2002 BMW 525I Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 525I, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags823.5%
- Electrical514.7%
- Body & structure411.8%
- Interior & seats411.8%
- Seat belts38.8%
- Engine25.9%
- Fuel system25.9%
- Tires & wheels12.9%
- Heating & air conditioning12.9%
- Exterior lighting12.9%
- Powertrain (other)12.9%
- Brakes12.9%
- Driver assistance12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 525I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
regarding the Takata airbag recall for my model bmw, the priority zone A includes the hotter southern states incl Florida. My car is in Canada and currently not under a recall notice; however, the car spent many years in Florida, as my parents resided in Florida every winter for 6 months, and then summers in Canada. I am concerned as the propellant in question degrades FASTER in hot climates, and since i reside in Canada, the priority is low. please advise.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car was off and caught fire due too electrical malfunctioning. The a/c unit was staying on even after cutting the car off . Along with my steering wheel randomly adjusting at start of the car . The fire started inside out .
I AND NUMEROUS OTHERS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PIXEL ON THE BMW 525I VEHICLES, WHICH MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO READ WHETHER YOU HAVE A ENGINE CONCERNS OR WORSE IF THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING, ETC. THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE EVEN REPAIRED A FEW BMWS AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, WHEN I NOTIFIED THE COMPANY OF MY COMPLAINT, THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY WOULD COVER 25% OF THE PARTS AND LABOR, AND LEAVE ME TO PAY THE REMAINING $452.00. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND THE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. TO SEE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER BMW OWNERS, PLEASE GO TO HTTP://FORUMS.BIMMERFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=419695. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE WAY THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE HAD A SLOW LEAK. THE FAILURE HAD BEEN OCCURRING FOR TWO YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE REAR FLOOR OF MY 2002 BMW(525I) HAS 2 INCHES OF WATER, CARPET SOAKED,MILDEW, THE FRONT CARPET WAS SOAKED , DRIVERS SIDE(FRONT) WETTER THAN THE PASSENGER FRONT .ALEXANDER BMW SAID THEY HAD NO REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE, THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I can't even get comfortable in the seats in this car they are twisting cause a very uncomfortable drive /ride for us! Evrryone i hear of that owns a bmw has this issue
SEATS FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE TWISTING WHEN ADJUSTED ALSO SEAT CONTINUOUSLY MOVES EVEN AFTER THE CONTROL IS LET OF
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT RECEPTACLE IS MALFUNCTIONING.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE A CERTAIN SPEED IN ORDER FOR THE AJAR INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE ALARM SOUND TO COME ON, TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THE DOOR OR TRUNK WAS OPEN. THERE WAS ALSO NO WARNING CHIME TO LET THE DRIVER KNOW THAT OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE RELEASED THE SEAT BELTS. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS BEFORE THE GONG SOUNDS, THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE SHOWED A HALF A TANK, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING THAT HAD COME FROM THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED BETWEEN GEAR(1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND WOULD JERK), THE REMOTE KEY WOULDN'T WORK, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND, THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START, THE VEHICLE ALARM WAS TOO SENSITIVE, AND THE RIGHT REAR DOOR'S FULL SHADE DID NOT RETRACT. *SCC THE FUSE IN THE GLOVE BOX WAS LOOSE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE OVERHEATING WARNING SOUNDED. LOOKED AT INDICATOR AND IT WAS ALL THE WAY IN THE RED. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. 30 SECONDS LATER THE RADIATOR BLEW WITH THE FORCE OF AN EXPLOSION, SHOOTING COOLANT ABOUT FIVE FEET ACROSS THE STREET EVEN THOUGH THE HOOD WAS DOWN. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND A HOLE IN TOP OF RADIATOR, MORE THAN AN INCH IN DIAMETER. I WOULD HAVE OPENED HOOD BEFORE IT BLEW SO I CAME WITHIN HALF A MINUTE OF BEING BADLY BURNED. MY MECHANIC SAID IT HAPPENS REGULARLY WITH BMW 525'S. HE SAID IT HAPPENS AROUND 80,000 MILES. MY CAR HAD 75,000 MILES. MECHANIC SAID HE TESTIFIED IN A CASE A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE AN OWNER WAS BADLY BURNED. HE HAD A BOX WITH A BUNCH OF PIECES OF RADIATORS THAT HAD FAILED. I KEPT MY RADIATOR AS EVIDENCE. NONE OF THE HOSES FAILED BUT THE RADIATOR BLEW A HOLE OUT OF THE TOP. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IS ONLY ABOUT AN EIGHT OF AN INCH THICK. I WOULD EXPECT THAT ANY POINT OF CONNECTION SUCH AS A HOSE OR A SEAL WOULD BUST UNDER PRESSURE BEFORE THE RADIATOR ITSELF WOULD FAIL. I'D NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING HAPPENING IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS DESIGN DEFECT, EITHER IN THE MATERIAL USED OR IT'S THICKNESS. THOUGH THE REPAIR COST ALMOST A THOUSAND DOLLARS I FELT LUCKY BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I OPENED THE A HALF MINUTE EARLIER I COULD HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BADLY BURNED OR EVENED BLINDED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION WAS INCREDIBLE. I'M LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY THAN ABOUT SOMEBODY BEING SERIOUSLY INJURED BY THIS DEFECT. *TR
WHILE DRIVING SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. THEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. THER EWA SNO FIRE. CONSUMER HAD COOLING FAN REPLACED 4 WEEKS AGO. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED IT WAS COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE A CERTAIN SPEED IN ORDER FOR THE AJAR INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE ALARM SOUND TO COME ON, TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THE DOOR OR TRUNK WAS OPEN. THERE WAS ALSO NO WARNING CHIME TO LET THE DRIVER KNOW THAT OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE RELEASED THE SEAT BELTS. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS BEFORE THE GONG SOUNDS, THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE SHOWED A HALF A TANK, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING THAT HAD COME FROM THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED BETWEEN GEAR(1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND WOULD JERK), THE REMOTE KEY WOULDN'T WORK, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND, THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START, THE VEHICLE ALARM WAS TOO SENSITIVE, AND THE RIGHT REAR DOOR'S FULL SHADE DID NOT RETRACT. *SCC THE FUSE IN THE GLOVE BOX WAS LOOSE. *JB
GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK. VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS WHILE INDICATOR SHOWED 1/8 OF A TANK. GAS INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER CAME ON TO SHOW THAT FUEL WAS LOW. ALSO, ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY WITH NO WARNING.*AK FUEL GAUGE WAS REPLACED. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING FRONT END VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT VEHICLE VIBRATED BECAUSE THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE CUPPING. THE TIRES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT HEATER FAILED AND CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER WAS BURNED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 525I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ABNORMALLY POINTED DOWNWARD AND WAS CAUSING INEFFECTIVE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ADJUSTERS WERE FRACTURED AND THE HEADLIGHT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT CASING WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE A CERTAIN SPEED IN ORDER FOR THE AJAR INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE ALARM SOUND TO COME ON, TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW THE DOOR OR TRUNK WAS OPEN. THERE WAS ALSO NO WARNING CHIME TO LET THE DRIVER KNOW THAT OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE RELEASED THE SEAT BELTS. *AK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO VEHICLE LENGTHS BEFORE THE GONG SOUNDS, THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS INOPERATIVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE SHOWED A HALF A TANK, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING THAT HAD COME FROM THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED BETWEEN GEAR(1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND WOULD JERK), THE REMOTE KEY WOULDN'T WORK, THE LEFT REAR SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND, THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULDN'T START, THE VEHICLE ALARM WAS TOO SENSITIVE, AND THE RIGHT REAR DOOR'S FULL SHADE DID NOT RETRACT. *SCC THE FUSE IN THE GLOVE BOX WAS LOOSE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEATS FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE TWISTING WHEN ADJUSTED ALSO SEAT CONTINUOUSLY MOVES EVEN AFTER THE CONTROL IS LET OF
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND SHOOK. CONSUMER HAD TO BRAKE CONSTANTLY TO GAIN CONTROL. DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE BUSHINGS WERE FOUND TO HAVE NO FLUID. HOWEVER, THE BUSHINGS WERE CHECKED ON PREVIOUS VISITS ,AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .