NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2002–2003

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 7 owner complaints for the BMW 525iA Sport Wagon, covering model years 2002 to 2003. The 2003 model year drew the most complaints (6), and Air Bags is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW 525iA Sport Wagon VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

1 recall campaign on file
7 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
2 model years with data (2002–2003)

most complaints: 2003 (6 for that model year)
top component: Air Bags (3 complaints)
latest recall 01V352000 (reported Nov 26, 2001)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
1 complaint reporting a fire (14.3%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2003 model year has the most complaints: 6 of 7, or 85.7%. Next come 2002 (1).

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a fire
2002	1	0
2003	6	1
All model years	7	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW 525iA Sport Wagon components

top 6 · NHTSA categories

Air Bags is the component named most often, in 3 complaints (42.9% of all 7), followed by Electrical System (1) and Engine and Engine Cooling (1).

Components named most often in BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaints (top 6)

Components named most often in BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaints (top 6)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Air Bags	3	42.9%
Electrical System	1	14.3%
Engine and Engine Cooling	1	14.3%
Exterior Lighting	1	14.3%
Power Train	1	14.3%
Tires	1	14.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name 525iA Sport Wagon, newest first. The only campaign, 01V352000, covers model year 2002.

1 recall campaign

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon recall campaigns covering each model year
2002: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 01V352000
Reported Nov 26, 2001
Tires › Sidewall
Model year 2002
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.
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 should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW 525iA Sport Wagon questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW 525iA Sport Wagon have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the BMW 525iA Sport Wagon, covering model years 2002 to 2003. The campaign, 01V352000, was reported on November 26, 2001 and is filed under “Tires”.

Which BMW 525iA Sport Wagon model year has the most complaints?

The 2003 model year, with 6 of the 7 complaints in NHTSA’s file (85.7%). The next is 2002 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaint?

Air Bags is the component named most often: 3 complaints, or 42.9% of all 7. Electrical System (1) and Engine and Engine Cooling (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW 525iA Sport Wagon?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW 525iA Sport Wagon complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 7 complaints, 0 report a crash, 1 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.