2002 BMW 525I vs 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 BMW 525I | 2002 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 28 | 702 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 12 | 242 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 71 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 19–39 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 54,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 525I | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 148 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 108 |
| Seats | 5 | 101 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 104 |
| Power Train | 1 | 103 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 50 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0 | 46 |
| Visibility | 0 | 45 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 50 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 26 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 26 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 22 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 15 |
| Overheating | 0 | 13 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 8 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 8 |
2002 BMW 525I
2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all BMW 525I vs Volkswagen Jetta years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.