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2002 BMW X5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 BMW X5 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 100.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 23 unknown

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports7 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

16 reports
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79,000 miles · Jan 17, 2011
Electrical System

HEAT/AC KEPT BLOWING AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE SO THE CAR WONT START IN THE MORNING. ORIGINAL PART WAS DEFECTIVE BMW KNEW ABOUT IT AND UPGRADED THE PART. WHICH I BOUGHT ON EBAY THEN THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THE NAME OF THE PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS THE FINAL STAGE RESISTOR. BMW WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR TH…

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HEAT/AC KEPT BLOWING AFTER CAR WAS TURNED OFF CAUSING BATTERY TO DIE SO THE CAR WONT START IN THE MORNING. ORIGINAL PART WAS DEFECTIVE BMW KNEW ABOUT IT AND UPGRADED THE PART. WHICH I BOUGHT ON EBAY THEN THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THE NAME OF THE PART THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS THE FINAL STAGE RESISTOR. BMW WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10376988

87,500 miles · Apr 7, 2010
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE STALLED WITHIN SEVEN TO TEN MINUTES AFTER THE BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE DIDN'T PREVENT THE CONTACT FROM OPENING THE DOOR REMOTELY. THE DEFECT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE STALLED WITHIN SEVEN TO TEN MINUTES AFTER THE BRAKE WARNING ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE DIDN'T PREVENT THE CONTACT FROM OPENING THE DOOR REMOTELY. THE DEFECTIVE BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR TWENTY MINUTES WITH THE NEW BATTERY WHICH FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE BATTERY WAS INOPERABLE. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS RECHARGED AND INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED FOR SERVICE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,525. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500.

NHTSA ODI #10324316

59,500 miles · Apr 25, 2008
Electrical System

2002 BMW X5 MISFIRES FROM FAULTY ENGINE COILS. SIMILAR RECALL TO THE 3 SERIES BUT DEALERSHIP SAID X5 NOT INCLUDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225673

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSuspension

I OWN A 2002 BMW X5 WITH LESS THAN 37,000 MILES. IN THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM. MORE RECENTLY, I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE HARNESS REWIRED AND THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. MY BRAKE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY GOING OUT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND SOCKETS NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER X5 DRI…

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I OWN A 2002 BMW X5 WITH LESS THAN 37,000 MILES. IN THE LAST 6-8 MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE CONTROL ARM. MORE RECENTLY, I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE HARNESS REWIRED AND THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. MY BRAKE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY GOING OUT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPLACED BULBS AND SOCKETS NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER X5 DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS SO I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF IT'S A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN JUST MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210775

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2004
Electrical System

ONBOARD COMPUTER READOUT IS MISSING LIGHTS. MORE AND MORE LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO FAIL. THE SERVICE GUY HAS A SIMPLE SOLUTION, BUY A NEW BOARD.... NICE A RELATIVELY NEW CAR NEEDS AN EXPENSIVE PART THAT JUST FAILED ON IT'S OWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091343

3,000 miles · Jan 27, 2003
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY FAILS,CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, SIDE REAR MIRROR, TRUNK LATCH, AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS ETC TO MALFUNCTION. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX OR FIND THE CAUSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10004694

Official recalls

3

17V047000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 20, 2017

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.

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 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.

03V032000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Feb 4, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

03V001000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jan 9, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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.