The 1995 BMW 525i has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 752,180 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. 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.
THE DOUBLE-LOCK FEATURE CAN ENGAGE WITH OCCUPANTS AND THE DOOR/IGNITION KEY INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
Consequence
THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT EITHER FROM THE DOORS OR FROM THE WINDOWS OF THE VEHICLE. DRIVE-AWAY PROTECTION WOULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GENERAL CONTROL MODULE WITH ONE CONTAINING THE REVISED SOFTWARE TO PERMIT WINDOW OPENING WITH THE DOUBLE-LOCK ENGAGED AND KEY IN THE IGNITION.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
1crashes
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2
Total complaints37
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Recal 94v219000: double-lock feature gcm revised. "the double-lock feature can engage with occupants and the door/ignition key inside of the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle would be unable to exit either from the doors or from the windows of the vehicle." note: if your vehicle is presented…”
“Recal 94v219000: double-lock feature gcm revised. "the double-lock feature can engage with occupants and the door/ignition key inside of the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle would be unable to exit either from the doors or from the windows of the vehicle." note: if your vehicle is presented…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 bmw 525i. While parked with the key out of the ignition, the occupant in the vehicle was unable to open any of the doors or windows manually. The contact referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 94v219000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch) that could have been related to…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1995 bmw 525i. After sitting idle in the vehicle, the contact attempted to exit but was locked in the vehicle for over ten minutes. The contact referenced nhtsa recall campaign id number: 94v219000 (latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch) however the dealer advised her vin was…”
“Owner of 1995 bmw 525 was unable to exit car .windows would not open with key on nor did sunroof open. The car would not start. South bay dealership refused to honor recall number 94v219000 as so did bmw headquarters. *tr”
“Owner of 1995 bmw 525 was unable to exit car .windows would not open with key on nor did sunroof open. The car would not start. South bay dealership refused to honor recall number 94v219000 as so did bmw headquarters. *tr”
“On a hot afternoon in sacramento, we stopped in a parking lot and shut off the car preparing to exit. The windows of the bmw were up and we were not able to open the doors. The engine would not start and we were trapped in the hot car. Fortunately we had a car phone and called 911 for help. After…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1995 bmw 525i. The contact stated that the driver side front door failed to unlock and the driver side window fell down into the vehicle. The passenger side and rear doors will open, but she must open them quickly. The contact has been locked in the vehicle once. The dealer…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1995 BMW 525i as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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