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2002 BMW 530Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2002 BMW 530, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 17V-047 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Lowest repair rate 24%Owner complaints42 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage190kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 27, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2002 BMW 530 has problems

4 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system11
Engine11
Engine and engine cooling10
Power train11
Service brakes, hydraulic10
Structure11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2002 BMW 530 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

24%repaired · 2018 Q2

Driver side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 17V-047 · Jan 20, 2017 · 230,117 vehicles · 55,819 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2002 vs. every other 530 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 530 median. How we score

'75'76'77'78'94'95'97'99'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What 530 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

SPONTANEOUS FIRE THAT BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVE-THRU LINE AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, BUT WAS STOPPED AT THE "PAY" WINDOW. BEGAN SMELLING BURNING ODOR AND THEN NOTICED LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM GAP BETWEEN HOOD AND FRONT QUARTER PANELS. WHILE AWAITING FIRE…
Complaint 11081597 · Mar 27, 2018 · 190,000 miles

Own a 2002 530?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.