2002 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 3 Series years
- About as many complaints as other years 10th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 3 Series. That ranks 10th out of 20 3 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (6 complaints, 23%), typically at around 97,320 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 6 defect investigations involving it.
- 26owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 6NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 BMW 3 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 6 | 23% | 97,320 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 23% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 12% | 71,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 12% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 12% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 12% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 12% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 8% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 8% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 4% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 4% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 4% | 123,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 4% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | 10,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 BMW 3 Series recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 BMW 3 Series.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA15001) — opened Feb 24, 2015, still open, led to recall 14V668.
- Air Bag Inflator Rupture (PE14016) — opened Jun 11, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V172000.
- Rear Lamp Illumination (EA09019) — opened Dec 18, 2009, closed Sep 28, 2011, led to recall 11V438000.
- Rear lamp illumination (PE09036) — opened Aug 7, 2009, closed Dec 22, 2009, led to recall 11V438000.
- Rear lamp illumination (DP09002) — opened Apr 8, 2009, closed Aug 6, 2009.
- Inadvertent side-impact air bag deployme (EA02012) — opened Jul 15, 2002, closed Jun 24, 2003, led to recall 02V223000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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.
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…
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…
While driving in the rain, the mk60 abs/dsc unit failed leaving me without stability control and antilock brakes. Very unsafe.
Other BMW 3 Series years
← 2001 3 Series · 2003 3 Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 3 Series | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 3 Series | 7 | 3 |
| 2011 3 Series | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 3 Series | 30 | 2 |
| 2009 3 Series | 53 | 1 |
| 2008 3 Series | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 3 Series | 115 | 1 |
| 2006 3 Series | 202 | 3 |
| 2005 3 Series | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 3 Series | 77 | 0 |
| 2003 3 Series | 73 | 0 |
| 2002 | 26 | 0 |
| 2001 3 Series | 36 | 1 |
| 2000 3 Series | 88 | 1 |
| 1999 3 Series | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 3 Series | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 3 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
See all BMW 3 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 3 Series?
Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, electronic stability control (esc) problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 BMW 3 Series?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 BMW 3 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 3 Series model years, the 2002 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.