2002 Bmw 330I problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
45 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 45 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 17.8% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.4% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Air Bags: 12; Exterior Lighting: 10; Electrical System: 5; Tires: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift: 2; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 5
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 21 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 5; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 13; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10197639 · 2007-07-27 (July 27, 2007)
FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR PARKING LAMPS OF THE 1999-2005 BMW 3 SERIES ("E46"). ALSO NOTED ARE FORWARD TURN SIGNAL LIGHTING FAILURES. THE PROBLEM MAY INVOLVE TWO UNRELATED COMPONENT FAILURES: CHRONICALLY OVERHEATING/PARTIALLY MELTED 7-PIN WIRING CONNECTORS (AT THE REAR LAMP CLUSTER) AND CORRODED BULB SOCKETS (AT THE FRONT TURN SIGNALS). (THE FIRST PROBLEM MAY BE MORE COMMON IN WARM WEATHER STATES.) BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, I HAVE OWNED THREE E46 MODEL BMW'S, ALL PURCHASED NEW. ALL HAVE HAD REPEATED, YET INTERMITTENT TUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274519 · 2009-06-22 (June 22, 2009)
CONSUMER IS INQUIRING ON THE STATUS OF THE MARK PETERS DEFECT PETITION DP09002. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE REAR LAMP EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURES. HE ALSO STATED THAT A REAR LAMP WIRING HARNESS AND CONNECTOR MAY OVERHEAT LEADING TO REAR LAMP BULB FAILURES.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10274519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062213 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
LOW-PROFILE TIRES (SHALLOW ASPECT RATIO) OFFER NO CUSHIONING PROTECTION WHEN ENCOUNTERING POTHOLES. WE HAVE HAD FOUR (4) BLOW-OUTS IN THE FIRST YEAR! TIRE MANUFACTURERS AND CAR MANUFACTURERS PROFIT FROM THIS POOR DESIGN! IT COST US OVER $600 FOR THE FIRST 2 TIRES IRREPARABLY DAMAGED FROM A POT-HOLE! LARGER WHEELS AND LOWER-PROFILE TIRES CAN'T BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION AND BRAKES ARE TUNED TO THE LOW-PROFILE DESIGN. MY WIFE IS READY TO TRADE IN THE CAR! DRIVERS ARE DISTRACTED LOOKING AT THE PAVEMENT FOR POT-HOLES INSTEAD OF WATCHIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504950 · 2013-03-29 (March 29, 2013)
THE BATTERY OF THE CAR DRAINS OUT EVERY MORNING AND I NEED TO JUMP START MY CAR EVERYDAY IN THE MORNING. I HAVE GOT THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND THE CHARGING CIRCUIT CHECKED AND THERE ARE NO FAULTS WITH THOSE. THE BATTERY IS ONLY AN YEAR OLD. I SUSPECT THAT SOMETHING IS RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND AFTER ENGINE STOP OR THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH IS DRAINING OUT THE BATTERY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 86,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11389154 · 2021-01-21 (January 21, 2021)
LOSS OF POWER THE BATTERY DIES QUICK AND ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF RANDOMLY AND THE CAR HAS LOST ACCELERATION AIR BAG NEEDS REPLACED AND THE CAR MAKES NOISES
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11389154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507485 · 2013-04-08 (April 8, 2013)
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT IS A CHRONIC ISSUE AMONG BMW OWNERS. IF I DO NOT MANUALLY PUSH THE SEAT BELT BACK, IT WILL REMAIN LOOSE ENOUGH THAT I CAN LEAN FORWARD TO TOUCH THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW AND THEIR OWN RESPONSE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BELT UNIT, WHICH IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IT WILL ALSO AT TIMES GET STUCK IN THE DRIVERS DOOR WHEN CLOSING WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE BELT EVEN MORE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10724393 · 2015-06-09 (June 9, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A NORMAL SPEED 35-40 M/ HOUR , THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE TELEPHONE POLL. I GOT MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BODY ( THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD GOT REALLY SMASHED IN) I ALSO DAMAGED THE ARM CONTROL AND THE ALIGNMENTS OF THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 152,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10854219 · 2016-04-07 (April 7, 2016)
I BOUGHT MY BMW 330I E46 2002 5 YEARS AGO AND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AFTER THE FIRST DRIVE. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO THE MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THE CODE THAT THREW THE LIGHT ON WAS (P0741). I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS. THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE GAS MILAGE, HARD SHIFTING AT TIMES AND MOST LIKELY SHORTENED TRANSMISSION LIFE. THIS PROBLEM AS HAS CAUSE MY CAR TO NOT BE ABLE TO PASS SMOG!
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8012197 · 2002-06-19 (June 19, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER, CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY SLIP OUT OF SECOND GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2500 - 4500 RPM. EACH TIME IT HAS OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES NORMALLY IN SECOND GEAR UNTIL IT REACHES APPROXIMATELY 2500 RPM WHEN THE VEHICLE SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WITH NO INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8012197 at NHTSA ↗