The 1992 BMW 525i has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,005,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING98V1780001998-08-04340,000 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…
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.
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…
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.
AIR BAGS96V1100001996-07-0175,000 affected
Defect
THE AIR BAG CONTACT RING LOCKING TAB LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN BREAK WITHOUT WARNING.
Consequence
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE CONTACT RING WIRING COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK. THE AIR BAG READINESS INDICATOR LAMP (SRS OR AIRBAG) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT VEHICLE COLLISION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING TAB WITH ONE OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
7
AIR BAGS
2
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
1
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
Total complaints30
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Body appears to be defective. The body looks like it is about to fall apart, in the rear of the vehicle. Vehicle is unsafe to drive. Fields bmw northfield 700 w frontage road northfield, il 60093 may have been negligent. They inspected vehicle on june 11th 2011 and did not mention this issue and…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1992 bmw 525i. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle. The contact stated that the air bag deployed causing severe burns. The contact required medical attention for the third degree burns to her face and neck. A…”
“I am wondering how the manufacture determines which vehicles are affected by a particuliar recall. A couple of examples, I have a 1992 bmw 525i and have experienced two failures related to recalls one concerned the ring in the steering column related to the airbag broke and had to be replaced and…”
“Bmw has consistently had radiator problems / recalls - and claim my vehicle was not part of their recall - in which 370m vehicles were affected. Nosafety defect. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1992 BMW 525i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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