RoadVitals

2002 BMW X5 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 1, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 102 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 BMW X5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 2021

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 CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT COME TO A CONCLUSIVE DECISION AS TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE HOOD WARNING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCKS INSIDE THE HOOD HAD RIPPED LOOSE AND THE HOOD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT INFORMED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD ALERT, IF THE HOOD WAS OPEN AND THE COMPLAINT WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THEIR SAFETY ENGINEER, HOWEVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID
11406007
Incident
Mar 17, 2021
Mileage
117,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 22, 2015

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 MY 2002 BMW X5 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED IN THE DOWN POSITION. UPON TAKING IT INTO MY ORIGINAL DEALER, IT WAS MANUALLY RAISED-CLOSED AND I HAD TO RETURN DAYS LATER FOR INSTALLATION OF A NEW "REGULATOR" AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS "UNUSUAL". NOW, NINE MONTHS LATER AND LESS THAN AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE (76,710) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAVE FAILED; THE FRONT MANUALLY TWEAKED INTO THE CLOSED POSITION AND THE REAR OPENING COVERED WITH CARDBOARD EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND THEFT WHILE THE SAME ORIGINAL DEALER AWAITS PARTS DELIVERY FOUR DAYS FROM NOW BEFORE SCHEDULED REPAIR...AT I EXPECT ANOTHER COST TO ME OF ABOUT $1000!...I HAVE REVIEWED THE MANY COMPLAINTS IN THIS SECTION ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE!! TO WIT, IT WAS WELL SAID BY THIS ONE QUOTED HERE: "2002 BMW X5 WINDOW REGULATOR. CAR HAS 41K MILES AND ALREADY GOING ON 5TH WINDOW REGULATOR ISSUE. ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE EXPLANATIONS FROM THE DEALER INCLUDING LACK OR USE OR TOO MUCH USE BUT THIS ISSUE OCCURS ON ALL BMW MAKES AND MODELS. BMW STILL HAS NO SOLUTION THAT FIXES THIS ISSUE PERMANENTLY AND CHARGES $300 TO $600 FOR EACH WINDOW DEPENDING ON FRONT OR REAR. TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A BAD DESIGN. *TR" I AGREE!!...IT IS TIME FOR A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. NOW.....UPDATED 08/17/15 *BF UPDATED 08/20/15*JB

NHTSA ID
10726659
Incident
Sep 2, 2014
Mileage
71,635 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Dec 29, 2014

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, MY REAR HATCH SEEMS TO OPEN FOR NO REASON, MY REAR WINDOW WIPER IS WORKING WITH THE SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION, LED'S ARE GOING OUT AGAIN AND NOW THE DREADED APPARENT OIL SEPARATOR WITH TONS OF GREY SMOKE BILLOWING OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR AFTER BEING LEFT IN AN AIRPORT PARKING LOT FOR 4 DAYS WHILST IT SNOWED OUTSIDE. SEEMS I'VE HAD EVERY TYPICAL PROBLEM OTHER THAN THE CAR CATCHING FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE OWNED BMWS IN GERMANY AND THE US FOR A LONG TIME, HOWEVER, I THINK I'LL BE SWITCHING BRANDS WITH MY NEXT VEHICLE. BMW DOESN'T SEEM TO BE PROACTIVE ENOUGH FOR MY LIKING WITH SOME OF THESE WAY TOO COMMON ISSUES. THIS IS A VERY LOW MILE VEHICLE FOR IT'S AGE AND IT'S ACTING LIKE A MODEL T. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668801
Incident
Dec 29, 2014
Mileage
86,000 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Jan 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE LOCKS FAILED TO WORK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN OCCASION WHERE SHE WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID
10559164
Incident
Nov 5, 2013
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2013

ON MANY OCCASIONS BEFORE AS WELL AS TODAY I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS LATCHES MALFUNCTIONING, USUALLY, IN COLD WEATHER. EITHER THE DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED AT ALL OR. IF OPENED (USUALLY MANUALLY) THEY CANNOT BE CLOSED/LATCHED AT ALL, THIS USUALLY HAPPENS IN COLD WEATHER AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GOES UP. THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT IS, POTENTIALLY, SAFETY RELATED AS DRIVING WITH DOOR NOT LATCHED IS UNSAFE. I'M WONDERING IF THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES AND/OR DEATHS IN ACCIDENTS INVOLVING AFFECTED BMW X5. *TR

NHTSA ID
10497592
Incident
Feb 9, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 27, 2012
Fire reported

AS MY WIFE AND I DRIVING TO HER MD APPOINTMENT ON 11/26/12. I'VE NOTICED GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR,AND CAR SUDDENLY LOSING POWER, WHEN I'VE STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT'S LIKE GAINING POWER TO GO AND SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. I WAS KIND OF CONFUSED WHAT HAPPENED . WE WERE ON THE ROAD RIGHT BEHIND THE INTERSECTION. WE HAD TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT,WHEN I'VE TRIED TO GO, THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING LIKE IT SHOULD. WE MADE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION, WHICH THERE IS DENNY'S RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. BY THE TIME I'VE PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON,WE WERE STILL IN THE CAR. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND, LIKE EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND FIRE STARTED.THANKS GOD, WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR JUST IN TIME. THE FIRE WAS BURNING OUT OF CONTROL. COUPLE OF PASSERBY HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN THEIR CARS,TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, WHILE I WAS ON THE 911 CALL,BUT NO LUCK. IN JUST A LESS THAN A MINUTE THE WHOLE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT TOOK FIRE DEPT LIKE 20-30 MINUTES TO PUT THE FIRE OUT,AND MY CAR JUST MELTED FRONT OF MY EYES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10486154
Incident
Nov 26, 2012
Mileage
153,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed May 20, 2011

TWO SAFETY CONCERNS: (1) LED ON DASHBOARD FADED OUT. KEY DRIVING INFORMATION IS NOW NOT AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. (2) REAR TAILGATE WILL NOW UNEXPECTEDLY UN-LATCH AND POP OPEN IN WHICH I HAVE TO PULL OVER, GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CLOSE IT. IT IS CAUSED BY POOR SEALING WHICH DOESN'T KEEP OUT RAIN AND SNOW. ONCE I CLOSE THE TAILGATE, IT WILL EVENTUALLY OPEN AGAIN! BMW KNOWS ABOUT THESE SAFETY PROBLEMS ON THE X5 AND WOULD NOT HELP WITH MATERIAL AND LABOR COST OF $ 1565.

NHTSA ID
10405068
Incident
Nov 20, 2006
Mileage
70,123 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014046
Incident
Feb 23, 2003
Mileage
11,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 23, 2002

WHILE PARKING, CONSUMER TAPPED THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A BMW MECHANIC FOR AN APPRAISAL. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE BUMPER HAD BEEN KNOCKED OFF IT'S MOORING. CONSUMER REQUESTS INFORMATION ON THE SAFTEY STANDARD OF THIS VEHICLE. *JG

NHTSA ID
567581

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .