2002 BMW X5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other X5 years
- About as many complaints as other years 14th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW X5. That ranks 14th out of 28 X5 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (21 complaints, 21%), typically at around 82,183 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 7 fires, 3 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 102owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 BMW X5 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 21% | 82,183 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 19 | 19% | 147,634 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 16% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 12 | 12% | 36,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 9% | 78,818 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 8% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 7 | 7% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 6% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 6 | 6% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 6% | 132,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 5% | 71,050 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 4% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3% | 118,475 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3% | 41,169 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 2% | 5,050 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | 91,479 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2% | 190,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 153,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 BMW X5 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not drive
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.
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the connection of the safety belt buckle to the steel rope of the tensioner does not meet bmw specifications. In severe frontal crashes, this connection can detach.
Risk: If the connection detaches, the protection provided by the safety belt is likely to be impaired, and serious injuries to the driver and/or front passenger could occur that might otherwise be mitigated.
Fix: Dealers will inspect both front safety belt tensioner and buckle assemblies, and if necessary, replace these parts. Owner notification began march 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, it may be possible for the front brake line to slip out of the retaining bracket located at the front strut. The brake hose that is attached to the brake line could come in contact with the tire and be subjected to wear and abrasion.
Risk: This could initially cause some brake fluid leakage, and eventually lead to a substantial loss of brake fluid. There could be a noticeable reduction in brake performance if a loss of front brake performance occurs.
Fix: Dealers will install an additional retaining clip to further secure the brake line to the front strut. Additionally, if inspection of any brake hose indicates that it has experienced damage, the hose will be replaced. Owner notification began february 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Bmw has failed on several occasions to address this issue or service vehicle. I have made them aware of the situation but continue to receive letters that indicate I could die of the airbag.
Several components or systems have failed or malfunctioned, including the ABS module, power steering, rear left turn signal connection, speedometer, and there are various error codes (P0313, P0500, P1093, P2098, OBDII FAIL, OBD bulb check FAIL). It is not clear if these components are available for…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw x5. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the hood inadvertently unlatched causing damage to the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the hood shocks and hood hinges to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw x5. The contact stated that he did not secure the vehicle's hood latch when he put the hood down. The contact then drove the vehicle at 35 mph, when the hood flung up. No warning lights illuminated. Bmw of north liberty (525 madison ave, north liberty, ia 52317) was…
Car was parked. I tried to unlock my car with the key fob and nothing happened. I unlocked the door with the key and after getting in the central locking system would not work. After researching the problem i found that the gmiii controls the central locking as well as other items like the…
Other BMW X5 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 X5 | 27 | 2 |
| 2025 X5 | 63 | 5 |
| 2024 X5 | 145 | 8 |
| 2023 X5 | 33 | 4 |
| 2022 X5 | 71 | 1 |
| 2021 X5 | 109 | 12 |
| 2020 X5 | 113 | 11 |
| 2019 X5 | 192 | 13 |
| 2018 X5 | 73 | 5 |
| 2017 X5 | 75 | 6 |
| 2016 X5 | 74 | 5 |
| 2015 X5 | 152 | 6 |
| 2014 X5 | 99 | 8 |
| 2013 X5 | 149 | 6 |
| 2012 X5 | 271 | 10 |
| 2011 X5 | 263 | 14 |
| 2010 X5 | 124 | 14 |
| 2009 X5 | 138 | 12 |
| 2008 X5 | 215 | 10 |
| 2007 X5 | 71 | 8 |
| 2006 X5 | 168 | 2 |
| 2005 X5 | 82 | 2 |
| 2004 X5 | 64 | 4 |
| 2003 X5 | 99 | 3 |
| 2002 | 102 | 3 |
| 2001 X5 | 160 | 12 |
| 2000 X5 | 29 | 6 |
| 1999 X5 | 0 | 1 |
See all BMW X5 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW X5?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 21 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 BMW X5?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 BMW X5 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other X5 model years, the 2002 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.