2002 BMW X5 Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALONG I 90 THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY OIL SEPARATOR. *TR
AFTER VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS, WHEN YOU CRANK IT AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE IT SLIPS AND DOES NOT WANT TO ENGAGE. PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR WHEN VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE, ONLY REVERSE SO FAR. AS THE VEHICLE WARMS UP THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. *TR
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON A 2002 BMW X5 3.0 AUTOMATIC WITH 69000 MILES. THE VEHICLE SLIPS IN REVERSE, AT TIMES IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. I'VE CONDUCTED ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SINCE PURCHASED FROM ORIGINAL OWNER. I TOOK CAR TO A SHOP WHO SERVICES BMW'S AND THEY CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH WAS OK. LATER AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON PROBLEMS WITH BMW TRANSMISSION I WAS AMAZED ON HOW MANY COMPLAINTS THERE ARE WITH THE BMW TRANSMISSION. IF I WOULD OF KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM I WOULD OF NOT BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OR ANY BMW. I WAS TOLD FROM MECHANICS THAT WORK ON THIS VEHICLE IT WILL COST ME AROUND $5000.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND SOONER OR LATER IT WILL FAIL BECAUSE THEIR TRANSMISSIONS ARE SEALED AND DO NOT REQUIRE FLUIDS OR MAJOR SERVICING. AFTER DOING ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ONLINE FOR ANY RECALL INFORMATION BMW HAS NOT SUBMITTED ONE WHATSOEVER. I AM PRETTY SURE BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND KNOWING A RECALL WILL COST THEM ALOT OF MONEY, THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AT A REASONABLE PRICE BUT WITH ME BEING THE ONLY INCOME IN MY HOUSEHOLD (MILITARY) I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. I DO NOT EXPECT ANY RESOLUTION FROM BMW, HOWEVER, I WANT TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT TO CREATE AWARENESS FOR FUTURE CONSUMERS OF BMW AUTOMOBILES. THIS WILL BE MY FIRST AND ONLY BMW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR
CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR SERVICE. 80,000 MILES. NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM ON START UP. EXPERIENCED SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FUNCTION. THE CAR ROLLS WHEN IN PARK. A GRINDING SOUND IS NOTED IN CABIN. *TR
02 BMW X5 5 SPD THE SHIFT LEVER WILL GO INTO REVERSE RATHER THAN FIRST BECAUSE THERE IS NO RESISTANCE TO PUSHING THE LEVER INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. BMW NA SAYS "DEALERS DON'T LIKE TO FIX CARS FOR INDEPENDENT. *AK
OVER THE YEARS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2002 BMW X5, I HAVE REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF WEATHERFORD BMW THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN START REVVING UP. AS THIS IS HAPPENING, THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE AND BUCK AT THE SAME TIME. EVEN THOUGH, I AND MY WIFE HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SCENARIO OR EXPERIENCED THESE PROBLEMS WHILE SERVICING MY VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE X5, NOT ONLY ME, BUT ALSO MY WIFE, SHE WOULD INFORM ME THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BUCK AND SURGE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE, THAT MY VEHICLE, A 2002 BMW X5 IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WITH THIS ALL SAID AND DONE, I WAS INVOLVED IN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE IS NOW TOTALED, BUT I WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY WITH ACHES AND PAIN (PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY). I DO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE, IT WAS A DIRECT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THAT BMW SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THE 2005 BMW X5 THAT I JUST PURCHASED TO REPLACE MY PREVIOUS X5. ALSO, IN QUIZZING THE SALES MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY NEW X5, I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY MAJOR CHANGES TO THE VEHICLE. HIS REPLY WAS THAT DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE X5 - BMW CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION. THEREFORE, SINCE BMW WAS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES, AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD REIMBURSE ME THE TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE OF MY 2005 X5. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*JB
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2002 BMW X5 has 7 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.