2002 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 442 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 18 involved a crash and 31 involved a fire. 22 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: air bags
151 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Sep 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Sep 8, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Aug 18, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. MA 10/16/15
Air bags, Aug 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) WERE RECEIVED IN 2014. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Jul 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325CI. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Air bags, Jun 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V172000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 7/28/15*CN
Air bags, May 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. THE DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 7/21/15*CN UPDATED 9/23/15 *JS
Exterior lighting, Air bags, May 21, 2015
I WAS MADE AWARE OF A TWO OPEN SAFETY RECALLS FOR MY CAR. I AM TOLD THAT THE AFFECTED PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE ENSURED SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT THESE REPAIRS COULD ONLY BE DONE AT AN AUTHORIZED BMW CENTER. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN MISSOULA, MT AND THE NEAREST BMW CENTER IS 3 HOURS AWAY IN SPOKANE, WA. OBVIOUSLY, I CANNOT DRIVE 3 HOURS EACH WAY AND WAIT HOWEVER MANY HOURS OR DAYS THE REPAIRS TAKE TO HAVE THEM DONE AT THE BMW CENTER I AM TOLD HAS TO DO THEM. THE BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT IS NOT WILLING TO OFFER ANY HELP IN FIXING THIS SITUATION AND GETTING THESE RECALL REPAIRS DONE.
Air bags, May 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, May 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Air bags, Mar 12, 2015
2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL AND LACK OF PARTS. *SMD
Air bags, Mar 11, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 4/21/15*CN
Air bags, Mar 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 4/20/15*CN
Air bags, Feb 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V172000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Feb 18, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Feb 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN
Air bags, Feb 4, 2015
DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ABOVE THE DOOR ERUPTED. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING. I HAVE NO DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. I NEED TO KNOW HOW THIS AIRBAG RECALL AFFECTS ME, BECAUSE IT TALKS ABOUT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH...AND I WASN'T IN A WRECK OF ANY SORT. *TR
Air bags, Feb 3, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE RECALL REMEDY WAS UNABLE TO BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 4/13/15*CN UPDATED 04/16/15*JB
Air bags, Jan 23, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Dec 23, 2014
MESSAGE: HI, THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON AIR BAGS. WE OWN A 2002 BMW AND OUR VEHICLE IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL BMW DEALER (NIELLO BMW AT SACRAMENTO, CA) SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE. HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO WAIT ? THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Dec 17, 2014
CONTACTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014 REGARDING RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. DEALER SCHEDULED REPAIR IN SEPTEMBER, BUT WHEN WE SHOWED UP FOR OUR APPOINTMENT WE WERE INFORMED THERE WERE NO AIR BAGS. WE HAVE CALLED 4 TIMES SINCE THEN AND TOLD A SHIPMENT WAS COMING IN AND WE WOULD BE CONTACTED. THE LAST (#5) STILL NO AIRBAGS, PROBABLY SOMETIME IN JANUARY. *TR
Air bags, Dec 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/09/15*LJ UPDATED 06/9/2015 *JS
Electrical system, Air bags, Dec 2, 2014, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND EVIDENCE OF A FIRE WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTED AND BURN MARKS WERE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED AND THE CEILING PANEL WAS BURNED AND HANGING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Air bags, Nov 28, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Air bags, Nov 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.