Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
525–50K
2050–75K
1275–100K
14100–150K
3150K+
56 reports with mileage · 16 unknown
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.
Air Bags. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
72 reports
50,000 miles · Oct 24, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other
THE NHTSA DATABASE IS SHOWING A RECALL FOR MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. HOWEVER I AM CURRENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA WITH MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE IS TELLING ME THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THIS IS A CONFLICT. I CAN NOT SHIP MY CAR BACK TO THE US WITHOUT THIS RECALL BEING CLEARED. CAN SOMEONE PROVIDE ME DOCUMENTATION…
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THE NHTSA DATABASE IS SHOWING A RECALL FOR MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. HOWEVER I AM CURRENTLY IN SOUTH KOREA WITH MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE IS TELLING ME THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THIS IS A CONFLICT. I CAN NOT SHIP MY CAR BACK TO THE US WITHOUT THIS RECALL BEING CLEARED. CAN SOMEONE PROVIDE ME DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN SATISFIED.
NHTSA ODI #11270887
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2018
Electrical System
2007 BMW 525I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RECALLED POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION. *AS *JS
NHTSA ODI #11143108
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER IN HEMET, CALIFORNIA WAS MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER IN HEMET, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11075990
56,000 miles · Jan 25, 2018
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AN UNKNOWN ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V68300…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AN UNKNOWN ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V683000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS DO TO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (BMW OF OCALA 5145 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34474, (352) 861-0234) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11064800
125,000 miles · Dec 19, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts
MY WARNING LIGHT "FAULT IN THE PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" ILLUMINATED WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON. HAS NOT COME OFF.
NHTSA ODI #11055436
110,000 miles · Nov 19, 2017
Engine
OVERHEATED, I HAVE SPENT OVER $3000 TO REPAIR THE OVERHEAT PROBLEM, IT KEEP COMING BACK
NHTSA ODI #11047358
75,000 miles · Nov 3, 2017
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 BMW 525I ON A CITY STREET AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES WERE NON EXISTENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ALL OF ITS PRESSURE AND WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH BARELY STOPPED…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 BMW 525I ON A CITY STREET AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES WERE NON EXISTENT. THE BRAKE PEDAL LOST ALL OF ITS PRESSURE AND WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN WITHOUT STOPPING THE VEHICLE. I COULD NOT STOP AT THE STOP SIGN AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WHICH BARELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK SO I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION UNDER MY HOOD, I FOUND A BROKEN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE WHICH BROKE APART AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #11043021
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2017
Steering
LIGHTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL ITS BEEN LOCK CAME OUT, THE CAR WAS PARK AND WAS READY TO GO TO WORK, BUT WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHT SHOW UP ON THE PANEL, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT LOCK, I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT,, I TURN IT OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE LIGHT STILL ON
NHTSA ODI #11003308
120,000 miles · May 11, 2017
Electrical System
MY BMW DRIVERS SEAT GET SO HOT IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE ( I DON'T HAVE HEATED SEATS } SOMETIMES IN MOTION SOMETIME AFTER I SHUT TI OFF
NHTSA ODI #10984973
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2017
Steering
THE CAR WILL NOT START, A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION AND A ENGINE MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEAR. HAD BMW MECHANICS TRY TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. CHANGED STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, REPROGRAM MODULES, CHANGE SEVERAL SENSORS, PLACE NEW BATTERY AND EVEN REPLACE THE DME. THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO PARTIALLY ALLOW THE CAR TO START IS TO "RESET …
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THE CAR WILL NOT START, A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION AND A ENGINE MALFUNCTION MESSAGE APPEAR. HAD BMW MECHANICS TRY TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. CHANGED STEERING LOCK MECHANISM, REPROGRAM MODULES, CHANGE SEVERAL SENSORS, PLACE NEW BATTERY AND EVEN REPLACE THE DME. THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO PARTIALLY ALLOW THE CAR TO START IS TO "RESET THE CAS" WITH A COMPUTER.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the parts within the PCV valve to melt, increasing the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is not in use.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans and 325xi sports wagons, model year 2007 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi sedans and 328i and 328xi sports wagons, model year 2006-2007 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i sedans and 530xi sports wagons, model year 2006 760i sedans, model year 2006-2007 750i, 750Li, and 760Li sedans, and model year 2006 X5 sports activity vehicles, equipped with certain seat types. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant detection mat to eliminate the possibility that it may crack, free of charge. Additionally, owners of model year 2006-2007 3 Series with standard seats, 5 Series with comfort seats, and Z4 models, will receive an extended warranty on their front passenger seat occupant detection mat. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
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.
2007 BMW 525I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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