1990 BMW 525I

3 recalls — 50 complaints

98V178000 Aug 4, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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 POSSIBLE THAT DAMAGE TO, OR FAILURE OF, A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
340,000 vehicles affected
97V131000 Aug 19, 1997
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.
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.
410,000 vehicles affected
96V111000 Jul 1, 1996
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
180,000 vehicles affected
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Aug 18, 2006
(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
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Jan 20, 2004
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Apr 29, 2003
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLES AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *NLM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Jul 31, 2002
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
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Apr 8, 2002
I REALIZED MY CAR WAS WRECKED SEVERAL TIMES, IT'S A SALVAGED CAR, BUT SOLD AS NORMAL; THEREFORE OVERPRICED. *AK
Crash
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS Mar 4, 2002
BRAKE LIGHT FAILED NO DAMAGE, DEALER WON'T HONOR RECALL #96V111000. *AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Jun 17, 1999
RADIATOR CAP FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE TO RADIATOR. HOWEVER RADIATOR IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL NOTICE (98V-178). *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Oct 5, 1998
OIL PAN GASKET FAILED CAUSING OIL LEAK.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR Oct 5, 1998
INSIDE DOOR PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE DOOR.
POWER TRAIN Oct 5, 1998
GLASS OVER ODOMETER CRACKED.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS Oct 5, 1998
REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILED.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS Oct 5, 1998
REAR BACK TAIL LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY Oct 5, 1998
BATTERY FAILED.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR Oct 5, 1998
POWER LOCKS STICK OCCASIONALLY.
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER Oct 5, 1998
AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS FREON EVERY YEAR.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Oct 5, 1998
CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLE FAILED.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES Oct 5, 1998
CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLE FAILED.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT Oct 5, 1998
FRONT WHEEL STRUTS FAILED.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE Oct 5, 1998
HEATER CORE FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Oct 5, 1998
WATER PUMP FAILED.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Nov 13, 1997
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
1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Aug 14, 1997
WATER PUMP FAILED.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR Aug 14, 1997
LOCK IN STEERING WHEEL BROKE.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Aug 14, 1997
RADIATOR LEAKS.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Aug 14, 1997
HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Aug 14, 1997
THERMOSTAT FAILED.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION Aug 14, 1997
TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH Aug 14, 1997
REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS Aug 14, 1997
BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED.
SEATS Aug 14, 1997
DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES IN TRACK.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER Aug 14, 1997
SEAT HEATERS FAILED, BURNED THROUGH SEAT.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT Aug 14, 1997
DIFFERENTIAL LEAK.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL Aug 14, 1997
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS Aug 14, 1997
FRONT BRAKES FAILED.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM Aug 14, 1997
REAR BRAKES FAILED.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS Aug 14, 1997
FUEL LINE RECALL REPAIR DELAYED DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH Jul 17, 1997
REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS Jul 17, 1997
BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.
SEATS Jul 17, 1997
DRIVER'S SEAT WOBBLES.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER Jul 17, 1997
SEAT HEATER BURNED OCCUPANT.
1 injured
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT Jul 17, 1997
DIFFERENTIAL LEAKS.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL Jul 17, 1997
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY Jul 17, 1997
BATTERY FAILED CAUSING ELECTRONIC LOCK, POWER WINDOW, RADIO, AND CLOCK FAILURES.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS Jul 17, 1997
FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY Jul 17, 1997
FUEL LINE RECALL REPAIR DELAYED BY DEALER.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION Jul 17, 1997
TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM Jul 17, 1997
WATER PUMP FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Jul 17, 1997
THERMOSTAT FAILED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY Jul 17, 1997
RADIATOR LEAKED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Jul 17, 1997
HEAD GASKET LEAKED.