NHTSA vehicle safety data
2002 BMW 3 Series Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2002 BMW 3 Series has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 26 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 BMW 3 Series, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2002 BMW 3 Series owner complaints
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW 3 Series, describing incidents dated October 15, 2002 to April 15, 2018.
Most-cited components
- Air Bags 6 complaints
- Electrical System 6 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 3 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 3 complaints
- Power Train 3 complaints
- Suspension 3 complaints
Of the 26 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11097326 · Filed
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.
ODI #11065149 · Filed
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
ODI #11048187 · Filed
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 BMW 3 Series in 6 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA15-001: Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since February 24, 2015
- Recall 14V-668
- Recall 15V-284
- Recall 15V-285
- Recall 15V-286
- Recall 15V-287
- Recall 15V-312
- and 188 more on the investigation page
- Preliminary Evaluation PE14-016: Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Closed March 2, 2015
- Recall 13V-172
- Recall 14V-428
- Recall 14V-700
- Recall 14V-763
- Recall 14V-770
- Recall 14V-787
- and 3 more on the investigation page
- Engineering Analysis EA09-019: Rear Lamp Illumination
Closed September 28, 2011
- Preliminary Evaluation PE09-036: REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
Closed December 22, 2009
- Defect Petition DP09-002: REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
Closed August 6, 2009
1 more NHTSA investigation
Other BMW 3 Series model years
Check your 2002 BMW 3 Series VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW 3 Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a BMW VIN