The 2002 BMW 525i has 4 recalls, the most serious being a Takata-related driver's airbag inflator that can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a serious injury or death risk to the driver and passengers.
The airbag concern covers two separate populations of vehicles: one affecting the standard steering wheel configuration and one affecting vehicles where the original steering wheel was replaced with an optional sports steering wheel. Both carry the same consequence, and prior repair attempts may not have fully resolved the issue for all affected vehicles. On the suspension side, a front strut can separate from its upper mount when the suspension is fully unloaded, which can cause a sudden loss of steering control. There is also a tire concern limited to vehicles built with standard (non-sport) suspension and fitted with specific Continental ContiTouringContact CH95 EcoPlus tires in size 225/65R16: the outer sidewall may have been cut during mounting, which can lead to slow air loss, handling problems, and potential tire failure while driving.