2001 BMW 525I Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 ...
We arrived at church, and I remained behind finishing my makeup. My husband locked the car with the fob out of habit, and my foot was holding the passenger door open. Forgetting the door had been locked with the fob, I accidentally allowed the passenger door to close. I had no keys. Services began, ...
We arrived at church, and I remained behind finishing my makeup. My husband locked the car with the fob out of habit, and my foot was holding the passenger door open. Forgetting the door had been locked with the fob, I accidentally allowed the passenger door to close. I had no keys. Services began, ...
BMW IS USING THE RECALL TO FORCE PEOPLE BACK INTO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. EVEN WHEN A REPAIR ISN'T REQUIRED. THEN, THEY TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE 100 OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED ON YOUR VEHICLE. ATTACHED ARE THE SAMPLES OF THE DOCUMENTS. THIS BEHAVIOR IS FRAUDULENT AND DECEPTIVE. EVEN THOUGH THEY ...
I DROVE THE CAR A MILE TO THE STORE AND A MILE BACK AND WHEN I WAS WALKING AWAY YOU COULD SEE A SPARK AND THEN A MINUTE LATER ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER UNTIL THEN THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND WITHIN 4 MINUTES THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SECURITY CAMERAS CAUGHT THE WHOLE THING ON TAPE. WE TRIED O...
Mileage: 177,000
I DROVE THE CAR A MILE TO THE STORE AND A MILE BACK AND WHEN I WAS WALKING AWAY YOU COULD SEE A SPARK AND THEN A MINUTE LATER ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER UNTIL THEN THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND WITHIN 4 MINUTES THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY SECURITY CAMERAS CAUGHT THE WHOLE THING ON TAPE. WE TRIED O...
Mileage: 177,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PARKING AND RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE DETECTED A BURNING ODOR AND FLAMES EXITING THE FRONT OF HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN OPENING THE HOOD HE SAW FIRE LOCAT...
Mileage: 160,000
I HAD TAKEN A LONGER ROAD TRIP, AND WAS ON MY WAY BACK, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WAY WHEN WE STOPPED FOR DINNER. I PARKED, AND EVERYTHING WAS USUAL. A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, I WENT TO MOVE THE CAR, AND WHILE I WAS WAITING IN A DRIVE-THRU LINE, I SEE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I SMELL A...
Mileage: 160,000
I HAD TAKEN A LONGER ROAD TRIP, AND WAS ON MY WAY BACK, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE WAY WHEN WE STOPPED FOR DINNER. I PARKED, AND EVERYTHING WAS USUAL. A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, I WENT TO MOVE THE CAR, AND WHILE I WAS WAITING IN A DRIVE-THRU LINE, I SEE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND I SMELL A...
Mileage: 160,000
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF MANY TIMES. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER I EXIT THE HIGHWAY CAR SHAKED AND ALMOST CANNOT DRIVE. BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OR PARK ONE DAY, IT CAN DRIVE AGAIN, WHEN IT CAN DRIVE, IT RUNS EXCELLENT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IF I DRIVE A LONG DISTANCE, THE LIGH...
Mileage: 60
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF MANY TIMES. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER I EXIT THE HIGHWAY CAR SHAKED AND ALMOST CANNOT DRIVE. BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OR PARK ONE DAY, IT CAN DRIVE AGAIN, WHEN IT CAN DRIVE, IT RUNS EXCELLENT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IF I DRIVE A LONG DISTANCE, THE LIGH...
Mileage: 60
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND OFF MANY TIMES. THERE ARE SEVERAL TIMES AFTER I EXIT THE HIGHWAY CAR SHAKED AND ALMOST CANNOT DRIVE. BUT AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OR PARK ONE DAY, IT CAN DRIVE AGAIN, WHEN IT CAN DRIVE, IT RUNS EXCELLENT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IF I DRIVE A LONG DISTANCE, THE LIGH...
Mileage: 60
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE W...
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE W...
POSSIBLE BMW RECALL ISSUE (CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE CAR OFF). CAR PURCHASED ON 11/8/17. ON 11/16/17, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION OFF AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, DRIVER HEARD THE CAR ALARM GO OFF WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO GO OUTSI...
Mileage: 206,000
POSSIBLE BMW RECALL ISSUE (CAR SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WHILE CAR OFF). CAR PURCHASED ON 11/8/17. ON 11/16/17, CAR WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH IGNITION OFF AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, DRIVER HEARD THE CAR ALARM GO OFF WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO GO OUTSI...
Mileage: 206,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, SHE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR EMITTING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN TO READ EXTREMELY HOT WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR. ALSO, LIGHT GRAY SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE E...
Mileage: 86,990
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL PARKING GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND ABRUPTLY AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED JAW FR...
Mileage: 102,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. AFTER TWO HOURS, THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE...
Mileage: 166,000
UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM 4 MILE ROUND TRIP LIGHT CITY TRAFFIC (25 MPH AVER SPEED), AND ENTERING BASE OF MY DRIVEWAY, MY WELL-SERVICED 2001 BMW 525I (60,000 MILES) SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, ENGINE QUIT, BATTERY WARNING LIGHTING, AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, AND LOUD CLANGING NOISE CAM...
Mileage: 60,000
UPON ARRIVING HOME FROM 4 MILE ROUND TRIP LIGHT CITY TRAFFIC (25 MPH AVER SPEED), AND ENTERING BASE OF MY DRIVEWAY, MY WELL-SERVICED 2001 BMW 525I (60,000 MILES) SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, ENGINE QUIT, BATTERY WARNING LIGHTING, AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, AND LOUD CLANGING NOISE CAM...
Mileage: 60,000
I PURCHASED MY USED 2001 BMW E39 525I TWO YRS AGO WITH MANY ISSUES AS EXPECTED WHEN I LEARNED IT WAS A "LEASE", PRIOR OWNER NEVER MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE. I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE FOR MONTHS "AIRBAG" LIGHT ON. PAID FOR MONTHS HAVING IT RESET, THEN I FINALLY I STARTED A SEARCH TO LOCATE A "RECALL FOR AIR...
ABS / DSC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE . TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME , STABILITY CONTROL IS INOPERABLE. *TR
Mileage: 109,000
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHEN WET, BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY HARD TO PUSH. A SQUISHING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AS THE BRAKE IS APPLIED AND PEDAL MOVES TO THE FLOOR BOARD. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN BRAKE IS VERY WET (COMING OUT OF CARWASH, ALSO HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES DURING A HARD RAIN.) TOOK A GREAT DEAL OF EF...
Mileage: 74,900
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN HE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. HE HAD TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE....
Mileage: 40,000
ALTERNATOR FAILURE (OF A 525I BMW 2001) DUE TO THE ENTRANCE OF LEAVES AND DIRTY THROUGH THE COOLING HOSE OF THE ALTERNATOR AND GETTING INTO THE ELECTRICAL PARTS OF THE ALTERNATOR (IODES). THIS LEAD TO FIRE AND DAMAGE OF THE ALTERNATOR. THE HOSE IS APROXIMATELY 2.5 IN. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FILT...
Mileage: 41,200
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING LEFT TURNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER THE SIDE OR FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST, SHOULDERS, AND ARM INJURIES FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND MAKING LEFT TURNING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER THE SIDE OR FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST, SHOULDERS, AND ARM INJURIES FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK
I HAVE 2001 BMW 525I. I WENT TO DEALER SERVICE SO MANY TIMES TO FIX MY PROBLEM CONCERN. THEY WON'T FIX IT AND SAID THAT "NO CUSTOMERS COMPLAINT DUPLICATED" ALL THE TIMES. AFTER DONE MY FIRST 15000 MILES SERVICE AT DEALER, "EML" LIGHTS CAME UP AND I SENT MY CAR TO DEALER IMMIDIATELY. THEY CHANGED "TR...
Mileage: 16,000
ODOMETER ON VEHICLE IS NOT READING SPEED CORRECTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.AK
RE: BMW 525I WAGON WITH SPORTS PACKAGE. CASTER IN FRONT WHEELS PERMANENTLY MALADJUSTED SUCH THAT AT ABOUT 8,000MILES SEVERE CUPPING IS CAUSED ON INSIDE OF TIRE TREAD, RESULTING IN MAJOR ROAD NOISE AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE TIRES. HAVE DONE SO TWICE. INFORMED BY KNOWLEDGABLE P...
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE BASED ON INFORMATION STATED IN BROCHURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSTALLED WITH REAR SIDE AIRBAGS OPTION WHICH ALSO INCLUDED REAR HEAD PROTECTION AIRBAG, IT TURNS OUT ONLY THE SEDAN IS EQUIPPED WITH THE ADDITIONAL HEAD PROTECTION AIRBAG, OWNERS MANUAL INFORMATION IS NOT ST...