Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 19 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reports
93,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE CRASH. AFTER THE CRASH THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10312728
60,142 miles · Feb 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT MOISTURE ACCUMULATED IN THE ENGINE AND FROZE. ALSO, THE INTERNAL VALVE BECAME STUCK, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILUR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 530I. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THAT MOISTURE ACCUMULATED IN THE ENGINE AND FROZE. ALSO, THE INTERNAL VALVE BECAME STUCK, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE OIL SEPARATOR REPAIR KIT WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,142 .UPDATED 04/25/08 *BF
NHTSA ODI #10217916
20,827 miles · Jan 13, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
WE WERE DRIVING ON DRY TARMAC ON A MAIN STREET IN NEW ROCHELLE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT A REASONABLE/SLOW RATE OF SPEED, ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. AS WE SLOWED TO STOP AT THE LIGHT THE BREAKS PULSED VIOLENTLY. IT FELT AS IF WE HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING, BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. WE LOOKED TO SEE IF A…
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WE WERE DRIVING ON DRY TARMAC ON A MAIN STREET IN NEW ROCHELLE. WE WERE TRAVELING AT A REASONABLE/SLOW RATE OF SPEED, ABOUT 25-30 MPH AND APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT. AS WE SLOWED TO STOP AT THE LIGHT THE BREAKS PULSED VIOLENTLY. IT FELT AS IF WE HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING, BUT I LOOKED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. WE LOOKED TO SEE IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED TO INDICATE A FAILURE - BUT WE DIDN'T SEE ANY. WE PROCEED TO NEXT LIGHT, AND STOPPED AGAIN. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND NO PULSING. MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING, AND WE BOTH WERE CAREFULLY MONITORING THE CAR. AS WE PULLED AWAY FROM THE LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE CAR ACCELERATED DRAMATICALLY. MY FIANCEE PUSHED HARD ON THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND FISH TAIL. THEN, AFTER A COUPLE SECONDS IT STOP AND SHE REGAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10106273
18,000 miles · Mar 18, 2004
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10063485
25,900 miles · Mar 17, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I OWN A 2002 BMW 530I. RECENTLY, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE BY ITSELF. I REPORTED INCIDENT TO BMW. TO SUMMARIZE, THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE FLOOR MAT THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION (THAT'S RIGHT, THE FLOOR MAT). *NM
NHTSA ODI #10062391
36,300 miles · Sep 15, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND COLLIDED INTO A WALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10034219
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2003
Air BagsCrash
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAGS. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WILL GET BACK WITH THE CONSUMER, BUT HE HAS NOT YET HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10029822
78 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Suspension
SUSPENSION.....STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION
NHTSA ODI #10025399
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2003
Exterior Lighting
RE HID LIGHTS: MY VISION IS IMPAIRED IN THE EVENING WHEN A CAR COMES ALONG WITH THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LIGHTS. FOR ME IT IS REALLY A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. MY SAFE DRIVING IS ALSO AFFECTED WHEN HID HEADLIGHTS SHINE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. THEY ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR MANY OF US AND MIGHT ALREADY HAVE BEEN THE CA…
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RE HID LIGHTS: MY VISION IS IMPAIRED IN THE EVENING WHEN A CAR COMES ALONG WITH THE HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE LIGHTS. FOR ME IT IS REALLY A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. MY SAFE DRIVING IS ALSO AFFECTED WHEN HID HEADLIGHTS SHINE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. THEY ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR MANY OF US AND MIGHT ALREADY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS. *JB
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 exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE STRUT MOUNT MANUFACTURING PROCESS, THE THRUST BEARING WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONS AND SECURED. IF THE SUSPENSION IS FULLY UNLOADED, THE FRONT STRUT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE UPPER MOUNT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRING STRUT UPPER MOUNTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 15, 2002. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DURING THE TIRE MOUNTING PROCESS ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH STANDARD (NON-SPORT) SUSPENSION AND EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTITOURINGCONTACT CH95 ECOPLUS TIRES, SIZE 225/65R16 95H, HAVING DOT CODES 4001, 4101, OR 4201, THE OUTER SIDEWALL SURFACE OF THE TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN CUT BY A SHARP EDGE. OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME COULD LEAD TO A REDUCTION OF INFLATION PRESSURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONTINUED DRIVING WITH LOW INFLATION PRESSURE IN THE TIRE COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE TIRE, AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND CONTROL, AND COULD IN SOME CASES RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL FIVE TIRES FOR A POSSIBLE CUT IN THE SIDEWALL, AND IF A CUT IS FOUND, THE TIRE WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2002 BMW 530I Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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