Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 45 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 BMW 330I. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 45 · page 1 of 2
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
HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY GM5 MODULE WHICH CONTROLS LOCKING/ UNLOCKING DOORS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS. GOT STRANDED TODAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT UNLOCK MY CAR. THE KEY FOB WOULDN'T UNLOCK IT AND EVEN USING THE KEY IN THE DOOR DIDNT WORK. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM.
THE CAR'S WINDOWS DO NOT OPEN OR CLOSE ALL 4 OF THEM ARE NOT WORKING ALSO THIS POWERING STEERING IS HARD AND THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT A FAULT IN THE WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
"TAKATA RECALL" DEALER HAS FAILED TO REPLACE AIRBAG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR LIGHT PANEL AND PLUG FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WAS TO BE REPLACED UNDER THE TAKATA RECALL IN JUNE 2015. I HAVE MADE OVER A DOZEN REQUESTS WITH MY LOCAL BMW DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED BUT EACH TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE NO AIRBAGS AVAILABLE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I DRIVE MY CAR EVERY DAY WITH WHAT IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE (AND POSSIBLY DEADLY) SAFETY DEVICE AND WHILE I KNOW THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS ARE BEING PRODUCED I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE ONE ALLOCATED FOR MY VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SITUATION!
TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE CALLED ALL THE BMW CENTERS IN MY LOCAL AREA AND NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHEN AND ACT AS IF IT IS NOT A REAL SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALERS AND THEY DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
IT'S BEEN 15 MONTHS SINCE BEING NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE MY CAR IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE RECALL DATE RANGE AND IT IS THE DRIVER AIR BAG, WHICH IS THE ONE POSITION ALWAYS OCCUPIED IN THE VEHICLE AND BY ME. THERE IS ALREADY 140,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT'S MY DAILY DRIVER SO I BELIEVE IT IS AT RISK. HUMIDITY IS HIGH IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA WHERE THIS CAR HAS BEEN FOR IT'S LIFE. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG IN THE CAR HAS NOT EVEN BEEN DISCONNECTED TO PREVENT IT FROM GOING OFF GIVEN I ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A REPAIR CAN BE MADE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA RECALL. MY 14 YEAR-OLD BMW'S DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPLACED (RECALLED 05/27/2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V438000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,722.
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!
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
POSSIBLE TAKATA INFLATORS - MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN I-40 WESTBOUND IN MIDWEST CITY, OKLAHOMA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG AND OVERHEAD AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PROVOCATION. PLASTIC AND DEBRIS FLEW IN OUR FACES/BODIES, WHITE POWDER FILLED THE CAR, AND I SWERVED ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR IN THE PROCESS BECAUSE MY EYES WERE WATERING AND I COULD NOT SEE VERY WELL, NOT TO MENTION WAS IN A DAZE BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH SUSTAINED INJURIES AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAVE PICTURES, BUT THEY WILL NOT UPLOAD TO THIS SITE FOR SOME REASON. THEY ARE JPG.
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.
UNDER RECALL 11V438000 , BMW FOUND THE DEFECTIVE REAR LIGHTS. THEIR REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE A SINGLE GROUND WIRE WITH A LARGER GAUGE WIRE. THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AND NOT A CORRECTIVE MEASURE. THE ULTIMATE CAUSATION OF THE LIGHT ISSUE IS THE TRUNK DOOR PINCHING THE HARNESS LEADING TO THE LIGHT, WHICH CAUSE THE WIRES INSIDE THE HARNESS TO BREAK. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE MECHANIC WHOM SAID WAS NOT COVERED BY THIS CAMPAIGN. HE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAD TO ULTIMATELY PAY OUT OF POCKET AND FIX THIS MYSELF. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 02/09/15*LJ UPDATED 06/9/2015 *JS
WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR CAR AND FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS IN THE LETTER. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT. TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR IN AT 9:30 AM LAST SATURDAY. WHEN WE GOT THERE, THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED US THAT A POLICY CHANGE OCCURRED THE NIGHT BEFORE AND INSTEAD, THEY WANTED US TO LEAVE THE CAR AFTER THE INSPECTION SO THEY COULD ORDER THE VIN SPECIFIC PART WHICH WOULD MEAN LEAVING OUR CAR DISMANTLED AT THE DEALER FOR A "FEW DAYS". WE DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER CAR AVAILABLE. I ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE; THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP. I TOLD THEM WE NEEDED OUR CAR AND COULD NOT BE WITHOUT FOR THE FEW DAYS THEY REQUIRED. I CALLED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FROM THE PARKING LOT AND SHE CALLED BACK TO THE DEALER AND CONFIRMED THAT THE POLICY HAD BEEN CHANGED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO INSPECT THE CAR AND REASSEMBLE IT SO WE COULD USE IT WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE PART. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR SINCE SHRAPNEL WAS IN THE AIRBAGS AND HE TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY, NO ONE HAD EVER BEEN INJURED. I AM PRETTY ANGRY ABOUT THE ENTIRE MATTER. BMW'S COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RECALL IS A FARCE. *TR
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
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
AFTER THE RECALL, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA09019 , I BROUGHT IN MY CAR AND THEY ADDED A GROUND WIRE THAT WAS TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH AN INTERMITTENT LIGHTS-OUT WARNING AT THE DASHBOARD. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO BMW AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALREADY ADDED THE GROUND CABLE AND THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO. THE SAME ISSUE STILL EXISTS. UPON READING FURTHER REGARDING THIS ISSUE, IT APPEARS THE WIRING HARNESSES HAD "MELTED" DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT CREATED BY A FAULTY GROUND CABLE. THE DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE AND BMW REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUES CAUSED BY THIS FAULTY DESIGN. THEY QUOTED ME OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS AND CHARGED ME 1 HOUR OF LABOR @$195/HR TO FIND THAT OUT. THE FAULTY GROUND CABLE CREATED THE EXCESSIVE HEAT CREATING ISSUES WITH THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE REAR OF THE CAR LIGHTS. BMW SHOULD PAY NOT JUST TO PREVENT ISSUES BUT TO PAY FOR ISSUES ALREADY CREATED BY THIS FAULTY DESIGN. *TR
LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHORTED OUT, AND THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. I FIXED IT WITH ELECTRICIAN'S TAPE. TODAY, WENT IN TO HAVE THE FIX PRESCRIBED BY RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-438000, WHICH EXACTLY ADDRESSED MY ISSUE. BMW'S RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER, 2011 INCLUDES "THE LAMPS WILL ALSO BE CHECKED FOR PROPER FUNCTIONALITY. IF THEY ARE NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, THEN THEY WILL BE REPAIRED WHICH COULD INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMP'S 8-PIN CONNECTOR HOUSING, IF NECESSARY". THUS, BMW IS COGNIZANT OF THE INESCAPABLE NEXUS BETWEEN A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE CONNECTOR AND DAMAGE TO THE HOUSING. WELL, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, ONLY THE FIXING OF THE GROUND CONNECTION IS COVERED BY THE RECALL AND BMW WOULD NOT PAY FOR REPLACING THE RUINED HOUSING (AND WITH THE WARRANTY "FIX", MY LIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER WORK BECAUSE MY REPAIR HAD BEEN ELIMINATED, PRESUMABLY BY THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW CONNECTOR WHICH WOULD NO LONGER INTERFACE WITH THE DAMAGED HOUSING). WHILE AT THE DEALER, CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND ULTIMATELY SPOKE TO "BOBBY". SHE VERIFIED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE HAD GONE UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AS APPROPRIATE, GOTTEN THE DENIAL, AND TOLD ME THAT I WAS OUT OF RECOURSE WITH RESPECT TO BMW: BMW WOULD NOT BE LIABLE. HAVING GIVEN THEM THEIR SHOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AM NOW TAKING THE NEXT STEP (NOTIFYING YOU). SINCE I COULDN'T DRIVE AROUND W/O PROPER FUNCTIONING REAR SIGNAL LIGHTS, I PAID FOR THE NEW HOUSING. THE DEALER ATE SOME OF THE COST SO ONLY CHARGED ME $39.32, FOR $41.68 WITH TAX. UPON GETTING HOME, GOOGLED THE PART # AND GOT A PRICE OF ~$28. SO, THIS IS NOT HUGE DOLLARS (AND FOR ME ITS JUST A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE) BUT BMW SHOULD BE TOLD TO BEHAVE LOGICALLY AND FAIRLY, ADHERE TO THEIR OWN WORDS IN THEIR LETTER, AND REPLACE ANY HOUSINGS DAMAGED BY THE ISSUE CAUSING THE RECALL. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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