2002 Bmw X5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
102 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
87,905 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 102 complaints (18.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 14 | 13.7% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 13.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 7.8% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 19 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Air Bags: 19; Electrical System: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Structure:Body: 7; Steering: 6; Exterior Lighting: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 13
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 23 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 7; 2003: 9; 2004: 9; 2005: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 10; 2009: 8; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 7; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10057685 · 2004-02-06 (February 6, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 25,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061774 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
STALLING PROBLEM DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE PERFORMANCE, AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH DAMAGED OTHER PARTS. (NAR) *PH *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021880 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004694 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY FAILS,CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, SIDE REAR MIRROR, TRUNK LATCH, AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS ETC TO MALFUNCTION. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIX OR FIND THE CAUSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145135 · 2005-12-13 (December 13, 2005)
I DRIVE A 2002 BMW X-5. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED BY THE FAILURE OF A BASIC COMPONENT OF MY AUTO. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THERE HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL SHORTS IN BOTH FRONT TURN SIGNALS AND ONE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS. AT 58,315 MILES THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET BURNED AT CONTACTS AND WAS REPLACED FOR $126.25. AT 85,549 MILES THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET BURNED OUT AND WAS REPLACED FOR $133.89. AT 88,685 MILES THE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT IS SHORTED OUT. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PART IN STOCK BUT THE REPAIR W…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114059 · 2005-03-14 (March 14, 2005)
OVER THE YEARS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2002 BMW X5, I HAVE REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF WEATHERFORD BMW THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN START REVVING UP. AS THIS IS HAPPENING, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE AND BUCK AT THE SAME TIME. EVEN THOUGH, I AND MY WIFE HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SCENARIO OR EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS WHILE SERVICING MY VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE X5, NOT ONLY ME, BUT ALSO MY WIFE, SHE WOULD INFOR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204185 · 2007-09-26 (September 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHEN MAKING A TURN AT 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER IT WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE DME, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349296 · 2010-08-13 (August 13, 2010)
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65MPH, ALL THE SUDDEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OF MY STEERING, IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER, I'VE ALMOST CRASHED IN TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH MY TWO INFANTS IN THE CAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS, THEY RESET THE COMPUTER AND SAID IM GOOD TO GO...MY CAR IS 2002 BMW X5 3.0I. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423046 · 2011-09-02 (September 2, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT THE FAILURE WAS STILL PRESENT. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS A JAM IN THE STEERING LOCK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486154 · 2012-11-27 (November 27, 2012)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486154 at NHTSA ↗