Most common 2007 BMW 525xi problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 525xi complaints by model year
2007 BMW 525xi recalls (1)
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 525xi owners say
Air bags
My car is seeing error lights for the passenger restraint system, and the dealer informed me that I should replace the OC3 mat at a cost of $2021. I see that this part is covered under recall for some similar age 525xi models, so I am unclear why this problem doesn't extend to my vehicle if this is a common problem with these models. Is this under evaluation for a possible future recall?
The passenger restraint system/air bag warning light came on repeatedly. Took the car to the dealer. They diagnosed problem as needing to replace front seat occupancy mat, oc3. They said my VIN not part of recall #13V564000 so I had to pay labor cost. Dealer paid for part as a courtesy. Contacted BMW north America to request reimbursement for labor. They refused because VIN not part of recall. Approximate mileage 85,000. My VIN should have been included as this is same problem, on same year & model of car as those included in recall.
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 BMW 525xi. While the vehicle was being serviced at the dealer, the ignition was turned to the on position but the engine did not start. The dealer diagnosed that the steering wheel lock mechanism failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000. Updated 8/10/15 updated 10/17/2017
2007 BMW 525xi model not limited to or exclusive of this make/model but has a known issue where a red light indicator appears on the dash signaling an electronic steering column fault has occurred, do not turn the engine off or the car May not be able to be started again, contact your local BMW service department. This has yet to make it on the NHTSA database as an official recall but I have researched and made note of several hundred customers experiencing this same issue on their BMW. This car is out of the 3 year service warranty and this is not covered or a recalled item as of today. I am filing my complaint against BMW since it will be costing me over $1000 to have this addressed/fixed when in fact it is abnormal behavior by BMW engineering/manufacturing and is a defect in their design. …
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 BMW 525xi. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V683000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While driving unknown speeds, the contact detected an abnormal burning odor. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact called a local dealer (daniels BMW, 4600 crackersport road, allentown, pa 18104) and was informed that the recall parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 72,000. Parts distribution disconnect. - (recall related incident) ts
I was traveling approximately 40 MPH on a city causeway. I went to apply the brakes for a red light and had none. The pedal was very stiff and had no hydraulic assist. I pushed the pedal as hard as I could and downshifted, finally stopping about 8 feet into the intersection. The car acted fine all morning up to that point. I had no warning light or anything to alert me to the failure. I have since found out that BMW issued a recall for this very issue on the v8 engine but not for the i6 engine which I have.
2007 BMW 525xi engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2007 BMW 525xi a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the 525xi to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2007 BMW 525xi?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the steering (5) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2007 BMW 525xi have?
There is 1 recall for the 2007 BMW 525xi, the most recent from November 12, 2013 (occupant classification). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2007 BMW 525xi problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 0% 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.