2004 Bmw 525I: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10059435 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED HOOD MISALIGNMENT. ALSO, DEALER NOTICED A DEFECT ON THE SOS SYSTEM. (NAR) *LA *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079804 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
FAULTY AIR BAG SYSTEM.*MR THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WA A MONTH FROM THAT DATE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091406 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
CAR HAD SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091406 at NHTSA ↗
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 10119238 · 2005-04-27 (April 27, 2005)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICE THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. ORGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE 245/45R17, DOT # JNK2707. THIS TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON BMW, 525I ,2004 VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119238 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 10162510 · 2006-07-16 (July 16, 2006)
I ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM ON MY 525I BMW. I TOOK IT IN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162510 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.