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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Bmw 525I problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

77,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 28 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues414.3%
Engine operation13.6%
Braking behavior13.6%
Steering behavior13.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
6
Electrical System
5
Seats
4
Unknown Or Other
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Seat Belts
2
Structure:Body
2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags6
Electrical System5
Seats4
Unknown Or Other3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Seat Belts2
Structure:Body2
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel1

Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 5; Seats: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
1
2002
2
2003
3
2004
2
2005
2
2006
1
2008
2
2009
1
2010
2
2011
1
2012
1
2015
1
2016
2
2017
2
2021
3
2023
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
20022
20033
20042
20052
20061
20082
20091
20102
20111
20121
20151
20162
20172
20213
20231
20261

2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10235752 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 525I. THE DRIVER'S SEAT CONTROLS MAKE A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN MOVING THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE SEAT TRACK, WHICH CAUSED THE NOISE. WHEN THE CONTACT LOCKS THE VEHICLE, THE ALARM SOUNDS, BUT THE HORN WOULD NOT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO FAIL WHEN THIS OCCURRED OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE KEYS DO NOT LOC…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10373574 · 2010-12-30 (December 30, 2010)

THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT FAILS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE CAR'S ALTERNATOR FAILS. AT IDLE A VOLTMETER READ 11.5V. WITH THE CAR OFF THE READING WAS 12.2V. EVEN IF MY METER IS INACCURATE A RUNNING CAR SHOULD PRODUCE A HIGHER READING THAN A BATTERY IN A NON-RUNNING CAR IF THE ALTERNATOR IS WORKING. I REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE CAR AND ATTACHED IT TO A "SMART" CHARGER. THE CHARGER STARTED OUT READING "LO." MY CHARGER READS "LO" WHEN THE CHARGE IS LESS THAN 50% OR SO, AND ABOVE THAT REPORTS ESTIMATED CHARGE IN INCREMENTS OF 10%. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10373574 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024731 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024731 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112880 · 2005-02-22 (February 22, 2005)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11431768 · 2021-09-05 (September 5, 2021)

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 .

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431768 at NHTSA ↗