2002 BMW 3 Series recalls & problems

Recent owner complaints

• Apr 15, 2018 · 150,000 milesSteering
  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.
• Jul 15, 2017Air bags
  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
• Aug 25, 2017 · 92,000 milesSuspension
  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 RUBBER (15,622 MILES). CAR IS SELDOM DRIVEN AND ALWAYS GARAGED (CLIMATE CONTROLLED). TIRE STORE HAD SEEN IDENTICAL ISSUES IN THE PAST WITH SAME TIRE. DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE WITH SAME TIRES THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. LOST WARRANTY CREDITS TO PURCHASE ANOTHER BRAND FOR FAMILY SAFETY. THESE TIRES ARE NOT SAFE AND NEED TO BE REVIEWED FOR MATERIAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN. PARTICULAR VEHICLE DOES…
• Apr 10, 2017 · 129,000 milesElectrical system
  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 A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE AT THE CEILING AND I OPENED THE DOOR. THE CAR HAD A STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC/ELECTRONICS. WHATEVER WAS BURNING STOPPED AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FLAME. I CHECKED ALL THE ELECTRICAL SWITCHES AND ALL THE EQUIPMENT SEEMED TO WORK FINE AND NO FUSES WERE BLOWN. THE BURNING SEEMED TO COME FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER AS THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF THE SEAT COVER HAVING SMOOTH…
• Apr 16, 2015 · 130,000 milesService brakes
  WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE MK60 ABS/DSC UNIT FAILED LEAVING ME WITHOUT STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTILOCK BRAKES. VERY UNSAFE.
• Sep 15, 2016 · 97,320 milesAir bags
  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..
• Apr 7, 2016Air bags
  "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.
• Jul 20, 2015Air bags
  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 FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 02/23/16.*JB

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• EA15001 · opened Feb 24, 2015 · open · led to recall 14V668Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico,…
• PE14016 · opened Jun 11, 2014 · closed Mar 2, 2015 · led to recall 13V172000Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico,…
• EA09019 · opened Dec 18, 2009 · closed Sep 28, 2011 · led to recall 11V438000Rear Lamp Illumination
  In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.This can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.The recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary ground connection.An 8-pin connector that attaches the primary ground wiring to the rear lamp assembly will also be inspected and replaced if necessary.BMW will complete dealer notification in…
• PE09036 · opened Aug 7, 2009 · closed Dec 22, 2009 · led to recall 11V438000REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
  ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS THROUGH THE SYSTEM.BMW ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) SIB-630306 ON FEBRUARY 2007 TO ADDRESS THE CONDITION BY ADDING SUPPLEMENTARY GROUND WIRING TO THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI IS UPGRADING TO AN EA TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE.
• DP09002 · opened Apr 8, 2009 · closed Aug 6, 2009REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
  IN MARCH 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. MARK PETERS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF REAR LAMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES.AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS SENT TO BMW IN APRIL 2009, AND ODI RECEIVED BMW'S RESPONSE IN JUNE 2009.THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CONTAINS LIGHTING FOR THE BRAKE LAMPS, TAIL LAMPS, AND TURN SIGNALS.A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) WAS ISSUED BY BMW IN JANUARY OF 2007 INSTRUCTING SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO EXAMINE AN 8 PIN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR HEAT-RELATED DAMAGE AND TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRING TO THE CONNECTOR.COMPLAINANTS HAVE ALLEGED THAT SIGNIFICANT THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING HAS OCCURRED.THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR TOTAL LOSS OF ALL LIGHTING (BRAKE, TAIL, AND TURN SIGNAL) FOR THE EFFECTED REAR LAMP ASSEMBLY.ODI WILL OPEN A…
• EA02012 · opened Jul 15, 2002 · closed Jun 24, 2003 · led to recall 02V223000INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
  THE SUBJECT VEHICLE'S AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CONTAINS PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC FOR DEPLOYING THE SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAGS.BMW REVISED THE MODULE SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF THE MODEL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2002 (IDENTIFIED AS MRS2.CA, MRS2.BB, MRS3, MRS3+ AND MRS4).ALTHOUGH MODEL YEAR 1999.5 VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB HAD 6.5% OF THE SUBJECT POPULATION, IT ACCOUNTED FOR 29% OF THE TOTAL REPORTS RECEIVED.THE MRS2.BB EXPOSURE ADJUSTED REPORT RATE WAS ALMOST 4 TIMES HIGHER THAN OTHER 3 SERIES AIR BAG MODULE VERSIONS.IN AUGUST 2002, BMW INITIATED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 20,500 MODEL 323I AND 328I VEHICLES WITH VERSION MRS2.BB (NHTSA RECALL # 02V223000).IN ADDITION TO EXPERIENCING A LOWER RATE OF NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENTS, MOST OF THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SIGNIFICANT POTHOLE/CURB IMPACT WITH SOME HAVING ADDITIONAL UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT/SCRAPE OR SUSPENSION DAMAGE.SEE…