2002 BMW E36 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E36 years
- Not enough data 2nd of 3 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW E36. That ranks 2nd out of 3 E36 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (2 complaints, 29%), typically at around 79,478 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 7owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 BMW E36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 29% | 79,478 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 29% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 14% | 87,095 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 14% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 BMW E36 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 BMW E36.
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.
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 windshield molding is susceptible to breaking up and the whole windshield has to be removed to reinstall the molding. Pretty bizarre for such an expensive car. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 bmw e36. While idling at a traffic light, the vehicle accelerated while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. The dealer did not inspect the vehicle. Approximately eight months later, while driving in reverse and with the…
Bmw 325xi 2002 bought used in mint condition with 60000 miles drivetrain vibration related to transfer case output bearing. Bmw international said that was too bad, but not concernd at the failure. Expected as that year had problems with transfer case bearings. *ak
I am leasing a 2002 bmw 745li . I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. The car has gone to the bmw service center a total of 33 times for service mechanical & electrical problems. A few times car has broken down while driving and needed to be towed. This vehicle is a manufacturer…
After 100,000+ miles of normal operation the 2002, bmw x5 4.4 began exhibiting unusual transmission operation. At random times, during start up, the transmission shifted to neutral, allowing the engine to rev very high, then engage in 1st, causing an abrupt lurch forward. Also, it will experience…
Other BMW E36 years
See all BMW E36 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 E36?
Owners most often report power train, structure, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 BMW E36?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 BMW E36 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E36 model years, the 2002 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.