The 1992 BMW 525i has 4 safety recalls and 18 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (13 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints18filed by owners
Crashes · fires4 · 2reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
NHTSA recall 98V178000 · Aug 4, 1998 · 340,000 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
Vehicle speed control
NHTSA recall 97V131000 · Aug 19, 1997 · 410,000 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Problem: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Air bags › Frontal
NHTSA recall 96V110000 · Jul 1, 1996 · 75,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
525i
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
525i
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
525i Touring
18mpg combined
City / highway
15 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Cooling system; Exhaust system
13
0
0
0
142,000 mi
Air bags Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module; On-off switch assembly
5
3
0
3
97,500 mi
Electrical system 12v/24v/48v battery; Wiring › Interior/under dash
4
0
1
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Storage › Tank assembly
2
1
1
0
—
Structure Body › Door › Hinge and attachments; Body
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, other Storage › Tank assembly › Filling/charging
1
0
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission
1
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 7, 2004 · 99,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING SEVERE BURNS. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THE THIRD DEGREE BURNS TO HER FACE AND NECK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 99,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Jul 30, 2011 · 286,508 milesStructure › Body BODY APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE BODY LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL APART, IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FIELDS BMW NORTHFIELD 700 W FRONTAGE ROAD NORTHFIELD, IL 60093 MAY HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT. THEY INSPECTED VEHICLE ON JUNE 11TH 2011 AND DID NOT MENTION THIS ISSUE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Mar 24, 2006 · 142,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE ENGINE'S OVERALL COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Aug 15, 2000 · 90,000 milesAir bags THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS NOTICEABLE, A CLICK OR GRAB TYPE FEEL, WHEREVER THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO MY BMW SHOP TO CORRECT. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED BUT THE CLICK WAS REMOVED. ON RECALLS FOR BMWS THIS FAULT WAS LIMITED TO THE 3 SERIES AND NOT A 5 SERIES WHICH I OWN. I HAD REPORTED THIS EARLIER BUT DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY RESPONSE FROM THE NTSB SO THEREFORE I AM RESUBMITTING. *NM
Mar 7, 2004 · 96,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags › Frontal DT: VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN FRONTAL IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO THE CHIN AREA, AND HAD TO HAVE ROOT CANAL WORK ON A TOOTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THERE WAS A SMALL DEPLOYMENT AND IT WAS LIKE IT WAS FIRE, RED FLAMING AREA ON THE AIR BAG THAT ACTUALLY IGNITED. *AK
Jul 15, 2001Air bags › On-off switch assembly I AM WONDERING HOW THE MANUFACTURE DETERMINES WHICH VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY A PARTICULIAR RECALL. A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES, I HAVE A 1992 BMW 525I AND HAVE EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES RELATED TO RECALLS ONE CONCERNED THE RING IN THE STEERING COLUMN RELATED TO THE AIRBAG BROKE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE OTHER HAD TO DO WITH THE COOLING SYSTEM WHERE THE TERMOSTAT STUCK AND THE PRESSURE CRACKED THE RADIATOR. THESE FAILURE OCCURRED A FEW YEARS BACK AND I WOULD NED TO CHECK MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS TO GET THE EXACT DATES.
Apr 22, 2004 · 103,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT QUARTER PANEL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS BURNED IN THE FACE AND CHEST. *AK
Mar 1, 2001Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system BMW HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD RADIATOR PROBLEMS / RECALLS - AND CLAIM MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL - IN WHICH 370M VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. NOSAFETY DEFECT. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.