There are no safety recalls for the 2002 BMW 5 Series, but owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA.
2002 BMW 5 Series problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Power Train | 2 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | |
| Visibility | 1 | |
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | |
| Structure | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | |
Most reported parts
- Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 1
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
- Visibility › Windshield — 1
- Structure › Body — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 96,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2002 BMW 5 Series complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Structure · at 160,000 miles · reported Feb 19, 2019
I have a 2002 525i which I drove to work on january 15, 2019. After being in work for 15 minutes, I was notified that the entire front end of my car was engulfed in flames. The top of the hood, under the hood, and under the front end of my car was completely on fire. I have read about the pvc recall for 2007-2011, but I also read "bmw had looked into heat damage involving the heating and cooling system as early as 2007 but stepped up its analysis work in september." that was from a chronology report provided by bmw to NHTSA, and quoted from abcnews.go.com. What this tells me is bmw didn't look…
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · at 96,000 miles · reported Jul 1, 2014
Driving at 50 MPH I was being harassed by another motorist because I was driving the speed limit. I decided to let him pass but first I had to speed up to 58 MPH inorder to completely overtake a passenger car to my right (Passenger side) I gave the throttle some gas and the car went nowhere. The needle went all the way into the red zone on the tachometer. The driver behind me (Another bmw 3 series),tailgated me. It scared me so bad, that I did not see a deep pot hole in the road surface. I hit it so hard, that I spun around and all of my wheels were damaged. I had all four wheels repaired and…
Visibility · at 74,000 miles · reported Jul 30, 2008
Rubber around the windshield is crumbling. Obvious defective material used in the rubber compound. Bmw refuses to addres the problem.
Suspension · at 74,000 miles · reported Jul 30, 2008
Had my front thrust rod bushings replaced at bmw dealer due to vibration in steering at about 40,000 miles. Problem returned at 74000 miles (2.5 years later). Defective material results in bushing cracks which negatively affects steering.
Engine and Engine Cooling · reported Mar 19, 2003
Car has hesitated while being driven at or above 50 MPH. Car has stalled completely while accelerating out of a parking lot and while being driven at 40 MPH.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2002 BMW 5 Series have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2002 BMW 5 Series as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 BMW 5 Series?
Owners report power train problems most often (2 reports), followed by exterior lighting (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 96,000 miles.
Are BMW recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.