1990 BMW 525i Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

15 complaints

(1) MY 1990 BMW 525I STARTED TO OVER HEAT ON AUGUST 01,2006. THE TEMP GAUGE GOES UP 50% MARK. THE COOLANT LEVEL WENT DOWN EVERY DAY AND I FILLED IT UP WITH DISTILLED WATER TO CONTROL THE TEMPERATURE, HOPING THAT IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF SOME TIME. (2) I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR ON REGULAR BASIS ANYMORE. WITHIN FEW DAYS, I SAW COOLANT OVERFLOWING AND SPRAY-OUT. FOLLOWING THIS, I NOTICED SLIGHT ROUGH IDLE AND VIBRATION. (3) REALIZING THAT DRIVING THE CAR WAS NO MORE SAFE, I CALLED WESTCHESTER BMW, WHITE PLAINS, NY. ON EMERGENCY BASIS, THE DEALER ACCEPTED THE CAR THE FOLLOWING WEEK FOR DIAGNOSIS. ON AUGUST 14 2006, THE DEALER CONCLUDED IT IS COOLANT LEAKING IN THE ENGINE AND OUTSIDE THE ENGINE. NO PARTS WERE REPAIRED AND REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WORK SPECIFIED BY THE DEALER WAS EXPENSIVE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK HOME. CAN NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. *JB

Aug 18, 2006

WHILE DRIVING, COOLANT LEVEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CONSUMER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER FOUND THAT WATER WAS IN THE OIL DUE TO A CRACKED HEAD, CONSUMER LATER RECEIVED RECALL 98V178. *SLC

May 01, 2002

RADIATOR CAP FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE TO RADIATOR. HOWEVER RADIATOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL NOTICE (98V-178). *YC

Jun 08, 1999

OIL PAN GASKET FAILED CAUSING OIL LEAK.

Sep 01, 1998

WATER PUMP FAILED.

Sep 01, 1998

+ 10 more complaints for this component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

5 complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Jan 20, 2004

BRAKE LIGHT FAILED NO DAMAGE, DEALER WON'T HONOR RECALL #96V111000. *AK

Feb 28, 2002

REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILED.

Sep 01, 1998

BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED.

Jul 23, 1997

BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.

Mar 11, 1997

POWER TRAIN

5 complaints

GLASS OVER ODOMETER CRACKED.

Sep 01, 1998

DIFFERENTIAL LEAK.

Jul 23, 1997

TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.

Jul 23, 1997

DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS.

Mar 11, 1997

TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.

Mar 11, 1997

SEATS

4 complaints

DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES IN TRACK.

Jul 23, 1997

SEAT HEATERS FAILED, BURNED THROUGH SEAT.

Jul 23, 1997

DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES.

Mar 11, 1997

SEAT HEATER BURNED OCCUPANT.

Mar 11, 1997

Injuries: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 complaints

BATTERY FAILED.

Sep 01, 1998

BATTERY FAILED CAUSING ELECTRONIC LOCK, POWER WINDOW, RADIO, AND CLOCK FAILURES.

Mar 11, 1997

IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING KEY TO JAM.

Mar 11, 1997

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

3 complaints

FRONT BRAKES FAILED.

Jul 23, 1997

REAR BRAKES FAILED.

Jul 23, 1997

FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED.

Mar 11, 1997

AIR BAGS

2 complaints

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM

Apr 29, 2003

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WITHOUT VEHICLE COLLISION OCCURRING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME INJURED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Nov 13, 1997

Injuries: 1

STEERING

2 complaints

I REALIZED MY CAR WAS WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES, IT'S A SALVAGED CAR, BUT SOLD AS NORMAL; THEREFORE OVERPRICED. *AK

Apr 02, 2002

Crash: 1

LOCK IN STEERING WHEEL BROKE.

Jul 23, 1997

STRUCTURE

2 complaints

INSIDE DOOR PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE DOOR.

Sep 01, 1998

POWER LOCKS STICK OCCASIONALLY.

Sep 01, 1998

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

2 complaints

REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE.

Jul 23, 1997

REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE.

Mar 11, 1997

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2 complaints

FUEL LINE RECALL REPAIR DELAYED DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM.

Jul 23, 1997

FUEL LINE RECALL REPAIR DELAYED BY DEALER.

Mar 11, 1997

EQUIPMENT

1 complaint

AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS FREON EVERY YEAR.

Sep 01, 1998

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLE FAILED.

Sep 01, 1998

SUSPENSION

1 complaint

FRONT WHEEL STRUTS FAILED.

Sep 01, 1998

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

HEATER CORE FAILED.

Sep 01, 1998

⭐

4.5/5.0

80 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 1990 BMW 525i have?

The 1990 BMW 525i currently has 49 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 1990 BMW 525i?

The most common problems reported for the 1990 BMW 525i are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 1990 BMW 525i problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 1990 BMW 525i comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.