1992 BMW 525I problems
The 1992 BMW 525I has 30 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (27%) concerns cooling system. After that come air bags (17%) and engine (17%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 30 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cooling system 27% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What the data shows
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1992 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the BMW 525I with enough data (5 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Consumer was rearended while traveling abou 30-40MPH. Upon impact, vehicle caught on fire, totaling the vehicle, fire departement unable to determine the cause of the fire, fire maybe linked to the gas filler and the tailights. Also, bumper only had a six inch dent. Please provide any further details.
While driving consumer's vehicle was hit on the driver side front quarter panel. The air bags deployed. Driver was burned in the face and chest.
Dt: vehicle was involved in an frontal impact the air bags deployed, however the consumer sustained 3rd degree burns to the chin area, and had to have root canal work on a tooth. The vehicle was totaled. No repairs were made. There was a small deployment and it was like it was fire, red flaming area on the air bag that actually ignited.
The air bag contact ring locking tab located in the steering wheel assembly broke without warning. It was noticeable, a click or grab type feel, wherever the steering wheel was turned and I immediately took the car to my BMW shop to correct. I am not sure what was accomplished but the click was removed. On recalls for bmws this fault was limited to the 3 series and not a 5 series which I own. I had reported this earlier but didn't receive any response from the ntsb so therefore I am resubmitting.
Dt*: the contact stated the engine overheated while driving various speeds. The vehicle was seen by a dealer. The radiator and water pump was replaced. Afterwards, the engine continued to overheat. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for inspection. The service department determined the engine's overall cooling system needed to be replaced.