO 1 SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534273
63,000 miles · Jul 22, 2013
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats
STARTED THE ENGINE. PASSENGER SAT IN VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT APPEARED ON SCREEN. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GLITCH. THE LIGHT APPEARED ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SEAT MAT OR SENSOR AND THE COST WOULD RUN AROUND 1500 AT THE DEALER. WAS TOLD TO…
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STARTED THE ENGINE. PASSENGER SAT IN VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT APPEARED ON SCREEN. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GLITCH. THE LIGHT APPEARED ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND TOLD THAT IT WAS THE SEAT MAT OR SENSOR AND THE COST WOULD RUN AROUND 1500 AT THE DEALER. WAS TOLD TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL. CHECKED ON THE WEBSITE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL BUT MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING FOR THE 2006 VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10526128
106,000 miles · May 7, 2013
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeats
WARNING MESSAGE FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. TOOK TO DEALER AND TOLD IT WAS THE SEAT SENSOR. I DID NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT WAS WAY TO MUCH MONEY. THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR. PRIOR YEAR CARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THIS YEAR CA…
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WARNING MESSAGE FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. TOOK TO DEALER AND TOLD IT WAS THE SEAT SENSOR. I DID NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT WAS WAY TO MUCH MONEY. THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR. PRIOR YEAR CARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THIS YEAR CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US BMW OWNERS OUT. THANK YOU! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510929
93,000 miles · Mar 1, 2013
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO STATED THAT THE CENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT I…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO STATED THAT THE CENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
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 CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2007 BMW 525I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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