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: suspension
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Suspension, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2017
MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS TIRES 275/30/19 ON BMW M3 HAD BLOW OUT ON FREEWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS OF 65 MPH. COULD HEAR RUBBER WHIPPING THE ROAD JUST PRIOR TO THE ABRUPTLY BURSTING. HAD TIRES INSPECTED AND TECHNICIAN FOUND EXCESSIVE CRACKING NEAR THE TREAD AND CENTER WEAR-BAR HAD PITTING IN THE RUBBER (15,622 MILES). CAR IS SELDOM DRIVEN AND ALWAYS GARAGED (CLIMATE CONTROLLED). TIRE STORE HAD SEEN IDENTICAL ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH SAME TIRE. DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE WITH SAME TIRES THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. LOST WARRANTY CREDITS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER BRAND FOR FAMILY SAFETY. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE AND NEED TO BE REVIEWED FOR MATERIAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN. PARTICULAR VEHICLE DOES NOT HOLD A SPARE. ENDANGERMENT FROM POTENTIAL INJURY AND BEING STRANDED IN AN ISOLATED AREA.
Suspension, Apr 10, 2017
THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN THREE (3) TIMES. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. THE SPRINGS FAILED AT 52000 MILES IN 2008, AT 77000 MILES IN 2013 AND AT 89000 MILES IN 2017. THE BOTTOM COILS FRACTURED AND RUSTING IN THE AREA WAS EVIDENT. I HAVE BOTH BROKEN SPRINGS FROM THE LATEST INCIDENT. BMW REFUSES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COST TO REPAIR. BMW COST IS $1100. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Jan 15, 2013
NOTICED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON CURVY ROADS IT FEELS LIKE RIDING ON A ROUGH ROAD PATCH OR FEELS LIKE BRAKING. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AND FILTER. NO FAULT IN MEMORY. REMOVED AND EXCHANGED TORQUE CONVERTER. REMOVED TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND REPLACED TRANSMISSION OIL FILTER AND OIL AND FLUSHED ALL TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Jan 15, 2013
I NOTICED A CRACKING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN NOTICED NOISE ON RIGHT/FRONT SIDE. CHECKED THE FRONT END AND FOUND RIGHT/FRONT SWAY BAR MOUNT IS LOOSE. RETIGHTENED RIGHT/FRONT SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY AND CHECKED LEFT/FRONT SWAY BAR. RETIGHTENED. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Jan 15, 2013
HEARD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND DRIVING SLOW, ALSO WHEN MAKING TURNS. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE FRONT END AFTER ROAD TESTING THE VEHICLE. FOUND THAT BOTH DRIVE AXLES LOST ALL LUBRICANT; RIGHT/FRONT INNER AND OUTER C/V JOINT WAS CONTAMINATED. REMOVED BOTH FRONT STRUT HUB ASSEMBLY AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS FROM AXLES, REMOVED AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT COMPLETE AXLE ASSEMBLY. REINSTALLED FRONT END COMPONENTS WHICH WERE REMOVED. *TR
Suspension, Jan 14, 2013
NOTICED A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE 2 REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN HALF SO REPLACED THE REAR SPRINGS. ALSO, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BARS AND LINKS WERE WORN AND HAD PLAY. REPLACED ALSO. *TR
Suspension, Jan 14, 2013
HEARD RATTLE NOISE ON THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT THIS WASN'T SAFE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED FAULTY CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH FAULTY CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS . *TR
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Jan 14, 2013
THE FRONT LEFT OUTER AXLE BOOT CRACKED AND GREASE WAS SPILLING ON THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP REPLACED CV BOOT (AXLE BOOT). *TR
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Jan 14, 2013
RIGHT/FRONT CV BOOT (AXLE BOOT) IS TORN AND LEAKING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Oct 3, 2011
WE PURCHASED OUR BMW 325 NEW IN 2002. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WELL CARED FOR. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS CAR IS NOW ON IT'S 3RD SET OF CONTROL ARMS ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT BMW REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR SERVICE NOTIFICATION. OBVIOUSLY THE PARTS THAT ARE BEING USED TO REPLACE THE PREVIOUS PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE "OFFICIAL" BMW PARTS. IF THIS DEFECT WAS NOT DISCOVERED AND FAILED AT SLOWER OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT COULD CAUSE LIFE THREATENING INJURIES OR WORSE. ADDITIONALLY THE FIX IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THIS? *TR
Suspension, Sep 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 325XI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A LOUD CLANKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Suspension, Dec 12, 2010
BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAVE CRACKED/BROKEN AT APPROX 55,000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. BMW WILL NOT WARRANTY A REPLACEMENT SET OF SPRINGS. *TR
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
Suspension, Service brakes, Air, Structure, Sep 9, 2009
NEVER CONTACTED BY BMW ABOUT BMW 325XI RECALL #02V088000. ALSO, BOTH FRONT AXLES HAVE GONE OUT AT 77,000 MILES. *TR
Suspension, Tires, Equipment, May 23, 2008
TODAY, AFTER FILLING UP GAS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2 MONTHS, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS NEW USED 2002 BMW 325CI, MODEL WITH NOW 45,000+ MILEAGES. I LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF RED LIGHT STOP. AS I STOPPED TODAY, AT AROUND 9AM, AFTER THE GAS STATION, MY BREAK NOISE SQUEAK, AND THEN IT WOULD NOT STOP. AS I DRIVE AND STOP ON THE RED LIGHT, MY CAR WOULD JUMP, " BOUNCE FORWARD THEN STOP" BEFORE IT CAN IT FULLY STOP. AS I STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN I COME TO A STOP, IT WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY, THE CAR JUMPS COUPLE INCHES THEN STOPS. I AM FEARING FOR MY SAFETY, AND MY 30DAYS WARRANTY CONTRACT EXPIRES, HOWEVER THE " DEALERSHIP" HAS NEGLECT AND MIS INFORM ME THAT THE CAR HAS SOME MINOR PROBLEMS. IT IS A DISHONEST, AND I HAVE TOLD THEM FROM THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT, THAT, THE BACK WHEELS MAKES NOISE, " SHOCKS, SPRINGS NEEDS TO CHANGE" BUT THE MANAGER, AND SALES MANAGER DISAGREE, AND SAID, "I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING". AS WELL AS " YOU REMEMBER IT IS A USE CAR"... TOTALLY IGNORE MY REQUEST. I CALLED MANY TIMES AND SPOKE TO THEIR ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK AS THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK SOON, WHEN THE MANAGER IS IN, ITS BEEN HOURS BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK AND I CALLED TWICE. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AT " MIKEHONDAHARVEY.COM" IN BURLINGAME CA. *TR
Suspension, Structure, Nov 21, 2006
I WAS HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR TOOK IT INTO BMW, AND THEY SAID THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS CRACKING. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO! ALSO THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING ARE BAD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR OR IN REVERSE! *NM
Suspension, Mar 23, 2005
PREMATURE WEAR OF RIGHT FRONT STEERING CONTROL ARM. ARM WAS SO WORN AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES THAT IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WEAR SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTED STEERING RESPONSE AND VEHICLE CONTROL.*AK
Suspension, Visibility, Equipment, Sep 8, 2004
PROBLEMS WITH LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING AND WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM. *MR THE A/C WAS NOT COOL ENOUGH IN HOT WEATHER AND THE WIPERS WOULD STREAK THE WINDOWS. *SC *JB
Suspension, Mar 4, 2004
RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM MY BMW CONVERTIBLE 325CIC, BY THE PASSENGERSIDE. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE 3 DIFFERENT AUTHORIZED BMW DEALERSHIPS FOR FIX AND PLUS A FINAL ATTEMPED FIX AT ANOTHER AUTHORIZED BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM. TOTAL OF MORE THAN 8 TIMES IN THE DEALER SHIP WITH ONE ATTEMPED FROM BMW FIELD ENGINEER AND DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK