BMW 525xi recalls and complaints by year

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the BMW 525xi, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: 2025-12-22 (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 4

Total Complaints 67

Years Covered 2006–2011

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the BMW 525xi. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the BMW 525xi, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Coverage spans model years 2006–2011 with 4 recall campaigns and 67 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2006 (3) and 2007 (1).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2006 (34), 2007 (31), and 2011 (2).
Top recall themes: Airbags and Fuel and emissions.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Air bags, Electrical system, Engine.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Airbags

2 campaigns · Years: 2006–2007

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

13V564000 · Air bags: Occupant classification
17V428000 · Air bags: Occupant classification

Fuel and emissions

1 campaign · Years: 2006

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):

19V273000 · Engine and engine cooling: Crankcase (pcv)

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the BMW 525xi in NHTSA complaint data are Air bags, Electrical system, Engine.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year	Recalls	Complaints	Details
2011	0	2	Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued. Top complaint areas: Tires, Wheels.
2007	1	31	Both recalls and complaints recorded. Top complaint areas: Air bags, Steering, Electrical system.
2006	3	34	Both recalls and complaints recorded. Top complaint areas: Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes.

What to Do Next

Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Air bags and Engine and engine cooling

Show recall evidence by year

2007

Air bags: Occupant classification: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
View official NHTSA notice (13V564000) →

Show official notice text

Summary: 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

2006

Air bags: Occupant classification: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
View official NHTSA notice (13V564000) →

Show official notice text

Summary: 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
Air bags: Occupant classification: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
View official NHTSA notice (17V428000) →

Show official notice text

Summary: BMW of North America, Inc. (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, and 550i vehicles equipped with the Sport Seat option and certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 550i vehicles with standard seats. The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that d
Engine and engine cooling: Crankcase (pcv): Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
View official NHTSA notice (19V273000) →

Show official notice text

Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006 525i, 525xi, 530i, 530xi, 530xi Sports Wagon, 325i, 325xi, 325xi Sports Wagon, 330i, 330xi, Z4 3.0i and Z4 3.0si vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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