Total Complaints
2 filings
BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON · model year
2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON
2 NHTSA complaints, and 1 recall campaign listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002BMW525IA SPORT WAGON carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2002 525IA SPORT WAGON is engine and engine cooling with 1 filings, followed by power train (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 1 NHTSA recall campaign listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2002 525IA SPORT WAGON. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recalls (1)
01V35200026/11/2001
TIRES:SIDEWALL
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
Recent Complaints
20111214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
REVERSE DRUM FOR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AT 89,000 MILES. MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, BUT BMW HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT IN THE PART WHICH BREAKS DUE TO THE METAL PIECE BEING TOO THIN. NO RECALLS EITHER. BMW SHOULD BE FORCED RECALL THIS PART, AS IT COSTS $6,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AND $3,500 TO HAVE IT REBUILT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Mileage: 89,000
20111214POWER TRAIN
REVERSE DRUM FOR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AT 89,000 MILES. MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE, BUT BMW HAS FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT IN THE PART WHICH BREAKS DUE TO THE METAL PIECE BEING TOO THIN. NO RECALLS EITHER. BMW SHOULD BE FORCED RECALL THIS PART, AS IT COSTS $6,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AND $3,500 TO HAVE IT REBUILT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Mileage: 89,000
Compare 2002BMW525IA SPORT WAGON to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON have?▼
The 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON?▼
Yes, the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is TIRES:SIDEWALL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2002 BMW 525IA SPORT WAGON; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.