Model year record

2009 BMW 525i recalls & problems

The 2009 BMW 525i has 1 safety recall and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaint).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints1filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingOct 30, 2017

Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)

Recall 17V683000740,561 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical system	1	0	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical systemFire
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, SUDDENLY WE BEGAN TO SMELL 'SOMETHING' BURNING, AND THEN THE IDRIVE SYSTEM DISPLAYED A BATTERY ICON LIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE MESSAGE "CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" AND CONTROL MESSAGES WARNING "YOUR BATTERY IS NOT BEING CHARGED". SECONDS AFTER THAT MESSAGE THE POWER IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN SURGING, AND ANOTHER MESSAGE DISPLAYED "4X4 SYSTEM AND DSC HAVE MALFUNCTIONED". AT THIS POINT WE WERE PULLING OVER, AND THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE. THE 4 OF US EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE BONNET. WE MANAGED TO MOVE SAFELY AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CALL FOR HELP AS IT WENT UP IN FLAMES - BURNING COMPLETELY (BUMPER…
Dec 11, 2015 · 123,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.