The contact's brother owns a 2002 BMW 525I. The contact stated that while the owner was driving, the front driver's side steering wheel air bag deployed without impact and struck the driver's arm and face. The impact caused the driver to become unconscious. The driver sustained a broken arm and received medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A police report was filed. The dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
The worst 2002 BMW 525I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags9
- Electrical5
- Seats5
- Body4
- Seat belts3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags9
- Electrical5
- Seats5
- Body4
- Seat belts3
- Engine2
- Fuel system2
- Brakes1
- Driver assistance1
- Lights1
- Locks1
- Tires1
- Transmission1
Recalls 4
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000-2003 525i Sedan, 530i Sedan, 540i Sedan, 2001-2003 525i Sports Wagon and 540i Sports Wagon vehicles, and 2000-2004 X5 SAV 3.0i, X5 SAV 4.4i, and X5 SAV 4.6is vehicles. This recall affects certain vehicles where the original steering wheel has been replaced with the optional sports steering wheel. The sports steering wheel has a frontal air bag inflator that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp 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 vehicle for an optional sports steering wheel with an affected inflator. Dealers will replace the air bag module as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 19V015000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- Risk
- 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 replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V‑348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.
Recall number 15V318000 · Recall details
Suspension
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, during the strut mount manufacturing process, the thrust bearing was not properly positions and secured. If the suspension is fully unloaded, the front strut could separate from the upper mount.
- Risk
- This could affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both front spring strut upper mounts. Owner notification began march 15, 2002. 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.
Recall number 02V057000 · Recall details
Tires: sidewall
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: during the tire mounting process on certain passenger vehicles built with standard (non-sport) suspension and equipped with continental contitouringcontact ch95 ecoplus tires, size 225/65r16 95h, having dot codes 4001, 4101, or 4201, the outer sidewall surface of the tires 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 notification began december 10, 2001. 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.
Recall number 01V352000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2002 BMW 525I 12
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- Engine will crank but not start
- Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle
- Takata air bag recall-related short-term alternate transportation and consequential repairs
- Takata class action settlement. customer support program. front driver side airbag modules.
- Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide
- For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?)...
- In an effort to improve the completion rate on Takata air bag recall affected vehicles; BMW NA has...
- Program dme
- Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty. rm
2002 BMW 525I fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17-18 | 24-27 | 20-21 |
What 2002 BMW 525I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 525I. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency 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.
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
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 .
Seats front driver and passenger are twisting when adjusted also seat continuously moves even after the control is let of
Takata recall there's a airbag signals on display screen doesn't go out or clear anytime you start or drive the car
It started to smell electrical when I was driving the car and when I stopped the car put it in park and tryed to turn the car off the ignition wouldnt turn off and my entire car caught fire ..I saw it start on the passenger side under the hood I threw water on it it woundnt go out and I called the fire department. It happened in placerville when I was visiting family.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the recall were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Compare the 2002 BMW 525I
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Questions about the 2002 BMW 525I
Is the 2002 BMW 525I reliable?
Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 2002 BMW 525I, close to a typical 525I model year.
What is the 2002 BMW 525I year score?
The 2002 BMW 525I scores 75 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW 525I: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 BMW 525I?
Airbags, with 9 complaints. Next is electrical (5).
How many recalls does the 2002 BMW 525I have?
4 recalls, covering air bags, suspension and tires.
Was there a recall on the 2002 BMW 525I airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 19V015000, 15V318000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW 525I have bad airbags?
The BMW 525I model years with the most airbags complaints are 2006 (44 complaints), 2004 (33 complaints) and 2007 (25 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2002 BMW 525I get?
Official estimates for the 2002 BMW 525I range from 20 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 17-18 city and 24-27 highway.
VIN decoder
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