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1989 BMW 525I

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 11

2Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
198911
199013
199118
1992
Compare all 525I years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Visibility
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seats
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

1 YEAR AGO MOTOR WENT INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IT SPLIT RADIATOR IN THE SEAM. CONSUMER TOOK RECALL 98V178000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98V178 INTO DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE. BECAUSE OF DAMAGES IT COULDN'T BE TAKEN CARE OFF. *AK THE FAILURE OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR. THIS PROBLEM NEED…

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1 YEAR AGO MOTOR WENT INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IT SPLIT RADIATOR IN THE SEAM. CONSUMER TOOK RECALL 98V178000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98V178 INTO DEALER TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE. BECAUSE OF DAMAGES IT COULDN'T BE TAKEN CARE OFF. *AK THE FAILURE OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *YH

NHTSA ODI #882836

Official recalls

2

98V178000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

97V131000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.