Most common 2007 BMW 525i problems
Share of the 72 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 525i complaints by model year
Best 525i years: 2001. Years to avoid: 2004, 2007, 2006. Compare all years →
2007 BMW 525i recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Crankcase (pcv)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2011 128i and 2007-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 525i, 525xi, 528i, 528xi, 530i, 530xi, X3 3.0si, X3 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive30i, Z4 3.0i, Z4 3.0si and Z4 sDrive30i vehicles. The heater for the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve may short circuit.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PCV valve heater, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notification by the end of October 2018.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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 year 2006 760i sedans, model…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners with an interim notification letter in January 2014 since parts are not currently available. When parts are available, BMW sent a second letter in August and dealers will repair the occupant…
What 2007 BMW 525i owners say
Air bags all 25 →
The contact owns a 2007 BMW 535I. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger's side air bag warning light remain illuminated, indicating a possible failure to the air bag system. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2007 BMW 525I. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.
Electrical system
I purchased said automobile from my neighbor for my son to drive. I figured it was a good car to buy because it was serviced by Hendrick BMW (Charlotte, NC) only and regularly. BMW's also have a reputation for being safe as well as reputable so this also weighed into my decision. Fast forward 18 months. The passenger rear brake bulb went out. We replaced the bulb, it worked for a short time, then went out. We replaced the bulb again. This time it didnt work. About a week later the front passenger side head light went out, then the other side. We took it to Hendrick BMW for repair. Hendrick has told us the car wiring basically needs to be replaced due to the protective coat wearing off and corroding the bare wire underneath. The headlights/ brake light will also need to be replaced due to the corrosion blowing out the bulb. …
We would like the NHTSA to be aware that myself and a few colleagues own BMW and have experienced this issue. BMW has purposely built these vehicles to fail after the warranty period when a few months after the 100,000 mile warranty we began having problems specifically with the seals around all all windows including windshield and rear window as well as the seals around the trunk, however at the bottom of the trunk BMW keeps a main component board underneath the spare tire , once the seals begin to fail it causes water and moisture to gain access to this compartment and cause the board to ignite and catch fire and cause car to go crazy with acceleration and deceleration, why place a main component in this location with 10 feet of extra wire and no drain, I would also like to point out all BMW's of the same year experience m melting of the plastic interior parts and the paint to …
Steering
At 51000 miles a red light with a steering wheel and a padlock appeared on the dash. The car starts and steers OK with the red steering lock light on. There are no mechanical issues with the car but the light and a message stating go to a safe place before turning the car off. I brought it to the dealer and they tell me the whole steering column has to be replaced to get rid of the red light and the message on the navigation screen. This was after replacing the steering column switch cluster at a cost of $1033.there was an internal fault of the steering sensor causing the ABS light to show up on the dash. Apparently BMW has built in defects that show up on the dash as a warning light . There are no mechanical problems related to the warning light but a very costly fix to have the warning light removed. …
I have a BMW 525i 2007, which was a certified pre-owned vehicle bought from east bay BMW. Around 71,000 miles, the 'steering wheel lock malfunction' light came on (red color). The car is drivable, and works fine, however, the light is still on with a warning that the engine May not start. I asked BMW of mountain view for a quote. They say that the elv lock (steering wheel lock) and screws need to be replaced for $1521.49!! That's insane. I see many many other BMW owners complaint about the same issue. This should be a recall. Many owners say that simply reprogramming the cas (car access system) module fixed the problem. BMW of mountain view said that they will charge $200 for the reprogramming, with no guarantee that it will fix the issue. If after replacing the elv locks + screws another reprogramming needs to be done, that would be another $200 for programming. This isn't right. …
2007 BMW 525i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 18 / 28 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2007 BMW 525i a good car?
Based on 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2007 525i rates avoid: 2.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the 525i at the same age. It is one of the 525i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2007 BMW 525i?
The air bags — 25 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the electrical system (14) and steering (12).
How many recalls does the 2007 BMW 525i have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2007 BMW 525i, the most recent from October 30, 2017 (crankcase (pcv)). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 525i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2007 and 2006. See the full BMW 525i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2007 BMW 525i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 13% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.