2004 Bmw 525I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,314 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 84 complaints (32.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Seats | 16 |
| Seat Belts | 13 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Air Bags: 27; Electrical System: 17; Seats: 16; Seat Belts: 13; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 11
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 7; 2010: 3; 2011: 10; 2012: 11; 2013: 7; 2014: 11; 2015: 8; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10091736 · 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE PEDAL. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251684 · 2008-12-13 (December 13, 2008)
MY 2004 BMW 525I TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I WAS DRIVING AND HAD STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED AND THE CAR INCHED OUT AND JUST STOPPED.. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT PROCEED IN THE INTERSECTION.. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH READ THAT THE "TRANS DRIVE SAFE DRIVE MODERATELY" OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I TURNED THE CARE OFF. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS GONE UNTIL ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I LOOKED UP ANY INFORMATION THAT I COULD FIND ON BMW TRANSMI…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429305 · 2011-10-10 (October 10, 2011)
JUNE 2007. WHEN STARTING THE CAR, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC SYSTEM ISSUED ALERTS, AND INTERRUPTED FUNCTION OF SEVERAL SUBSYSTEMS INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ELECTRONIC DISPLAY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND REDUCED STEERING. THE DISPLAY FLASHED, "CONTINUED DRIVING NOT POSSIBLE" AND THEN FURTHER ALERTS. THE CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN A HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WATER ENTERED THE CAR. THE BMW CENTER EXAMINED THE CAR AND STATED THAT WATER HAD ENTERED THE CAR THROUGH A UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER FLOOR, AND TRUNK WERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472402 · 2012-08-24 (August 24, 2012)
IN JUNE 2012, I RECEIVED SERVICE FOR THE BATTERY CABLE RECALL FOR MY 2004 525I AT BEVERY HILLS BMW SERVICE CENTER. ONE WEEK AFTER MY SERVICE A SERVICE INDICATOR ON MY I-DRIVE SAID THERE WAS PASSENGER RESTRAINT/AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THE BEVERLY HILLS BMW SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THIS SERVICE INDICATOR WAS TRIGGERED BY A MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL WHICH HAPPENED SHORTLY <1000 MILES AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE BATTERY CABLE RECALL. THE RECALL SERVICE DONE AT BEVERLY HILLS BMW WAS RELATED TO THE MOUNTING OF THE BATTERY CAB…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,678 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127945 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
2004 BMW 525I EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH BREAKS SQUEAKING AND THE GLOVE BOX LATCH WHICH WAS BROKEN BY THE SERVICE TECHICIAN. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO GET BACK WITH CONSUMER. *TT *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145972 · 2005-12-23 (December 23, 2005)
THE I-DRIVE SOFTWARE OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF "BUGS" THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 12/13/05, WHEN PRESSING THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL BUTTONS, THE MODE (FM/AM/CD) WOULD NOT CHANGE; THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT HAS GONE ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IN ADDITION, MOST TIMES WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNINGS, THE RADIO STATION FREQUENCY DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE DISPLAY UNLESS I CHANGE THE STATION. PRESSING THE UP/DOWN STATION BUTTON DID NOT WORK EITHER. AS I WAS NEARBY MY DEALER, I STOPPED BY SO A SERVICE REP COULD DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM. HE DOCU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10410062 · 2011-06-30 (June 30, 2011)
ACTIVE STEERING PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 92,302 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10780148 · 2015-10-06 (October 6, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 525I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART UNTIL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780148 at NHTSA ↗