1993 BMW 525I — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
9
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1993 BMW 525I
The 1993 BMW 525I has received a total of 9 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System (2 complaints), Electrical System (1 complaint), and Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1993 BMW 525I
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 1993 BMW 525I, potentially affecting up to 930,000 vehicles.
Recall 98V178000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
| 340,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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.
View full details →Recall 97V131000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 410,000 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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.
View full details →Recall 96V111000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
| 180,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1993 BMW 525I
9 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1993 BMW 525I. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemradiator Assembly | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainautomatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodydoor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGERS WERE NOT ABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO OPEN. AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGERS WERE NOT ABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
RECEIVED INSTALLATION OF RECALLED RADIATOR CAP AT VOB BMW IN 9/27/99 (98V178000) THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE BMW CARS FROM OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND BURNUP. ON 5/9/00 THE TEMP WAS 95 DEGREES F, AFTER RUNNING MY AIR CONDITIONING, MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY AND THE ENGINE BURNED-OUT BEFORE I COULD GET IT ALL THE WAY OFF THE ROAD. THE SERVICE MECHANIC I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO, FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE BOTH HAD A LARGE HOLE IN EACH. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER WHICH IS PLASTIC WAS BROKEN OR MELTED OFF. AS A RESULT, NO FLUIDS WERE GETTING TO THE ENGINE; HENCE, MY ENGINE BURNED UP QUICKLY. *AK
RECEIVED INSTALLATION OF RECALLED RADIATOR CAP AT VOB BMW IN 9/27/99 (98V178000) THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE BMW CARS FROM OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND BURNUP. ON 5/9/00 THE TEMP WAS 95 DEGREES F, AFTER RUNNING MY AIR CONDITIONING, MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY AND THE ENGINE BURNED-OUT BEFORE I COULD GET IT ALL THE WAY OFF THE ROAD. THE SERVICE MECHANIC I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO, FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE BOTH HAD A LARGE HOLE IN EACH. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER WHICH IS PLASTIC WAS BROKEN OR MELTED OFF. AS A RESULT, NO FLUIDS WERE GETTING TO THE ENGINE; HENCE, MY ENGINE BURNED UP QUICKLY. *AK
RECEIVED INSTALLATION OF RECALLED RADIATOR CAP AT VOB BMW IN 9/27/99 (98V178000) THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE BMW CARS FROM OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND BURNUP. ON 5/9/00 THE TEMP WAS 95 DEGREES F, AFTER RUNNING MY AIR CONDITIONING, MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY AND THE ENGINE BURNED-OUT BEFORE I COULD GET IT ALL THE WAY OFF THE ROAD. THE SERVICE MECHANIC I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO, FOUND THAT THE RADIATOR AND ENGINE BOTH HAD A LARGE HOLE IN EACH. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER WHICH IS PLASTIC WAS BROKEN OR MELTED OFF. AS A RESULT, NO FLUIDS WERE GETTING TO THE ENGINE; HENCE, MY ENGINE BURNED UP QUICKLY. *AK
View all Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1993 BMW 525I
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1993 BMW 525I in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1993 BMW 525I
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1993 BMW 525I
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW 525I
- 1989 BMW 525I — 4 complaints
- 1990 BMW 525I — 51 complaints
- 1991 BMW 525I — 21 complaints
- 1992 BMW 525I — 30 complaints
- 1993 BMW 525I (current)
- 1994 BMW 525I — 10 complaints
- 1995 BMW 525I — 37 complaints
- 1998 BMW 525I — 2 complaints