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2002 Bmw 330CI: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

46 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

88,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 46 complaints (56.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues613.0%
Braking behavior36.5%
Transmission and shifting24.3%
Engine operation12.2%
Fuel system concerns12.2%

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
26
Electrical System
4
Seats
3
Engine
2
Exterior Lighting
2
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
2
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags26
Electrical System4
Seats3
Engine2
Exterior Lighting2
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights2
Air Bags:Side/Window1
Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk1

Air Bags: 26; Electrical System: 4; Seats: 3; Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 23 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.

2006
2
2007
5
2010
5
2012
7
2014
3
2015
10
2016
10
2017
1
2018
1
2022
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20062
20075
20105
20127
20143
201510
201610
20171
20181
20221
20241

2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2010: 5; 2012: 7; 2014: 3; 2015: 10; 2016: 10; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10172645 · 2006-11-05 (November 5, 2006)

OWN A 325CI COUPE THAT HAS HAD SEPARATION TIRE SEPARATION ON 3 TIRES BF GOODRICH 225/45R17. ONE TIRE SEPARATED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO ON THE VEHICLE AND THEN YESTERDAY TWO MORE TIRE SEPARATED. WHEN I REPLACED THIS TWO TIRES THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE OTHER REMAINING TIRE ON THE VEHICLE WAS DOING THE SAME THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALL OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIRE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172645 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10173822 · 2006-11-19 (November 19, 2006)

STRUCK A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IN THE RAIN. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DID NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE BUT MY CAR HAD OVER $5700 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 88,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173822 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10178769 · 2007-01-15 (January 15, 2007)

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH, CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO SHOP, WAS TOLD I CHANGED FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM CAUSING VALVE TO BEND. I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST AND THERE WAS NO REASON TO CHANGE FROM LOW RPM TO HIGH RPM THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY A NEW ENGINE/VALVE/HEAD JOB. I HAD TO PAY FROM POCKET. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 62,265 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10180938 · 2007-01-28 (January 28, 2007)

AFTER DRIVING MY 2002 BMW X 5 FIVE BLOCKS FROM MY HOME, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND PARKED THE CAR. FROM THE TIME IT TOOK ME TO GET OUT AND WALK TO THE REAR OF THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE AND IN SHORT ORDER THE CAR BURNED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS AND HIRED AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN VEHICLE FIRES AND CAUSATION. THE CONCLUSSION OF THE REPORT WAS THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, ORIGINATING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THIS SITUATION WITH BMW FIRES ON DIFFER…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10180938 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10192762 · 2007-06-08 (June 8, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED THAT A TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, HOWEVER, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS PLUG WAS MELTED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 57,626 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192762 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10194154 · 2007-06-25 (June 25, 2007)

DASH INDICATED TAILLIGHT WAS OUT WHEN IT WASN'T, THIS WAS RANDOM ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS THE DASH PANEL INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. AS I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. I STOPPED, AND NOTICED THE MELTED WIRES FROM THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS. AS I LOOKED AT THEM I COULD SEE THEM SPARKING WHEN CERTAIN MOVEMENTS OCCURRED., VERY DANGEROUSLY AND ERRATIC. BOTH MALE AND FEMALE SIDES MELTED. I HAVE NOTICED THE OTHER SIDE WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS, RANDOM INDICATIONS OF A TAIL LIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194154 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197111 · 2007-07-21 (July 21, 2007)

I WAS DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR STALLED. TURNED OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTED CAR. I COULD ONLY DRIVE 30 MPH AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE BODY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1700.00 BUT THE WARRANTY WAS UP LAST YEAR. THERE WAS TSB ISSUED IN 2003. WHY WEREN'T THE OWNERS TOLD ABOUT THIS? *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10300379 · 2010-01-19 (January 19, 2010)

ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, I HAD MY 2002 BMW 330CI SERVICED AT BEVERLY HILLS BMW. DURING THAT $700+ SERVICE, THEY PERFORMED AN INSPECTION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COVER EVERY MAJOR PART OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION. YESTERDAY, I HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN I ASKED BMW WHY THEY DIDN\'T NOTICE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION DURING THEIR $700+ INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THEY CAN\'T PREDICT WHEN PARTS ARE GOING TO FAIL. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION -- WHY DID I PAY $700+ FOR AN INSPECTION THAT CAN TELL WHEN SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO G…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10300379 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V172000 · Air Bags

Reported: 2013-05-02 (May 2, 2013)

BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V318000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-348 in its entirety. Additionally, vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously as part of a recall remedy need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well. Note: On December 17, 2015 BMW removed the model year 2004 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity vehicle from this recall. Those vehicles were mistakenly identified as including the air bags that are subject to this recall.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V018000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2020-01-15 (January 15, 2020)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗