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EnginePart report

2001 BMW 525I Engine Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
18%of 22 total for the year
Median mileage
168,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2001 BMW 525I, 18% of the 22 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 168,500 miles. 4 a fire, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I drove the car a mile to the store and a mile back and when I was walking away you could see a spark and then a minute later another one and another until then the car started smoking and within 4 minutes the car was engulfed in flames. My security cameras caught the whole thing on tape. We tried our best to contain the fire but it took the fire department to put it out.”

NHTSA complaint #11316372, filed 2020-03, 177,000 miles

“I had taken a longer road trip, and was on my way back, about a quarter of the way when we stopped for dinner. I parked, and everything was usual. A couple minutes later, I went to move the car, and while I was waiting in a drive-thru line, I see smoke billowing out from under the hood and I smell a burning smell. I parked the car back where it had been, and, thinking it was a coolant issue, opened the hood to let the engine cool down, and left my passengers with the car and walked across the street to buy some coolant. …”

NHTSA complaint #11309992, filed 2020-02, 160,000 miles

“Possible Bmw recall issue (car spontaneously caught fire while car off). Car purchased on 11/8/17. On 11/16/17, car was parked in our driveway with ignition off after driving approximately 30 minutes. Approximately 10 minutes later, driver heard the car alarm go off which prompted him to go outside and saw flames and smoke coming from under the hood. Driver called 911. Car continued to combust several times before fire dept got to our house. See pictures for damage. We still have the Bmw car in question in our driveway.”

NHTSA complaint #11047515, filed 2017-11, 206,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2001 Bmw 525I. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, she smelled a burning odor emitting from the radiator. The temperature gauge began to read extremely hot with the illumination of the engine warning indicator. Also, light gray smoke emitted from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road and then towed to an authorized dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 02v138000 (engine and engine cooling) and 01v206000 (engine and engine cooling) but was advised that the VIN was not included in either recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #10537297, filed 2013-08, 86,990 miles

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200768%
200634%
200513%
200422%
2001418%

Other parts of the 2001 BMW 525I

Electrical system
6 complaints
Air bags
4 complaints
Engine cooling
4 complaints
Electronic stability control
2 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaints
Vehicle speed control
2 complaints
Brakes
1 complaints
Equipment
1 complaints
Fuel system
1 complaints
Other or unknown
1 complaints
Steering
1 complaints
Suspension
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2001 BMW 525I

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology