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, Nov 7, 2014
THE BMW DEALERSHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO KEEPS CANCELLING MY APPOINTMENTS FOR MY AIRBAGS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE JUNE. THEY CANNOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO HELPING ME GET MY AIRBAGS REPLACED. *TR
Air bags, Oct 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WHERE HE SUSTAINED BRUISING ON HIS NECK, THE SHOULDERS AND A SEVERE CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Sep 16, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V172000 (AIR BAGS) IN MAY OF 2013; 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Sep 14, 2014, crash
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. ANOTHER CAR HIT OUR CAR ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYING BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS. I HAD BACK INJURIES AND MY WIFE LOST VISION IN BOTH HER EYES. SHE IS STILL NOT ABLE TO SEE EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD SEVERAL SURGERIES AT MAYO CLINIC IN ROCHESTER, MN. EVERY SURGEON SHE HAS SEEN HAS SAID THAT THIS IS THE WORST AIRBAG INJURY THEY HAVE EVER SEEN. UPDATED 09/17/14*LJ..UPDATED 10/01/14 *BF UPDATED 01/26/15.*JB UPDATED 02/4/2015 *JS
Air bags, Aug 25, 2014
OUT OF THE BLUE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I BECAME CONCERNED AND DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT- I DIDN'T KNOW WHY OR WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. THE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY AND NEVER GOES OUT. I HAD AN AUTO MECHANIC LOOK AT IT BUT HE HAD NOT KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT MIGHT BE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CARE AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I WASN'T DRIVING IT EVERYDAY SO I WAS NOT WORRIED VERY MUCH. BUT I HAD READ ABOUT A RECALL OF SOME BMW'S WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR AIRBAGS AND I THOUGHT THAT COULD BE IT. I AM GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM AS THAT SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR, HOPE THIS WORKS OUT AND IT CAN BE REPAIRED AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HOW WOULD I KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IF I SHOULD NEED IT FOR PROTECTING ME AND MY FAMILY. *TR
Air bags, Wheels, Jun 24, 2014, crash
WAS DRIVING ON A CLOVERLEAF RAMP IN BATON ROUGE, LA. (HWY 61 & FLORIDA BLVD.) WHEN PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING ME TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. I THEN HIT A DRAIN ON THE CURBING AND BLEW OUT BOTH RIGHT SIDE TIRES AND BENT RIMS. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 90* WITH NO RAIN. ( NOT SURE OF EXACT VEHICLE MILEAGE B/C CAR IS IN SHOP) I CAN GET PICTURES IF NEEDED. *TR
Air bags, Mar 27, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND THE ROOF AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF IMPACT MADE WITH THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH TRIGGERED THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Air bags, Aug 15, 2013
WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR CAR AND FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS IN THE LETTER. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR IN AT 9:30 AM LAST SATURDAY. WHEN WE GOT THERE, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED US THAT A POLICY CHANGE OCCURRED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND INSTEAD, THEY WANTED US TO LEAVE THE CAR AFTER THE INSPECTION SO THEY COULD ORDER THE VIN SPECIFIC PART WHICH WOULD MEAN LEAVING OUR CAR DISMANTLED AT THE DEALER FOR A "FEW DAYS". WE DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER CAR AVAILABLE. I ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE; THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP. I TOLD THEM WE NEEDED OUR CAR AND COULD NOT BE WITHOUT FOR THE FEW DAYS THEY REQUIRED. I CALLED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FROM THE PARKING LOT AND SHE CALLED BACK TO THE DEALER AND CONFIRMED THAT THE POLICY HAD BEEN CHANGED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO INSPECT THE CAR AND REASSEMBLE IT SO WE COULD USE IT WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE PART. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR SINCE SHRAPNEL WAS IN THE AIRBAGS AND HE TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY, NO ONE HAD EVER BEEN INJURED. I AM PRETTY ANGRY ABOUT THE ENTIRE MATTER. BMW'S COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RECALL IS A FARCE. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Jul 17, 2012
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE IN EARLY APRIL OF 2012. ACCORDING TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, HE SAID THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO A FIRING MECHANISM IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WHICH HAS FAILED. THE MECHANIC RESET THE AIRBAG LIGHT, BUT IT CAME BACK ON ABOUT A MONTH LATER. THE MECHANIC STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST $500. UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS RESOLVED, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 100K MILES ON IT. *TR
Air bags, Jul 9, 2012
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS. BMW PENSACOLA AND CENTURY BMW GREENVILLE, SC HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AFTER MANY VISITS AND $1000. IN REPAIR CHARGES. BMW PENSACOLA SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AND WOULD NOT REFUND MY CHARGES. CENTURY BMW WANTED ME TO PAY $775. TO TRY TO CHANGE A COMPUTER PART THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WOULD FIX IT. THEY REFUSE TO SAY IF THE AIRBAGS WILL WORK DURING AN ACCIDENT. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA SAYS IT IS A DEALER PROBLEM.
Air bags, Feb 20, 2012
MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I KNOW SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS I DO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AS WELL. I AM AFRAID THAT IF I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT MY AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
Air bags, Apr 19, 2011, crash
TL*THE DRIVER OWNED A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS FATALLY INJURED AND DIED ON THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Air bags, Aug 19, 2010, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A TRAILER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM ITS HOUSING BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BUT WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 47,000.
Suspension, Air bags, Tires, Mar 13, 2010
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST AFTER MERGING ONTO THE INNER-LOOP 495 NORTH-BOUND FROM WEST-BOUND HIGHWAY 50, BETWEEN HIGHWAY 50 AND 66, IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA. DURING THE MERGE, I ACCELERATED MY VEHICLE TO EQUAL TO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC WHILE MAINTAINING MY POSITION IN THE ON/OFF-LANE USED FOR THE 50/60 MERGER. BECAUSE I WAS CONTINUING NORTH-BOUND ON 495 TOWARDS TYSON'S CORNER, I STARTED PROCEDURES TO EXIT THE 66 ON-LANE AND MERGE INTO NORTH-BOUND 495 TRAFFIC. THESE PROCEDURES INCLUDED CHECKING BOTH MY SIDE AND REAR-VIEW MIRRORS AS WELL AS MY BLIND SPOTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, DURING THE PROCEDURES MY EYES WERE ROUTINELY FORWARD TO CHECK ON FORWARD TRAFFIC. BETWEEN MY MIRROR AND BLIND SPOT CHECKS, I NOTICED THAT I WAS QUICKLY APPROACHING A MASSIVE POTHOLE THAT LAID DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF MY FORWARD PROGRESSION. I ESTIMATE THE POTHOLE SIZE BEING TWO FEET IN LENGTH, ONE FOOT IN WIDTH, AND ONE FOOT IN DEPTH (I HAVE PICTURES). ALTHOUGH I ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE POTHOLE, AT AROUND 60MPH, IN THE RAIN, WITH A GUARD RAIL TO MY RIGHT AND TRAFFIC TO MY LEFT, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE I COULD DO TO AVOID IT WITHOUT RISKING MY LIFE, MY PASSENGER'S LIFE, AND LIVES OF FELLOW COMMUTERS. I HIT THE POTHOLE. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVER IT NOT ONLY BENT MY FRONT, PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL AND RIPPED A QUARTER-SIZE GAPING HOLE IN MY TIRE, IT DEPLOYED ALL MY PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS AND POSSIBLY RUINED MY SUSPENSION. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, MY PASSENGER WAS LEANING AGAINST THE ARM-RESTS AND THE WINDOW DIRECTLY ON THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT PATH. HIS ARM, FACE, AND HEARING WERE INJURED DURING THE INCIDENT. I ALLOWED THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN TO SAFE SPEEDS BY RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR. ONCE AT SAFE SPEEDS, I CONTINUED TO AN EMERGENCY EXIT PULLOUT WHERE I AWAITED POLICE AND A TOWING VEHICLE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE POLICE, A VDOT EMERGENCY VEHICLE PULLED UP AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. HE LATER INFORMED ME THAT THE POTHOLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED AND SHOULD HAVE FIXED WELL BEFORE THE TIME OF MY INCIDENT. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Mar 20, 2008
INFORMATION ON SEAT BELT SYSTEM FOR A 2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG. SHE STATES THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WAS REPAIRED AND PROBLEM RECURRED. *KB
Air bags, Mar 17, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Air bags, Feb 8, 2007, crash
ON 12/21/06, I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK, HIS BACKEND SLID OFF THE ROAD AND WHEN THE BACK TIRES GAINED TRACTION, IT SHOT HIS TRUCK ACROSS HIS LANE AND INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH THE FRONT OF HIS TRUCK. HIS TRUCK ENDED UP DAMAGING MY CAR DOWN THE ENTIRE DRIVER SIDE (FRONT TO REAR). MY SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SIDE MIRROR CAME THROUGH MY WINDOW AND STRUCK ME IN THE ARM WITH GLASS IMPACTING MY LEFT EAR, EYE AND CHEEK AS WELL AS MY MOUTH. THE COLLISION CENTER CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS STILL AT THE COLLISION CENTER WITH $10,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM
Air bags, Sep 15, 2005
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SMALL POTHOLE AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT REMEMBER IF SHE STRUCK THE POTHOLE OR NOT. INSTANTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE SIDE/CURTAIN PASSENGER'S AIRBAG PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER WAS ON HER WAY TO THE DEALER WHEN THIS OCCURRED TO TRADE IN ON A NEW VEHICLE AND DECIDED TO JOURNEY TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE AIRBAGS PARTIALLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE OR IMPACT WAS NOTICED. THE DEALER HAS MADE NO CORRECTIONS. THE DEALER WAS AWAITING AN INSPECTION FROM A BMW REPRESENTATIVE. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT WITH THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *AK
Air bags, Sep 2, 2005, crash, fire
T-BONED AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER GOING 55 MPH AFTER HE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN ON A HIGHWAY. THE AIRBAG OF MY BMW 325I FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN INJURY.
Air bags, Jun 12, 2005
A FRIEND SAT IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT OF MY CAR AND PULLED THE SEAT BELT OUT - A BIT FURTHER THAN NORMAL, BUT NOT THAT FAR (SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 65KG, SO SHE IS NOT OBESE IN ANY WAY). THE AIR BAG LIGHT SUBSEQUENTLY CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ($510) IN ORDER TO REPAIR. THIS WAS DONE AND THE LIGHT WENT "OFF" ONCE MORE - FOR THREE MONTHS. THE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT AS LONG AS THE LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I MAINTAIN THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT NEEDS ATTENTION AS IT IMPACTS SAFETY.
Air bags, Oct 12, 2004
INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS. I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH (DUE TO RAIN) AND MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. TIRE WAS BLOWN OUT AND THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO BOTTOM OF CAR FROM DEBRIS, BUT IT IS UNCLEAR IF BLOWOUT AND DEBRIS DAMAGE HAPPENED BEFORE OR AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. EITHER WAY, THERE WAS NO IMPACT WITH ANY OBJECT THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DEPLOYMENT. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR NEARLY 4 WEEKS NOW AND IT SHOULD HAVE ONLY NEEDED A TIRE REPLACEMENT. ANY OTHER DAMAGES COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN MY OWN TIME, BUT CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE B/C OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND REPAIR COSTS ARE VERY HIGH. *NM
Air bags, Jun 2, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH DRIVER RAN OVER PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND BACK INJURIES , AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
Air bags, Feb 2, 2004, crash
RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED SEVERE EYE INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG IN A CRASH. PASSENGER SUFFERS PARTIAL BLINDNESS. UNDERGONE SEVERAL SURGERIES. PASSENGER WAS FEMALE AND SMALLER IN STATURE. *JB
Air bags, Nov 25, 2003, crash
THE CONSUMER REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT AN ESTIMATED SPEED OF 5 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS INJURED DUE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM