Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 BMW X5 problems

Owners filed 115 complaints about the 2002 BMW X5 with NHTSA between Jan 2002 and Jan 2025. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (24).

Complaints
115
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling24
  2. Air bags19
  3. Electrical system16
  4. Visibility13
  5. Structure10
  6. Exterior lighting10
  7. Power train9
  8. Engine8
  9. Steering6
  10. Latches/locks/linkages6
  11. Seat belts4
  12. Suspension3
  13. Service brakes3
  14. Service brakes, hydraulic3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200212
200312
200410
20053
20060
20072
200812
20098
20109
20116
20127
20132
20145
20155
20162
20173
20183
20196
20203
20213
20220
20231
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

24 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE OIL SEPARATOR WAS FROZEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2012Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10448323

Air bags

19 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“Bmw has failed on several occasions to address this issue or service vehicle. I have made them aware of the situation but continue to receive letters that indicate I could die of the airbag.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2025Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11636800

Electrical system

16 reports3 fires
“CAR WAS PARKED. I TRIED TO UNLOCK MY CAR WITH THE KEY FOB AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I UNLOCKED THE DOOR WITH THE KEY AND AFTER GETTING IN THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THE GMIII CONTROLS THE CENTRAL LOCKING AS WELL AS OTHER ITEMS LIKE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, SUN ROOF, AND REAR UPPER AND LOWER HATCH. I ORDERS A NEW ONE AND WHEN I TOOK THE OLD ONE OUT TO REPLACE IT I FOUND THAT IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW FUSE 14. IT APPEARS A THYRISTOR OR TIAC GOT TO HOT AND SET THE BOARD AND CASE ON FIRE. I HAD SMELT A PLASTIC SMELL EARLIER WHILE DRIVING SO IT MAY HAVE BEEN BURNING BEFORE I PARKED. I AM ATTACHING PHOTOS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2021Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperFire reportedODI 11405711

Visibility

13 reports
“IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 MY 2002 BMW X5 FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED IN THE DOWN POSITION. UPON TAKING IT INTO MY ORIGINAL DEALER, IT WAS MANUALLY RAISED-CLOSED AND I HAD TO RETURN DAYS LATER FOR INSTALLATION OF A NEW "REGULATOR" AT A COST OF ABOUT $500. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM WAS "UNUSUAL". NOW, NINE MONTHS LATER AND LESS THAN AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE (76,710) THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAVE FAILED; THE FRONT MANUALLY TWEAKED INTO THE CLOSED POSITION AND THE REAR OPENING COVERED WITH CARDBOARD EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND THEFT WHILE THE SAME ORIGINAL DEALER AWAITS PARTS DELIVERY FOUR DAYS FROM NOW BEFORE SCHEDULED REPAIR...AT I EXPECT ANOTHER COST TO ME OF ABOUT $1000!...I HAVE REVIEWED THE MANY COMPLAINTS IN THIS SECTION ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE!! TO WIT, IT WAS WELL SAID BY THIS ONE QUOTED HERE: "2002 BMW X5 WINDOW REGULATOR. CAR HAS 41K MILES AND ALREADY GOING ON 5TH WINDOW REGULATOR ISSUE. ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE EXPLANATIONS FROM THE DEALER INCLUDING LACK OR USE OR TOO MUCH USE BUT THIS ISSUE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2015Visibility, StructureODI 10726659

Structure

10 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SECURE THE VEHICLE'S HOOD LATCH WHEN HE PUT THE HOOD DOWN. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH, WHEN THE HOOD FLUNG UP. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. BMW OF NORTH LIBERTY (525 MADISON AVE, NORTH LIBERTY, IA 52317) WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT COME TO A CONCLUSIVE DECISION AS TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE HOOD WARNING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCKS INSIDE THE HOOD HAD RIPPED LOOSE AND THE HOOD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT INFORMED THAT THE REARVIEW MIRROR WOULD ALERT, IF THE HOOD WAS OPEN AND THE COMPLAINT WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THEIR SAFETY ENGINEER, HOWEVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2021StructureODI 11406007

Exterior lighting

10 reports2 fires
“WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY DASH LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF MY AND PULLED THE KEYS OUT MY LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT STAYED ON THE NEXT MORNING MY BATTERY WAS DEAD. SO I PULLED THE BATTERY AND CHARGED IT NOW WHEN I CONNECT THE BATTERY ALL MY LIGHTS FLASH RANDOMLY WITH NO KEY IN IT. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS IT IS NOT SAFE AND THE NEAREST BMW SERVIES IS 40 MILES AWAY . I HAVE A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG , BUT NOT TAKING A CHANCE ON DRIVING IT TO GET FIXED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bagsODI 11320264
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.