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.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 23, 2013
AFTER THE RECALL, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA09019 , I BROUGHT IN MY CAR AND THEY ADDED A GROUND WIRE THAT WAS TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH AN INTERMITTENT LIGHTS-OUT WARNING AT THE DASHBOARD. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO BMW AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALREADY ADDED THE GROUND CABLE AND THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO. THE SAME ISSUE STILL EXISTS. UPON READING FURTHER REGARDING THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS THE WIRING HARNESSES HAD "MELTED" DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CREATED BY A FAULTY GROUND CABLE. THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE AND BMW REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUES CAUSED BY THIS FAULTY DESIGN. THEY QUOTED ME OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS AND CHARGED ME 1 HOUR OF LABOR @$195/HR TO FIND THAT OUT. THE FAULTY GROUND CABLE CREATED THE EXCESSIVE HEAT CREATING ISSUES WITH THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR OF THE CAR LIGHTS. BMW SHOULD PAY NOT JUST TO PREVENT ISSUES BUT TO PAY FOR ISSUES ALREADY CREATED BY THIS FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
Engine, Jan 15, 2013
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS ON. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED FAULT MEMORY AND FOUND CODE 190 O2S FAULT R/R LOWER SPLASH SHIELD R/R VALVE COVER AND INJECTORS. REPLACED SENSOR AND CLEARED FAULT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 15, 2013
NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL IS OUT AT TIMES. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET ARE BURNT. FAULT 36 (TURN INDICATOR, FRONT LEFT, FAULTY) IS SET IN FAULT MEMORY. CHECKED LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET ARE BURNT. REPLACED FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Jan 15, 2013
A/C SYSTEM WHEN ENGAGED MADE A LOT OF NOISE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED AND FOUND NOISE COMING FROM A/C COMPRESSOR. REPLACED COMPRESSOR. *TR
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
Engine, Jan 15, 2013
OIL LEVEL SENSOR KEEPS TRIPPING ALL THE TIME. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL SENSOR TO BE FAULTY. FOUND FAULT 11 THERMAL OIL SENSOR. REPLACED SENSOR. *TR
Engine, Jan 15, 2013
NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE BELTS. BLEEDER SCREW WAS STRIPPED IN EXPANSION TANK. REPLACED THE WATER PUMPAND FILLED SYSTEM UPON BLEEDING THE SYSTEM FOUND THE BLEEDER SCREW STRIPPED OUT. REPLACED COOLANT EXPANSION TANK AND BLEEDER SCREW. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 15, 2013
HEADLIGHTS CAME ON FOR BRAKE, ABS, TRACTION, ETC. AND CAR WENT DEAD. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN PERFORMED BATTERY AND DRAW TEST. NO DRAWS WERE FOUND SO BATTERY WAS DEEMED FAILED. REPLACED BATTERY. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 15, 2013
BATTERY WAS REPLACED A FEW WEEKS AGO BUT IT WENT DEAD AGAIN. TOOK THAT CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN FOUND AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN ALTERNATOR. REPLACED ALTERNATOR. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
SAW OIL ON THE ASPHALT SO TOOK CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. TECHNICIAN LOOKED OVER THE CAR AND FOUND VANOS PROFILE GASKET IS LEAKING OIL. VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING. REPLACED VANOS PROFILE GASKETS AND VALVE COVER GASKET. *TR
Steering, Jan 14, 2013
FOUND LEAK ON FLOOR. TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT POWER STEERING LINE FROM PUMP TO RACK LEAKING FLUID. REPLACED POWER STEERING LINE FROM PUMP TO RACK. FILLED AND BLED SYSTEM. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
NOTICED FAN BELT IS MAKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP FOUND FAULTY MECHANICAL STYLE ALTERNATOR BELT TENSIONER. REPLACED ALTERNATOR BELT TENSIONER WITH HYDRAULIC TENSIONER AND NEW BELT. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
HEARD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP - TECHNICIAN SAID THAT HE FOUND THAT THE ALT BELT TENSIONER PULLEY WAS FAULTY AND ALSO FOUND DEFLECTOR PULLEY DEFECTIVE. REPLACED. *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
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON WHILE DRIVING. WENT TO DEALERSHIP - TECHNICIAN STATED THAT COOLANT TANK WAS EMPTY. PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST AND FOUND EXPANSION TANK AND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE LEAKING. REPLACED EXPANSION TANK AND UPPER HOSE. *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
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
VEHICLE WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 800 MILES. COMPRESSION TEST AND LEAK DOWN TEST SHOWED 220PSI. TECHNICIAN SUSPECTED CRANKCASE VENT VALVE. REPLACED CRANKCASE VENT VALVE. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Power train, Jan 14, 2013
RIGHT/FRONT CV BOOT (AXLE BOOT) IS TORN AND LEAKING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility, Jan 14, 2013
REAR RIGHT WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACK AND BROKE WINDOW REGULATOR. REPLACED WINDOW REGULATOR. TECHNICIAN REMARKED THAT BOTH FRONT WINDOWS ARE MOVING SLOWLY SO WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON ALSO. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
WAS PUTTING OIL INTO THE ENGINE EVERY 500 MILES FOR ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AND FINALLY DECIDED ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. NO ACCIDENTS WITH CAR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, TECHNICIAN PERFORMED LEAK DOWN TEST ON ENGINE AND NOTICED CYLINDER 1 READING AT 50 PSI AND #2 CYLINDER READING AT 5 PSI. PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST AND CYLINDER #1 AND #2 FAILED. COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS DONE AS REPAIRS COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED. COST WAS OVER $5000. *TR
Engine, Jan 14, 2013
HAD MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM VALVE COVER AREA. WAS PUTTING A QUART OF OIL INTO THE CAR EVERY 500 MILES. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP FOUND OUT THAT VALVE COVER WAS CRACKED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED AND REPLACED THE VALVE COVER AND GASKETS. *TR
Engine, Nov 13, 2012
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE SET AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. *TR