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Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (0)
No US recalls found for the 2002 BMW 5 Series.
Canadian recalls (5)
Show 5 Canadian recalls
Do not driveAirbag
2019-01-15 · campaign 2019-020
Issue:
2023 Update - BMW has updated this recall and issued a do not drive advisory for all vehicles that that not yet been repaired.
Some vehicles may contain a replacement sport steering wheel with a Takata driver-front air bag module. Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function.
Safety Risk:
If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury.
Corrective Actions:
BMW advises not to drive your vehicle unless this recall repair has been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the driver-front airbag inflator. The driver-front airbag module or inflator will be replaced as necessary.
To learn if your vehicle requires repair, owners may:
• Visit https://www.bmw.ca/en/ssl/VehicleRecall.html
• Contact your preferred or local BMW Retailer
• Call BMW Customer Relations Recall Services at 1-855-217-3002
Do not driveAirbag
2017-01-20 · campaign 2017-034
Issue:
2023 Update - BMW has updated this recall and issued a do not drive advisory for all vehicles that that not yet been repaired.
This recall is for certain vehicles that had an airbag inflator replaced as a part of an earlier recall campaign. This recall provides a final repair.
Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function.
Safety Risk:
If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury.
Corrective Actions:
BMW advises not to drive your vehicle unless this recall repair has been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the driver-front airbag inflator. The driver-front airbag module or inflator will be replaced as necessary.
To learn if your vehicle requires repair, owners may:
• Visit https://www.bmw.ca/en/ssl/VehicleRecall.html
• Contact your preferred or local BMW Retailer
• Call BMW Customer Relations Recall Services at 1-855-217-3002
Do not driveAirbag
2015-05-27 · campaign 2015-230
Issue:
2023 Update - BMW has updated this recall and issued a do not drive advisory for all vehicles that that not yet been repaired.
Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the driver-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force than normal. If the airbag inflator ruptures, fragments could be propelled toward vehicle occupants or cause damage to the airbag assembly, preventing its proper function.
Note: This recall supersedes special service campaign 2014-587. Correction: Dealers will replace the airbag module.
Safety Risk:
If the vehicle is involved in a crash requiring an airbag deployment, the airbag inflator could rupture and create a risk of injury.
Corrective Actions:
BMW advises not to drive your vehicle unless this recall repair has been completed. BMW will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the driver-front airbag inflator. The driver-front airbag module or inflator will be replaced as necessary.
To learn if your vehicle requires repair, owners may:
• Visit https://www.bmw.ca/en/ssl/VehicleRecall.html
• Contact your preferred or local BMW Retailer
• Call BMW Customer Relations Recall Services at 1-855-217-3002
Structure
2002-03-18 · campaign 2002-049 · 284 vehicles
On certain 325I, 330I, 525I and 530I vehicles during the strut mount manufacturing process, the thrust bearing was not properly positioned and secured. If the suspension is fully unloaded, the front strut could separate from the upper mount. This could affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace both front spring strut upper mounts.
Tires
2001-11-14 · campaign 2001-271 · 105 vehicles
Certain passenger vehicles built with standard (non-sport) suspension and equipped with continental ContTuringContact CH95 EcoPlus tires in the size 225/65R16 95H, having dotted codes 4001, 4101, or 4201. During the tire mounting process, the outer sidewall surface may have been cut by a sharp edge. Operation of the vehicle over a long period of time could lead to a reduction of inflation pressure. Continued driving with low inflation pressure in the tire could ultimately result in damage to the tire, affect vehicle handling and control, and could in some cases result in a vehicle crash. Correction: dealers will inspect all five tires for a possible cut in the sidewall, and if a cut is found, the tire will be replaced.
Owner complaints (7)
Owners filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 5 Series (1 crashes, 1 fires reported). Among 17 model years of this model, it ranks #10 for the most complaints (median 8).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Power train | 2 | |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | |
| Visibility | 1 | |
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
| Structure | 1 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 BMW 5 Series.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2002 BMW 5 Series Sport Wagon w/SAB | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2002 BMW 5 Series version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| 525i 2.5 L Manual 5-spd | 18 | 27 | 21 | $3,900 |
| 525i 2.5 L Automatic (S5) | 17 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
| 525i Sport Wagon 2.5 L Manual 5-spd | 17 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| 525i Sport Wagon 2.5 L Automatic (S5) | 17 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| 530i 3.0 L Automatic 5-spd | 16 | 24 | 19 | $4,350 |
| 530i 3.0 L Manual 5-spd | 18 | 27 | 22 | $3,750 |
| 540i 4.4 L Automatic 5-spd | 16 | 22 | 18 | $4,550 |
| 540i 4.4 L Manual 6-spd | 14 | 21 | 16 | $5,150 |
| 540i 4.4 L Automatic (S5) | 14 | 19 | 16 | $5,150 |
| 540i Sport Wagon 4.4 L Automatic (S5) | 14 | 19 | 16 | $5,150 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.