2002 Bmw 525i problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (6) · Structure:body (2) · Seats (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Bmw 525i model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2019-01-14 · campaign 19V015000 · 157,549 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term e
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2015-05-28 · campaign 15V318000 · 419,235 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicle
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this r
Service bulletins (12)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls 2024-01-16 · B510819 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2023-12-20 · B160623 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
engine will crank but not start. there is no communication with the integrated fuel module (tfe) whendiagnosing with ista. the following two fault codes will be stored in the dme: 032b43 - low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low cda594 - message (- 0x33e) missing, rec
Equipment 2023-11-22 · B653423 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
customers may state that the alarm system (dwa) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle. depending on the vehicleã¢ââs equipment and settings, no acoustic or optical confirmation (folding the mirrors/blinking confirmation) is noticeable. additionally, the red anti-theft alarm led in
Air Bags 2019-04-01 · B013118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs this service information bulletin supersedes si b01 31 18 dated october 2018.
Air Bags 2019-04-01 · B013118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs this service information bulletin supersedes si b01 31 18 dated october 2018.
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2019-01-01 · B011618 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
takata class action settlement. customer support program. front driver side airbag modules.
Showing the 6 most recent of 12 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-14 · Air Bags“the contact's brother owns a 2002 bmw 525i. the contact stated that while the owner was driving, the front driver's side steering wheel air bag deployed without impact and struck the driver's arm and face. the impact caused the driver to become unconscious. the driver sustained a broken arm and received medical attention. the vehicle was towed to a…”
2026-03-03 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. the local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.…”
2023-07-14 · Air Bags“regarding the takata airbag recall for my model bmw, the priority zone a includes the hotter southern states incl florida. my car is in canada and currently not under a recall notice; however, the car spent many years in florida, as my parents resided in florida every winter for 6 months, and then summers in canada. i am concerned as the propella…”
2021-09-26 · Seats“i can't even get comfortable in the seats in this car they are twisting cause a very uncomfortable drive /ride for us! evrryone i hear of that owns a bmw has this issue …”
2021-09-05 · Electrical System · 🔥 fire“the car was off and caught fire due too electrical malfunctioning. the a/c unit was staying on even after cutting the car off . along with my steering wheel randomly adjusting at start of the car . the fire started inside out . …”
2021-03-08 · Service Brakes · 120,000 mi“seats front driver and passenger are twisting when adjusted also seat continuously moves even after the control is let of…”
2017-11-19 · Unknown Or Other · 179,200 mi“takata recall there's a airbag signals on display screen doesn't go out or clear anytime you start or drive the car…”
2017-10-19 · Unknown Or Other · 169,367 mi · 🔥 fire“it started to smell electrical when i was driving the car and when i stopped the car put it in park and tryed to turn the car off the ignition wouldnt turn off and my entire car caught fire ..i saw it start on the passenger side under the hood i threw water on it it woundnt go out and i called the fire department. it happened in placerville when i …”
2016-10-05 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced…”
2016-04-15 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the recall were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the contact …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.