IllustrationWHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *NM *NM
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
Compare all X5 years →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
80–25K
625–50K
1650–75K
1975–100K
17100–150K
13150K+
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
What owners actually said
102 reportsSTALLING PROBLEM DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE PERFORMANCE, AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH DAMAGED OTHER PARTS. (NAR) *PH *CB
WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER VEHICLE LEAKED OIL INTO THE ENGINE. *AK IN COLD WEATHER THE OIL SEPARATOR CRACKED AND CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER HEARD THAT THE NEW PART IS THE SAME AS THE OLD PART EXCEPT THE NEW PART HAS A FOAM INSULATOR. THE MANUFACTURER IS ONLY REPAIRING VEHICLE'S THAT ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NM
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURNS DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON, VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, VEHICLE RESTARTED AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THIS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. *AK
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!
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.
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND CAUSED THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO FLIP OVER.*AK *TS *NLM
WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING . *AK THIS OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN AND SLEET. *SCC *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.PLEAS EFILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
317V047000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.