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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.

About this comparison →

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

Equipment complaints

2 reports
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100 miles · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentUnknown Or Other

WHAT WOMEN SHOULD KNOW WHAT ALL BMW X5 OWNERS SHOULD FEAR, AND WHY BMW SHOULD RECALL THEIR SUV. I AM A 36-YEAR-OLD WOMAN. I DRIVE A 2002 BMW X5. THEY CHOSE TO HIDE FROM CONSUMERS, THEIR PATHETIC CHOICE OF A SAFE LOCKING MECHANISM, AND A FAILURE OF AN ALARM SYSTEM. THE ONLY THING KEEPING A THIEF FROM GETTING INTO YOUR SUV, I…

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WHAT WOMEN SHOULD KNOW WHAT ALL BMW X5 OWNERS SHOULD FEAR, AND WHY BMW SHOULD RECALL THEIR SUV. I AM A 36-YEAR-OLD WOMAN. I DRIVE A 2002 BMW X5. THEY CHOSE TO HIDE FROM CONSUMERS, THEIR PATHETIC CHOICE OF A SAFE LOCKING MECHANISM, AND A FAILURE OF AN ALARM SYSTEM. THE ONLY THING KEEPING A THIEF FROM GETTING INTO YOUR SUV, IS A LOCK THAT WEIGHS LESS THAN TWO QUARTERS. A THIEF NEEDS 5 SECONDS, A SCREWDRIVER, AND YOUR SUV IS THEIRS. NOT ONLY DOES THE SPLIT SECOND REMOVAL OF THIS LOCK ALLOW THEM INTO YOUR X5, BUT IT IMMEDIATELY SHUTS OFF THE SO-CALLED ALARM SYSTEM, UNLOCKS ALL YOUR DOORS, AND OPENS ALL YOUR WINDOWS, INCLUDING THE SUNROOF. ALL WITH JUST A FLICK OF THE WRIST. TO MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE; BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, CHOOSING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IN A LITTLE OVER A YEARS TIME, THEY HAVE BROKEN INTO MY X5 TWICE. THE FIRST ATTEMPT NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE. ONLY 2 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING MY VEHICLE, IT WAS BROKEN INTO. FORTUNATELY, I WAS MY OWN WITNESS. MY SUV, PARKED ONLY 20 FEET FROM THE STORE I WAS IN AT THE TIME, WAS BROKEN INTO IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS. THEY POPPED THE LOCK OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, WHICH IN TURN DISABLED THE ALARM, THUS, NEVER GOING OFF, WAS IN MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE. SEEING THE WHOLE THING, REALIZING WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE, I IMMEDIATELY RAN TO PROTECT WHAT WAS MINE. IT WAS 3PM, ON A HEAVILY POPULATED STREET. GOING ON INSTINCT, I RAN INTO THE MIDDLE OF A 2 WAY STREET. CARS SCREECHING TO A HALT; I SCREAMED FOR THE THIEF TO GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE. SCARRING HIM AS A RESULT OF MY INSANITY, HE SLIPPED OUT OF MY X5, INTO A WAITING CAR, WHICH ATTEMPTED TO RUN ME OVER AS THEY SPED AWAY. THE LUXURY STATUS OF THE X5, THE FACT THAT I AM A WOMEN, THE DOOR LOCK BEING A WELL-KNOWN DEFECT APPARENT TO THIEVES; ALL COMBINE TO MAKE ME FEEL AS IF A BIGGER TARGET HAS BEEN PUT ON MY BACK. THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT THE FEELING SOMEONE WHO PURCHASES A BMW X5 SHOULD EXPECT TO FEEL!

NHTSA ODI #10070625

10,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
EquipmentVisibility

SEVERAL COMPUTER RELATED MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. THE ABS FAILURE WARNING, DSC WARNING, CHECK ENGINE WARNING, ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE WARNING LIGHT COME ON FREQUENTLY. REMOTE KEY DOES NOT WORK. SEAT MEMORY DOES NOT WORK. I WENT TO SERVICE CENTER TO FIX THESE PROBLEM EVERY MONTH SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. WHEN I WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIV…

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SEVERAL COMPUTER RELATED MALFUNCTION OCCURRED. THE ABS FAILURE WARNING, DSC WARNING, CHECK ENGINE WARNING, ENGINE FAIL SAFE MODE WARNING LIGHT COME ON FREQUENTLY. REMOTE KEY DOES NOT WORK. SEAT MEMORY DOES NOT WORK. I WENT TO SERVICE CENTER TO FIX THESE PROBLEM EVERY MONTH SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. WHEN I WAS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF IN FEB, 2003.

NHTSA ODI #10070344

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.