2002 BMW 3 SERIES Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
THE STEERING WHEEL RESISTS TURNING BACK TO THE LEFT AFTER A RIGHT TURN. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. IT IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND EVERY WEEK THE RESISTANCE IS HARDER TO OVERCOME. IT IS GETTING VERY CONCERNING ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THIS PROBLEM.
Mileage: 150,000
2002 BMW 3 SERIES. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT ANY ADDTIONAL RECALLS. *JS
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 RUBBE...
Mileage: 92,000
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 RUBBE...
Mileage: 92,000
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 RUBBE...
Mileage: 92,000
I OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR IN THE MORNING AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT. I HAD A HOCKEY BAG WITH APPROXIMATELY 25 LBS OF EQUIPMENT SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH I REMOVED FROM THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DOOR. I FORGOT SOMETHING AND WENT BACK TO THE CAR, ABOUT 40 SECONDS LATER, AND SAW...
Mileage: 129,000
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE MK60 ABS/DSC UNIT FAILED LEAVING ME WITHOUT STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTILOCK BRAKES. VERY UNSAFE.
Mileage: 130,000
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE MK60 ABS/DSC UNIT FAILED LEAVING ME WITHOUT STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTILOCK BRAKES. VERY UNSAFE.
Mileage: 130,000
TAKATA RECALL, I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD BABY, I JUST GOT THIS CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AT IDLE AND WON'T GO AWAY. I KNOW THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN ON FOR A WHILE NOW. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY SON. THIS MUST BE ADRESSED..
Mileage: 97,320
"TAKATA RECALL"-WE ARE THE SECOND OWNERS OF A BMW 325I SERIES, 2002 AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILUR...
THE CAR STALLS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE FROM A STOP AND YOU ARE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. TODAY IT STALLED IN A PARKING LOT BUT THE LAST FEW TIMES IT HAS STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION CREATING A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SI...
Mileage: 90,000
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
Mileage: 80,000
USING KEY FOB TO UNLOCK DOORS, SOMETIMES ONLY DRIVER DOOR UNLOCKS. SOMETIMES NO DOORS UNLOCK/LOCK. INTERIOR MASTER LOCK SWITCH SOMETIMES WORKS SOMETIMES DOES NOT. REPLACED SWITCH TWICE. BEEN IN CAR AND UNABLE TO UNLOCK ANY DOORS TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE USING ELECTRIC SYSTEMS AND EVEN MANUAL IE. DOOR...
Mileage: 122,000
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 MILE...
Mileage: 130,000
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 MILE...
Mileage: 130,000
THIS IS NOT AS MUCH A COMPLAINT AS A REQUEST FOR HELP. SINCE MARCH OF 2013 I HAVE REPLACED 5 THROTTLE BODIES AND 3 GAS PEDAL SENSORS, ALL OEM PARTS. THE PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY: DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED [55/60] THE EML, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ALL WENT ON. PULLED O...
Mileage: 200,000
THIS IS NOT AS MUCH A COMPLAINT AS A REQUEST FOR HELP. SINCE MARCH OF 2013 I HAVE REPLACED 5 THROTTLE BODIES AND 3 GAS PEDAL SENSORS, ALL OEM PARTS. THE PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY: DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED [55/60] THE EML, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ALL WENT ON. PULLED O...
Mileage: 200,000
THIS IS NOT AS MUCH A COMPLAINT AS A REQUEST FOR HELP. SINCE MARCH OF 2013 I HAVE REPLACED 5 THROTTLE BODIES AND 3 GAS PEDAL SENSORS, ALL OEM PARTS. THE PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY: DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED [55/60] THE EML, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ALL WENT ON. PULLED O...
Mileage: 200,000
THIS IS NOT AS MUCH A COMPLAINT AS A REQUEST FOR HELP. SINCE MARCH OF 2013 I HAVE REPLACED 5 THROTTLE BODIES AND 3 GAS PEDAL SENSORS, ALL OEM PARTS. THE PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY: DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED [55/60] THE EML, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ALL WENT ON. PULLED O...
Mileage: 200,000
I LISTED THE WRONG DATE ON COMPLAINT # 10546920, THE DATE SHOULD BE 8/10/2013 NOT 2011. *TR
Mileage: 71,000
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND 3 DASH LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. I CHECKED AND THE LIGHTS MEANT THE STABILITY CONTROL WASN'T WORKING (FIRST TIME THIS EVER HAPPENED). TOOK THE CAR TO BMW AND WAS TOLD ONE OF TWO COMPUTERS WASN'T MAKING THIS SAFETY FEATURE WORK. COST OF ONE WAS $1700.00 BUT THEY ...
Mileage: 71,000
THE REPORT IS IN RESPONSE TO NOT BEING INCLUDED IN A RECALL OF THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SOME VEHICLES SEEM TO BE EXCLUDED FOR NO REASON FROM THE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY WIRING. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 11V438000. *TR
THE REPORT IS IN RESPONSE TO NOT BEING INCLUDED IN A RECALL OF THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SOME VEHICLES SEEM TO BE EXCLUDED FOR NO REASON FROM THE RECALL AND REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY WIRING. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 11V438000. *TR
THE RED POSITIVE WIRE TERMINAL OVERHEATED AND POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE PROBLEM WOULD KILL THE BATTERY AND CAR WOULD NOT START. SHOP SAID DUE TO THE LOCATION (THE TRUNK) OF THE BATTERY THEIR WAS NOT ENOUGH GROUND. THE SHOP FIXED THE PROBLEM BY GROUNDING THE ENGINE. *TR
Mileage: 104,000
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT QUIT RETRACTING. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
TAIL LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL ON PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED. BULBS AND WIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED REPEATEDLY, HOWEVER THESE CHANGES HAVE NOT SOLVED THE ISSUE. FAR TOO MANY EXPERIENCES WHERE COLLISIONS HAVE ALMOST OCCURRED DUE TO THE FAILED REAR EXTERIOR LAMPS. *TR
Mileage: 130,000
I HAVE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS ON HOT DAYS UNLOCKING MY CAR DOORS. MY KEY BUTTON DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN I'M INSIDE THE CAR, THE UNLOCK BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, EVEN WHEN I MANUALLY PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLES FROM INSIDE THE CAR, THE DOORS...
Mileage: 123,000
I HAVE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS ON HOT DAYS UNLOCKING MY CAR DOORS. MY KEY BUTTON DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN THE DOOR. I HAVE TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOOR. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN I'M INSIDE THE CAR, THE UNLOCK BUTTON DOES NOT WORK, EVEN WHEN I MANUALLY PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLES FROM INSIDE THE CAR, THE DOORS...
Mileage: 123,000
FOR SEVERAL YEARS PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF WITH THE BMW E46 ('99-'05 3 SERIES) HAVE COMPLAINED OF INTERMITTENTLY DEFECTIVE TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. RESULT: NO ACTION TAKEN. THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES DOCUMENT A MERE FRACTION OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS LIKELY TO AFFECT WARM STATES MORE...
Mileage: 15,000
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
Mileage: 29,000
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 AT...
Mileage: 6,691
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 WEEKS AGO. ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY ABOUT 70 MPH THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. ALMOST ALL THE SENSORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. I BARELY MADE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORST BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE STATED THEY ARE NOT ALLOW...
Mileage: 9,600
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 WEEKS AGO. ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY ABOUT 70 MPH THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. ALMOST ALL THE SENSORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. I BARELY MADE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORST BMW ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE STATED THEY ARE NOT ALLOW...
Mileage: 9,600
BMW 325 CI: I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 325CI BMW, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD AND I HAVE TAKEN TO SERVICE FOUR TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS A 2002 AND AT THIS MOMENT IT HAS 10,660 MILES. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY ABS SEEMS TO BE MALFUNC...
Mileage: 10,000
BMW 325 CI: I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 325CI BMW, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD AND I HAVE TAKEN TO SERVICE FOUR TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS A 2002 AND AT THIS MOMENT IT HAS 10,660 MILES. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY ABS SEEMS TO BE MALFUNC...
Mileage: 10,000
BMW 325 CI: I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 325CI BMW, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD AND I HAVE TAKEN TO SERVICE FOUR TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS A 2002 AND AT THIS MOMENT IT HAS 10,660 MILES. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY ABS SEEMS TO BE MALFUNC...
Mileage: 10,000
BMW 325 CI: I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 325CI BMW, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD AND I HAVE TAKEN TO SERVICE FOUR TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS A 2002 AND AT THIS MOMENT IT HAS 10,660 MILES. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY ABS SEEMS TO BE MALFUNC...
Mileage: 10,000
BMW 325 CI: I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY 325CI BMW, I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOVEMBER, THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 1 YEAR OLD AND I HAVE TAKEN TO SERVICE FOUR TIMES ALREADY. MY CAR IS A 2002 AND AT THIS MOMENT IT HAS 10,660 MILES. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEM. MY ABS SEEMS TO BE MALFUNC...
Mileage: 10,000
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE 50MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD INCREASED SPEED 10MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. TS