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
442 reports, newest first.
Visibility, Dec 6, 2005
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW FAILURE (STUCK DOWN). AT DEALER NOW BEING FIXED. ON 11/17/2005; LEFT FRONT DRIVER DOOR WINDOW FAILED STUCK DOWN. REPLACED DOOR REGULATOR. SUN ROOF WINDOW STUCK OPEN; REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR. UNABLE TO SECURE VEHICLE (2002 BMW 325I - 4 DOOR) DURING TIMES OF FAILURES AND IN CASE OF ACCIDENT PROBABILITY OF EGRESS THROUGH WINDOWS DOUBTFUL. *JB
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
Visibility, Sep 8, 2005
I HAVE HAD FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED ON MY 2002 BMW 325I. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 16K MILES. MY FRIEND, WHO ALSO HAS A 2002 BMW 325I, RECENTLY HAD THREE REGULATORS REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, HER CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE SHE HAS ALREADY EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE ALLOWANCE FOR THE WARRANTY. THUS, SHE HAD TO PAY A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE THREE WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED. THIS SPECIFIC PART IS CLEARLY A DEFECT. *NM
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.
Power train, Jul 15, 2005
THE SALESMAN MADE ME SIGN 3 DIFFERENT CONTRACT EACH ONE HAS DIFFERENT AMOUNTS I DONT KNOW IF THEY MADE ME SIGN FOR 3 DIFFERENT CARS OR WHAT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT'S BEEN IN VEIN.I WAS PRESSURED INTO SIGNING THE CONTRACTSAND I DONT WHAT THAT CAR
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.
Electrical system, Jun 7, 2005
DT: WHEN VEHICLE HAD ONLY 33 MILES EVERY SINGLE DUMMY LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND DIED OUT. IT HAD BEEN TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS IN DIFFERENT STATES , AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WHILE GOING 65 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE STOPPED. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AND VEHICLE ALMOST HIT SOMEONE. *AK
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
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 20, 2005
I HAVE A 2002 BMW 325CI WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH ABOUT 22000 MILES. MY CAR'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE IT WAS MOVING. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. IT DIDN'T RESPOND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS. I HAD TO TURN OFF AND RESTART THE ENGINE BEFORE IT WILL RUN AGAIN. AND THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT WENT AWAY. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TO MY CAR TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS ON A FREEWAY AT OVER 65 MPH. I THINK THAT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE PUT MY CAR IN PETER PAN BMW AT SAN MATEO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE IF THEY CAN FIX IT. I'VE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM ON BIMMER.ORG. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED BY BMW'S QUALITY. *JB
Equipment, Jan 3, 2005
JACK COLLAPSED WHILE CHANGING A REAR TIRE, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER'S ARM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE JACK IS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK *NM
Equipment, Dec 21, 2004
THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS CHANGING A FLAT TIRE WHEN THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT JACK BROKE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE DROPPED, TRAPPING HIS ARM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE. *NM THE PLASTIC PART OF THE JACK BROKE. *TC *JB
Vehicle speed control, Dec 9, 2004, crash
THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, MADE A LEFT TURN, DROVE A FEW YARDS, STOPPED AGAIN, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AT AN ESTIMATE SPEED OF 45 MPH. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE FROM A TWO LANE BUSY STREET. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT. ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FACTORY ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. *JB.......*AK
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
Visibility, Sep 27, 2004
ON THE BMW MODEL 325I YERAS 2002 AND 2003 THE HEATED OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS ARE HEATED. THEY ARE NOT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED AND THEREFORE ARE ALWAYS ON. THE PROBLEM ARISES IN THAT IF YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND UNINTENTIONALLY TOUCH ONE FO THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS, YOU BURN YOUR FINGERS. THIS WAS OBSERVED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN REARVIEW MIRRORS AFTER THE CAR WAS ON FOR SOME TIME. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE BNW DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE MIRRORS WERE ALWAYS ON, NOT THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLED AND WERE ALWAYS HEATED. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE WINTER MONTHS AS THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IS COLDER. HOWEVER IN THE SUMMER THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A CHILD OR UNWITTING ADULT TO BE BURNED ON THE REARVIEW MIRROR GLASS.
Electrical system, Sep 11, 2004
(1) PARKED AT A LIGHT. (2) LIGHT CHANGED, I ACCELERATED, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, VARIOUS DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, I NURSED THE CAR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, AND PULLED OVER. TURNED THE CAR OFF, RESTARTED, DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AFTER TALKING WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I REACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE. WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON BUT ENGINE POWER WAS BACK AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. (3) DEALER RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH EXPLAINED THE ENGINE FAILURE AS AN ELECTRICAL FAULT INVOLVING "DEFECTIVE CRIMPING" IN THE THROTTLE MOTOR, RESISTENCE FLUCTUATION DUE TO PIN CONTAMINATION, OR "FAULTY CRIMPING OR DEFECTIVE FEMALE PINS" ON A CONNECTOR. WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE MOTOR WERE REPLACED.*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
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 20, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED,THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Tires, Jul 16, 2004
MY HUSBAND HAS 2 SETS OF TIRES ONE FOR SUMMER AND ONE FOR WINTER. THE SUMMER TIRES ARE THE ONES WITH THE DEFECT. THE TIRES HAVE ONLY BEEN USED FOR 2 SUMMERS AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN A LOT. THE TIRES STILL HAVE ABOUT 60% THREAD ON THEM. RECENTLY WE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES ARE BUBBLED ON THE INSIDE AND PREVIOUSLY ONE CRACKED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I FEEL LIKE THE TIRES SHOULD STILL BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 2 YEARS, BUT WITH THE BUBBLES I'M AFRAID THEY'LL BLOW UP. THE TIRES ARE DUNLOP W10 18" 235/4018. PLEASE HELP, I'VE LOOKED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND THERE IS NOT CONTACT. THE STORE WHERE WE PURCHASE THEM IS CLOSED. *AK
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 9, 2004
PERIODICALLY, MY CAR WILL BE RUNNING FINE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND WHEN YOU PUSH THE GAS IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. USUALLY IT WILL "FIX" ITSELF BY THE TIME I GET TO THE DEALER. BUT EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T, THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE THE BMW REPAIR GUYS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND "RESET" THE ENGINE. HOWEVER IT'S DOING IT AGAIN AND I'M FEARFUL THAT MY CAR IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN ON ME ON A BUSY FREEWAY AND IT'S LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 20,000 MILES!*AK
Tires, Jun 23, 2004
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS REPLACED FOUR TIRES BECAUSE OF BLOWOUTS INCURRED WHEN HITTING POTHOLES. (GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A, HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES). *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
Tires, Apr 29, 2004
SAFETY DEFECT WITH LOW PROFILE TIRES AND WHEELS. (NAR) *MR *LA *CB
Equipment, Apr 1, 2004
VEHICLE CAME OFF THE JACK WHEN NORMAL FORCE WAS APPLIED TO PULL THE WHEEL OFF. ALL THE BOLTS HAD BEEN REMOVED. VEHICLE WAS JACKED UP WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE WHEEL REMAINED ON THE VEHICLE WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM FALLING ON THE CONSUMER. *AK *JB
Tires, Mar 15, 2004
LOW-PROFILE TIRES (SHALLOW ASPECT RATIO) OFFER NO CUSHIONING PROTECTION WHEN ENCOUNTERING POTHOLES. WE HAVE HAD FOUR (4) BLOW-OUTS IN THE FIRST YEAR! TIRE MANUFACTURERS AND CAR MANUFACTURERS PROFIT FROM THIS POOR DESIGN! IT COST US OVER $600 FOR THE FIRST 2 TIRES IRREPARABLY DAMAGED FROM A POT-HOLE! LARGER WHEELS AND LOWER-PROFILE TIRES CAN'T BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION AND BRAKES ARE TUNED TO THE LOW-PROFILE DESIGN. MY WIFE IS READY TO TRADE IN THE CAR! DRIVERS ARE DISTRACTED LOOKING AT THE PAVEMENT FOR POT-HOLES INSTEAD OF WATCHING OTHER VEHICLES, TRAFFIC SIGNALS, ETC. HAVE THIS SAFETY HAZARD RECALLED! GET RESTITUTION FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS CONSUMER WASTE ON THIS! CAR SALESMAN NEVER MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM -- DEALERS ARE LITERALLY KEEPING A LOW PROFILE AND LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK!*AK
Visibility, Mar 8, 2004
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK