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1995 Bmw 525I: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

112,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 20 complaints (15.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior315.0%
Transmission and shifting15.0%
Steering behavior15.0%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages
3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
3
Electrical System
2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch3
Electrical System2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Unknown Or Other2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Air Bags1

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 3; Electrical System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 15 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.

2000
4
2001
3
2002
3
2003
1
2004
1
2005
1
2006
1
2007
1
2008
1
2010
2
2012
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20004
20013
20023
20031
20041
20051
20061
20071
20081
20102
20121
20221

2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10016094 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)

THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE HOUSING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRACK RESULTED FROM TOO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE COOLING SYSTEM. RELATED RECALL 98V178000. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016094 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10065276 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. VEHICLE JUMPED ACROSS A CEMENT BARRIER AND COLLIDED WITH A WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. SIX MONTHS AGO THE SAME THING OCCURRED WITHOUT THE COLLISION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065276 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10116551 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. I HAVE A 1995 525 BMW WITH 112000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION INSTANTLY ONE DAY SLIPPED AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON TO SEE MY DEALER. I DID AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSIONS ON BMW'S MUST BE REPLACED, THEY CANNOT BE FIXED OR REPAIRED. I CALLED BMW AND SPOKE TO A TIM IN CUSTOMER SERVICE. I ASKED FOR SOME TYPE OF WARRANTY, AND WAS GIVEN A POLITE ANSWER OF 'NO' WE DON'T GIVE WARRANTIES TO ANYONE WHOSE CAR IS OVER THE WARRANTY. I TOLD HIM I WORKED FOR FORD FOR 20 YEARS, AND THEY HAD A REP COME OUT AND LOOK INTO EACH PROBLEM, EVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116551 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10166907 · 2006-08-22 (August 22, 2006)

1995 BMW 525I CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166907 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10200173 · 2007-08-20 (August 20, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK AND THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DOORS WILL OPEN, BUT SHE MUST OPEN THEM QUICKLY. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE ONCE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 94V219000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,813.

Owner-reported narrative. 147,813 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200173 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10241640 · 2008-09-09 (September 9, 2008)

ON A HOT AFTERNOON IN SACRAMENTO, WE STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND SHUT OFF THE CAR PREPARING TO EXIT. THE WINDOWS OF THE BMW WERE UP AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AND WE WERE TRAPPED IN THE HOT CAR. FORTUNATELY WE HAD A CAR PHONE AND CALLED 911 FOR HELP. AFTER A FRIGHTENING HALF HOUR TRAPPED IN THE HOT LOCKED CAR WE WERE EXTRICATED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10241640 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10311630 · 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

OWNER OF 1995 BMW 525 WAS UNABLE TO EXIT CAR .WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN WITH KEY ON NOR DID SUNROOF OPEN. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SOUTH BAY DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL NUMBER 94V219000 AS SO DID BMW HEADQUARTERS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 153,537 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10340617 · 2010-06-29 (June 29, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 BMW 525I. AFTER SITTING IDLE IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT BUT WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE FOR OVER TEN MINUTES. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 94V219000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: DOORS: LATCH) HOWEVER THE DEALER ADVISED HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10340617 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

94V219000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Reported: 1994-11-08 (November 8, 1994)

THE DOUBLE-LOCK FEATURE CAN ENGAGE WITH OCCUPANTS AND THE DOOR/IGNITION KEY INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

Consequence: THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT EITHER FROM THE DOORS OR FROM THE WINDOWS OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVE-AWAY PROTECTION WOULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GENERAL CONTROL MODULE WITH ONE CONTAINING THE REVISED SOFTWARE TO PERMIT WINDOW OPENING WITH THE DOUBLE-LOCK ENGAGED AND KEY IN THE IGNITION.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 1997-08-19 (August 19, 1997)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
98V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System

Reported: 1998-08-04 (August 4, 1998)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

NHTSA campaign record ↗