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
75,000 miles · Apr 6, 2015
Electrical SystemSeatsUnknown Or Other
BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUG STARTED USING THE SEAT WARMER ABOUT DECEMBER OF 2014. HERE AND THERE UPON USING I'D SMELL SOMETHING BURNING SO I WOULD TURN IT OFF! BUT NOT ALL THE TIME WHEN USING THE WARMER DID I SMELL BURNING! LATE MARCH MY HUSBAND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ON MY DRIERS SEAT, I INSTANTLY REMEMBERED THE BURNING SMELL WHEN SOMET…
Read full complaint
BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUG STARTED USING THE SEAT WARMER ABOUT DECEMBER OF 2014. HERE AND THERE UPON USING I'D SMELL SOMETHING BURNING SO I WOULD TURN IT OFF! BUT NOT ALL THE TIME WHEN USING THE WARMER DID I SMELL BURNING! LATE MARCH MY HUSBAND NOTICED A BURN HOLE ON MY DRIERS SEAT, I INSTANTLY REMEMBERED THE BURNING SMELL WHEN SOMETIMES USING THE SEAT HEATER! I'M LUCKY I WAS NOT BURNED BUT MY DRIVER SEAT IS RUINED AND I'M NOW AFRAID TO USE THE HEATERS, EVER! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10703920
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2015
Electrical System
THE WIRES IN THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY ARE BRITTLE AND BREAK UPON JUST TOUCHING THEM. CAUSING DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS TO FAIL AS WIRES ARE BARE AND TOUCHING EACH OTHER. THIS IS ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10689696
97,000 miles · Nov 20, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10659772
89,950 miles · Oct 14, 2014
Steering
I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME FROM WORK, AND A RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING "STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION" I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MOST BMW 3 SERIES AND SOME 5. I HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED ONE YEAR AGO FOR $800, SO IT CAN'T BE THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE BMW KNOWS ABOUT, BUT WILL NOT ISSUE THE PRO…
Read full complaint
I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME FROM WORK, AND A RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING "STEERING WHEEL LOCK MALFUNCTION" I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MOST BMW 3 SERIES AND SOME 5. I HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED ONE YEAR AGO FOR $800, SO IT CAN'T BE THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE BMW KNOWS ABOUT, BUT WILL NOT ISSUE THE PROPER RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10644463
73,000 miles · Sep 9, 2014
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ELECTRONIC SEAT CONTROL SWITCH WOULD REVERSE WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA ODI #10631963
77,500 miles · Aug 8, 2014
Steering
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED ACCORDING TO THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH. THE INDICATOR HAD THE LETTERS ELV WITH A PICTURE OF A STEERING WHEEL WITH A LOCK. IT STATED THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND IN ORDER TO START IT RECOMMENDED THAT I MOVE THE STEERI…
Read full complaint
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED ACCORDING TO THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH. THE INDICATOR HAD THE LETTERS ELV WITH A PICTURE OF A STEERING WHEEL WITH A LOCK. IT STATED THAT FOR SAFETY REASONS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND IN ORDER TO START IT RECOMMENDED THAT I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING WAS IN YELLOW AND SEVERAL TIMES IN RED. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS FOR THE FEAR THAT I WILL BECOME STRANDED IF THE VEHICLE WON'T START. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10620916
94,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts
PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAILURE WARNING CAME UP ON MY 2007 525I. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS MODELS BUT AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED AND WOULD COST ME ROUGHLY $2000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS NOBODY CAN RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SHOULD BE COVE…
Read full complaint
PASSENGER RESTRAINT FAILURE WARNING CAME UP ON MY 2007 525I. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS MODELS BUT AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED AND WOULD COST ME ROUGHLY $2000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS NOBODY CAN RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED WITH THE OTHER VEHICLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605797
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIME TO CONTACT THE DEALER IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V564000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIME TO CONTACT THE DEALER IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10605655
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2014
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY 2014 INDICATING THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT HAD NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES IN REFERENCE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY ONLY TO BE INFORMED …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V564000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JANUARY 2014 INDICATING THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT HAD NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES IN REFERENCE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY ONLY TO BE INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXHIBITED THE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10605634
52,000 miles · Jun 14, 2014
Air Bags
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE LACK OF URGENCY SHOWN BY BMW IN ADDRESSING MY CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THE RECALL ISSUED DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF THE FRONT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT. MY CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM IN MID DEC 2013, JUST BEFORE THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED. SINCE THIS MALFUNCTION WAS SAFETY RELATED, I…
Read full complaint
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE LACK OF URGENCY SHOWN BY BMW IN ADDRESSING MY CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THE RECALL ISSUED DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF THE FRONT AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT. MY CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM IN MID DEC 2013, JUST BEFORE THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED. SINCE THIS MALFUNCTION WAS SAFETY RELATED, I RUSHED TO GET THE CAR REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. MY LOCAL BMW DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE SENSOR MODULE AVAILABLE; THEREFORE, I HAD TO GET THE REPAIR DONE FROM THE CERTIFIED BMW SERVICE PROFESSIONAL WHERE I INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF $851.84. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH BMW SINCE JANUARY TO GET PAID FOR THIS REPAIR AND HAVE MADE REPEATED CALLS (ON DATES 3/26, 4/15, 6/9) BUT EVERY TIME I GET TOLD THAT I HAVE TO WAIT TO GET THIS PAYMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE RUN OUT OF PATIENCE. HOW CAN YOU MAKE YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS GO THROUGH THIS DISGRACEFUL ?RUN AROUND?? WHEN I PURCHASED A BMW, I SIGNED FOR HIGH LEVELS OF QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE COMPANY HAS FAILED ME ON BOTH COUNTS. I HAVE LOST PATIENCE AND WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SUB PAR SERVICE PROVIDED BY BMW. *JS
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
Illustration