2002 Bmw 525I: complaints, problems and recalls

TOOK MY 2002 BMW 525I TO HAVE ITS DRIVER SIDE RAILS REPLACED TO BMW OF PEORIA IN ILLINOIS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER (AROUND MAY 5) AT A STOP LIGHT A LARGE ALLEN TYPE BOLT FELL AND ROLLED TO MY FEET. THIS BOLT WAS TO MY LAP SEAT BELT WHICH I WAS NOW HOLDING IN MY HAND! THE BOLT WAS NEVER TIGHTENED PROPERLY AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING LIKE THIS FOR AROUND 1 WEEK ASSUMING MY SEAT BELT WOULD WORK WHEN NEEDED. BMW OF PEORIA WAS INFORMED OF THIS THE SAME DAY, IT WAS FIXED BY THE NEXT DAY. I WROTE TO BMW-USA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE RESPONSE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018733 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHILE DRIVING FRONT END VIBRATED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT VEHICLE VIBRATED BECAUSE THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE CUPPING. THE TIRES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044591 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SPLASH SHIELD SCRAPPED THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY WHEN ENTERING PARKING LOT, AND PARKING SPACE BLOCK. THIS WAS CAUSING THE FRONT BUMPER TO BENT, SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 24,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081945 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT HEATER FAILED AND CONSEQUENTLY THE CONSUMER WAS BURNED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105217 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR FLOOR OF MY 2002 BMW(525I) HAS 2 INCHES OF WATER, CARPET SOAKED,MILDEW, THE FRONT CARPET WAS SOAKED , DRIVERS SIDE(FRONT) WETTER THAN THE PASSENGER FRONT .ALEXANDER BMW SAID THEY HAD NO REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE, THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 27,206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112284 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

PASSENGER SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT RECEPTACLE IS MALFUNCTIONING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149687 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-11-26 (November 26, 2001)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2002-02-19 (February 19, 2002)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)

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.

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 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.

Reported: 2019-01-14 (January 14, 2019)

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.

Consequence: 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.