2002 BMW 7 Series
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 25 of 94 complaints (27%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 52 in 2001 to 94 in 2002.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2002 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,300–5,550 | 4,300–5,550 | 4,100 | 4,100–4,850 | 4,100–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 14–18 | 14–18 | 19 | 16–19 | 16–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 12–15 / 18–22 | 12–15 / 18–22 | 16 / 24 | 13–16 / 21–24 | 13–16 / 21–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494–635 | 494–635 | 468 | 468–555 | 468–555 | |
| Complaints filed | 36 | 52 | 94 | 97 | 91 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2002 BMW 7 Series have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2002 BMW 7 Series?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 25 of 94 NHTSA complaints (27%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2002 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA rates it 19 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 BMW 7 Series?
EPA estimates $4,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 6-spd | 8 | 4.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 16 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 468 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM · Campaign 10V446000 · Oct 1, 2010
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence: POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · Campaign 03V240000 · Jul 7, 2003
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, A DESYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VALVETRONIC MOTORS FOR ENGINE BANKS I AND II MAY OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE COULD STALL.
Consequence: IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY · Campaign 02V150000 · Jun 5, 2002
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP RUNS AT A ROTATIONAL SPEED THAT COULD RESULT IN REDUCED LUBRICATION OF ITS INTERNAL COMPONENTS. OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, WEAR-INDUCED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE FUEL PUMP COULD RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE WHEN THE FUEL TANK CONTAINS ONE-THIRD OR LESS OF ITS MAXIMUM FUEL CAPACITY.
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE COULD STALL AND NOT BE RESTARTED UNTIL MORE FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANK. THIS COULD OCCUR EVEN THOUGH THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT FUEL STILL REMAINED IN THE TANK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 28, 2002. 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 1-800-332-4269.