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.
Power train, Apr 21, 2015
CODE P0741 WAS READ FROM VEHICLE. TORQUE CONVERTER. FROM FORUMS AND DISCUSSIONS ONLINE THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY SEAL ON THE E46 BMW. MY VEHICLE CANNOT PASS A EMISSIONS TEST WITH THE LIGHT ON AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME. *TR
Air bags, Mar 12, 2015
2002 BMW 325I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL AND LACK OF PARTS. *SMD
Electrical system, Mar 11, 2015
LOOK AT THIS - ANOTHER BMW RECALL IS IN ORDER MY BATTERY KEEPS GETTING FLOODED WITH WATER AND THEN THE CAR WON'T START UNDER SNOW THE ICE MELTS AND SOMEHOW GETTING INTO THE COMPARTMENT WITH THE BATTERY IN THE BOOT NOTHING ELSE IN THE BOOT IS WET - NOT EVEN ON THE PLASTIC PLATE THAT COVERS THE BATTERY BUT IT GETS INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND THERE IS NO DRAIN FOR THE WATER TO GO SO MY CAR FAILS TO START MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ONE WEBSITE IS THIS ALSO CHECK ON BIMMERFEST - TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION AND COMPLAINING TO BMW WHICH WON'T DO THE RECALL YOU NEED TO FORCE THEM TO DO THE RECALL HTTP://WWW.E90POST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=949111 THEY SHOULD BE FIXING THE LEAK WHEN THEY DO THE LAMP RECALLS WHICH IS ALSO PROBABLY CAUSING FAILURE TO START ISSUES NEXT ISSUE IS THE WINDOW REGULATORS - GOOGLE THAT ISSUE YOU WILL SEE THE INTERNET IS FLOODED WITH PEOPLE COMPLAINING THEY CAN'T GET THEIR WINDOWS TO ROLL UP ON THIS CAR I HAVE VERY LITTLE MILEAGE FOR A 2002 - UNDER 50K AND YET I AM ALREADY REPLACING MY THIRD WINDOW REGULATOR - THAT IS THE REGULATOR ON BOTH FRONT WINDOWS WENT AND ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS NOW WENT - $200-400 REPAIR JOB BIG PROBLEMS WITH BMW AND I CALLED THEM AND COMPLAINED AND THEY WON'T REIMBURSE UNLESS THERE'S A RECALL WHICH THEY SAID THEY'VE NO INTENTION OF DOING TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THESE ISSUES FOR IT NOT TO BE A BMW RECALL - THEY WON'T PASS YOUR CAR FOR INSPECTION WITH THE WINDOW DOWN OBVIOUSLY ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
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
Exterior lighting, Feb 5, 2015
UNDER RECALL 11V438000 , BMW FOUND THE DEFECTIVE REAR LIGHTS. THEIR REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE A SINGLE GROUND WIRE WITH A LARGER GAUGE WIRE. THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AND NOT A CORRECTIVE MEASURE. THE ULTIMATE CAUSATION OF THE LIGHT ISSUE IS THE TRUNK DOOR PINCHING THE HARNESS LEADING TO THE LIGHT, WHICH CAUSE THE WIRES INSIDE THE HARNESS TO BREAK. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE MECHANIC WHOM SAID WAS NOT COVERED BY THIS CAMPAIGN. HE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAD TO ULTIMATELY PAY OUT OF POCKET AND FIX THIS MYSELF. *TR
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
Visibility, Dec 12, 2014
THIRD WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE ON MY 2002 BMW 325 - THREE DIFFERENT WINDOWS. I FINALLY GOT SICK OF IT AND CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE WINDOWS GO DOWN & YOU CAN'T GET THEM BACK UP. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND EASILY FOUND TONS MORE COMPLAINTS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE GOOD ON - IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND ANYONE WHO ALREADY PAID TO FIX IT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. CHEAP ROTTEN PARTS. HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE OF WHAT I SAW WHEN I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET -. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/REAR-WINDOW-REGULATOR-455 AND HERE IS ANOTHER ONE HTTP://WWW.BIMMERFEST.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=802143. *TR
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.
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
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 29, 2014
ABS, BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ON. POSSIBLE DSC INOP. POTENTIAL CRASH ISSUE. ORIGINAL OWNER WITH APPROX. $13,000 IN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR RECEIPTS. 95K MILES ON CAR. NO NOTIFICATION/RECALL FROM BMW. *TR
Service brakes, Oct 22, 2014
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON FEW MONTHS AGO ON MY 2002 BMW 325I. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "COMMON PROBLEM" WITH THESE CARS, AND THAT THE ABS/DSC MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED (WITH A RE-MANUFACTURED PART), AT A COST OF $1,700. ALSO I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. AGAIN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR THAT HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND MAINTAINED PROPERLY. LOOKING AT HOW COMMON THESE PROBLEMS ARE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE. THEREFOR BMW SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *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.
Visibility, Oct 14, 2014
THE REAR WINDOW ROLLS DOWN AND WON'T GO BACK UP AGAIN. HA EMAIL BEEN INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT'S BROKEN AND WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO REPLACED. THE WINDOWS ARE RARELY USED. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE FULLY AWARE OF IT. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS, RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS IT IS EXPENSIVE FIX. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR HAS BARELY 60K MILES. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Oct 6, 2014
AFTER COMPLETING A TRIP OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES COMING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND BRINGING VEHICLE TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EGRESS OUT OF VEHICLE WITHOUT ISSUE, PASSENGER DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE OPENED. DOOR REMAINED LOCKED WITH SEEMINGLY NO MECHANICAL LINK TO DOOR LATCH. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE, ALSO UNABLE TO DO SO. PASSENGER HAD TO EGRESS VEHICLE THROUGH DRIVERS DOOR, PASSENGER DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN DESPITE REPEATED USE OF UNLOCK BUTTON ON CENTER CONSOLE AND UNLOCK FEATURE ON KEYLESS ENTRY. AUTOMATIC LOCKING ON DRIVE OFF LOCKED DOORS, OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO UNLOCK OR OPEN DOOR BY ANY MEANS. *TR