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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Bmw 3 SERIES problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

26 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

92,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 26 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior519.2%
Electrical and battery issues415.4%
Steering behavior27.7%
Transmission and shifting13.8%
Engine operation13.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
6
Electrical System
6
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
3
Exterior Lighting
3
Power Train
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Steering
2
Suspension
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags6
Electrical System6
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)3
Exterior Lighting3
Power Train3
Unknown Or Other3
Steering2
Suspension2

Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 6; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Power Train: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Steering: 2; Suspension: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003
1
2004
3
2005
1
2008
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
3
2013
2
2014
4
2015
2
2016
2
2017
3
2018
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20031
20043
20051
20081
20101
20111
20123
20132
20144
20152
20162
20173
20182

2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10070640 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

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 MALFUNCTIONING AS WELL AS MY EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPROGRAMED AND PIECES ARE COMING OFF IN THE INSIDE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVICE THE PAST THREE WEEKS FOR THE THE COMPUTER AND THE BODY. LUCKY BMW DOES…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070640 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10230495 · 2008-06-10 (June 10, 2008)

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 THAN COOLER AREAS. IN MY CASE, IN HOT WEATHER THE ENTIRE TAILLIGHT CLUSTER WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE--NO TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHT OR TAIL LIGHTS ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR. THE REASON: BMW USED A GROUNDING WIRE WHICH WAS FAR TOO SMALL TO CARRY…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230495 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10465571 · 2012-07-13 (July 13, 2012)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465571 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10114530 · 2005-03-23 (March 23, 2005)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114530 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11097326 · 2018-05-22 (May 22, 2018)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097326 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10722669 · 2015-06-01 (June 1, 2015)

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 SITUATION. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722669 at NHTSA ↗