RecallRepo

2002 BMW 525i Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 BMW 525i has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 582,774 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 19V015000 2019-01-14 157,549 affected
Defect

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…

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. …

AIR BAGS 15V318000 2015-05-28 419,235 affected
Defect

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…

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…

SUSPENSION 02V057000 2002-02-19 4,672 affected
Defect

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.

TIRES 01V352000 2001-11-26 1,318 affected
Defect

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…

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…

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
1fires
SEATS
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
1fires
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
SEAT BELTS
2
STRUCTURE:BODY
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
1
Total complaints41

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2026-03-03

“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…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2023-07-14

“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 .”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2021-09-04

“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”

SEATS · reported 2021-09-02

“Seats front driver and passenger are twisting when adjusted also seat continuously moves even after the control is let of”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2020-07-25

“Seats front driver and passenger are twisting when adjusted also seat continuously moves even after the control is let of”

SEATS · reported 2020-07-25

“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…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2017-09-27

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 525i. The contact received notification of nhtsa 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…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2016-07-13
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 BMW 525i as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.