KnownCarProblems2002 BMW 530i Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 530i, most often about the air bags (28% of complaints). It is 6th of 16 530i model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2002 BMW 530i problems
Air bags
8 complaints · 28%Parts named most often: frontal.
"takata recall" recall received from BMW july 2015. Final remedy notice received sept 2016. Local dealer (alexandria BMW) refused to replace driver-side front air bag module. BMW of north america notified on october 6, 2016, but has not responded. The VIN number does not appear on your web page, but the manufacture…
Takata recall. Receive recall notification in july 2015. Received resolution notification in september 2016. BMW dealer has refused to inspect or replace driver side airbag despite having copies of the recall notices. Shop manager at alexandria BMW told me he would call me back after checking with his "distributer.…
Speed control
4 complaints · 14%I own a 2002 BMW 530i. Recently, the car accelerated to full throttle by itself. I reported incident to BMW. To summarize, they said there is nothing wrong with the car and it was probably the floor mat that caused the acceleration (that's right, the floor mat).
We were driving on dry tarmac on a main street in new rochelle. We were traveling at a reasonable/slow rate of speed, about 25-30 MPH and approached a stop light. As we slowed to stop at the light the breaks pulsed violently. It felt as if we had run over something, but I looked and there was nothing there. We looked…
Engine
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: engine.
Tl contact owns a 2002 BMW 530i. While driving 25 MPH, the engine stalled without warning. There was a loss of power brakes and steering. The vehicle would not restart and was towed. The dealer stated that moisture accumulated in the engine and froze. Also, the internal valve became stuck, which caused the engine…
Tl contact owns a 2002 BMW 530i. While driving approximately 30 MPH, a cloud of smoke was emitted from the hood and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle would not restart so it was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was told oil separator failed, resulting in a complete loss of oil. The vehicle was repaired.…
Transmission
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
I recently purchased a 2002 BMW 530i on august 24, 2011 and about three weeks in to owning the vehicle the check engine light came on. It seems the code reads p0741 I.e. Torque converter solenoid circuit stuck off. The vehicle only has 107k on it however, doesn't seem to have any misfire or transmission issues while…
At 78,600 miles the check light illuminated. Diagnosis was p0741 (BMW code 48) which is a fault with the torque converter clutch (tcc). This failure until corrected results in lower fuel mileage, and a guaranteed failure to pass the emissions test during state mandated vehicle inspections. Add to this that continued…
Seats
3 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: front assembly.
Heated driver seat will burn leg or back. Heater has burned hole through leather. Plaza motors / st. Louis mo informed me that BMW will not fix. Heater is a fire hazard and should be recalled.
The contact owns a 2002 BMW 530i. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the heated seat warmer was activated to a low setting when the seat became extremely hot. There was smoke and an abnormal odor present. As a result, a hole burned through the front driver's side seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 BMW 530i recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 activit
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension
Risk: This could affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Wheels and tires: sidewall
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2002 BMW 530i
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 530i?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (8 complaints); speed control (4 complaints); engine (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2002 BMW 530i have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 14, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the BMW 530i?
- It is 6th of 16 530i model years by number of complaints, with 29 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.