2002 BMW M5 recalls and problems

The 2002 BMW M5 has 2 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer.

Urgent: recall 17V-047, recall 15V-318 carry a "do not drive" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
2
Complaints
6
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2002 BMW M5 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2002 BMW M5 recalls

Recall 17V-047: Air Bags

Do not driveReported Jan 20, 2017 · 230,117 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bag, or as a remedy part for a prior recall. These replacement modules contain an air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to lower absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

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 inspect the driver side air bag module, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall 15V-318: Air Bags

Do not driveReported May 28, 2015 · 419,235 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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 vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

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 recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

2002 BMW M5 problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Visibility2
Electrical System1
Seats1
Air Bags1
Structure1
Power Train1

Most reported parts

  • Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer — 1
  • Structure › Body — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 26,000 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 M5 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Structure · at 195 miles · reported Aug 1, 2019
There are no power modifications to my vehicle, I just recently installed a lower mileage engine, along with all of the parts surrounding the engine and transmission (Ie clutch, flywheel, throwout bearing, clutch fork, etc). The break-in period for a new clutch is 500 miles of normal driving and 1000 miles for the engine. I completed the break-in period on saturday july 20, 2019, for the clutch but still have some miles to go for the engine break-in, so on 7-24-19 I was entering the fwy from a stop light and when I pushed the gas peadal it sounded like something exploded and I hadn't even…
Air Bags · reported May 5, 2017
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 bmw m5. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v047000 (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 a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Seats · at 26,000 miles · reported Jan 12, 2015
While moving the seat forward (Valet moved it back) we found that the seats twisted; in our case, the outer side of the seat bottom moved further than the inner side, causing the seats to twist towards the center of the car and leaving them uneven with the dash and front of the car. Attempts to correct the seat positioning by moving the seat backwards via power switch caused the inner bottom portion of the seat (Around the thigh bolsters) to bind and jam against the center console. We found that the power passenger seat had the same problem. We researched the issue on bmw-related websites (In…
Electrical System · at 99,999 miles · reported Jun 30, 2009
Unknown battery drain causes premature failure of battery and more than average replacement intervals - every two years as opposed to 5-7 yrs. Car will not start if idle for 24-48 hours. I would like to file a claim for the charging system and associated equipment for any bmw m5 (E39) built between 2000-2003.
Visibility · at 30,000 miles · reported Sep 9, 2008
For some months now, my rearview mirror has been discolored/obstructed with a fluid "bubble" in the glass. I generally only drive the car on weekends in bright and sunny weather, so the decreased visibility isn't a real big a deal as it would be if driven at night or during inclement weather. However I've recently looked into replacing the mirror myself--the dealer wants a relatively large sum of money to perform the work as the car is no longer under warranty--and have discovered there might be adverse health effects if exposed to the fluid contained inside. (Fellow owners of vehicles with…

Other BMW M5 years

Compare all BMW M5 years · All BMW models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 BMW M5 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2002 BMW M5: 17V-047 (air bags), 15V-318 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2002 BMW M5?

Owners report visibility problems most often (2 reports), followed by electrical system (1). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 26,000 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.