2003 BMW 525I Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 13%of 32 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 77,750miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2003 BMW 525I, 13% of the 32 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 77,750 miles.
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 have a complete failure of the passenger(right) side tail light assembly on our 2003 Bmw 525I. The tail light is connected to a wiring harness via a connector. One of the connector pins has been overheated by the electrical current and has been burnt to a crisp. This exact problem has forced Bmw to do a recall in 2011 on the 3-series of automobiles and yet they have ignored the safety of series-5 owners and have yet to issue a recall for this highly dangerous component failure. This failure causes the driver into believing that they have working turn signals when in actuality they do not. …”
NHTSA complaint #10448852, filed 2012-02, 127,000 miles“Bought car new in april of 2001. Since that time, driver side headlight (low beam) has burned out 3 times. Do not know if this is a safety defect or not, but thought I would report it just in case.”
NHTSA complaint #10005780, filed 2003-02, 28,500 miles“2003 Bmw 525I. Consumer writes in regards to potential fire in tail light assembly. The consumer stated the vehicle failed inspection, due to a faulty left tail light. The light was repaired. However, the entire tail light assembly/housing had to be replaced, rather than just replacing a bulb. The mechanic explained to the consumer that a connector has melted onto the tail light assembly and the wiring was damaged.”
NHTSA complaint #10498622, filed 2013-02Related service bulletins
- 10037025Aug 1, 2010Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 BMW 525I
10 complaintsElectrical system
8 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 BMW 525I
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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