2002 BMW E46 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E46 years
- Not enough data 5th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW E46. That ranks 5th out of 9 E46 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 45,000 miles. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 2owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 BMW E46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 | 50% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 50% | 25,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 BMW E46 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2002 BMW E46.
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
- 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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
The rearview mirror leaked and it is blurry now in my 2002 bmw m3. I did some research and it has been a common problem for a lot of bmw's. Dealer won't replace as the car is out of warranty. Mirror is obviously a safety item and obviously defective. *tr
Other BMW E46 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 E46 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 E46 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003 E46 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 E46 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 E46 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 E46 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 E46 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 E46 | 6 | 0 |
See all BMW E46 problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2002 BMW E46 badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW E46?
Owners most often report electrical system, visibility problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2002 BMW E46?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2002 BMW E46 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E46 model years, the 2002 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.