NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 BMW E36 Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 BMW E36 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 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 E36. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 BMW E36 owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 BMW E36, describing incidents dated May 1, 2006 to April 18, 2007.

Most-cited components

Power Train 2 complaints
Structure 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10200697 · Filed August 24, 2007
THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING UP AND THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REINSTALL THE MOLDING. PRETTY BIZARRE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR. *TR
ODI #10194899 · Filed June 28, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW E36. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND WITH THE…
ODI #10190585 · Filed May 12, 2007
BMW 325XI 2002 BOUGHT USED IN MINT CONDITION WITH 60000 MILES DRIVETRAIN VIBRATION RELATED TO TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT BEARING. BMW INTERNATIONAL SAID THAT WAS TOO BAD, BUT NOT CONCERND AT THE FAILURE. EXPECTED AS THAT YEAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS. *AK

Read all 7 complaints

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E060000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported June 29, 2006 · AAI MOTORSPORTS USA, LLC

Potentially affected: 87,745 vehicles

Owners notified August 1, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Safety consequence

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

Manufacturer remedy

AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AAI MOTORSPORTS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 BMW E36. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 BMW E36.

Visibility; Structure

ODI #10200697

Incident: August 28, 2006 · Filed: August 24, 2007

THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKING UP AND THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REINSTALL THE MOLDING. PRETTY BIZARRE FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10194899

Crash

Incident: May 1, 2006 · Filed: June 28, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW E36. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 750. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 89,950 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

Power Train

ODI #10190585

Incident: January 7, 2007 · Filed: May 12, 2007

BMW 325XI 2002 BOUGHT USED IN MINT CONDITION WITH 60000 MILES DRIVETRAIN VIBRATION RELATED TO TRANSFER CASE OUTPUT BEARING. BMW INTERNATIONAL SAID THAT WAS TOO BAD, BUT NOT CONCERND AT THE FAILURE. EXPECTED AS THAT YEAR HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS. *AK

Electrical System

ODI #10188521

Incident: April 18, 2007 · Filed: April 22, 2007

I AM LEASING A 2002 BMW 745LI . I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS GONE TO THE BMW SERVICE CENTER A TOTAL OF 33 TIMES FOR SERVICE MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. A FEW TIMES CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THIS VEHICLE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA VIA PHONE, EMAILS, AND LETTERS, THEY SEEM NOT TO CARE? THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER SHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS BMW MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT HEADACHES AND PROBLEMS FOR THEM. I FEAR FOR THE WELL BEING OF MY FAMILY WHEN THEY ENTER THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS MODEL HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CAR FROM ITS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I AM PAYING FOR A PIECE OF METAL! THIS VEHICLE IS ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. I DEMAND THAT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA STAND BY ITS PRODUCT AND PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE BACK FROM ME. THE MANUFACTURER (BMW OF NORTH OF AMERICA) BUILT A PRODUCT THAT HAS DEFECTS. THEIR OWN TECHNICIANS CANNOT FIX THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO 4 DIFFERENT BMW SERVICE CENTERS. I HAVE COMPLETE RECORDS. AGAIN I DEMAND BMW OF NORTH AMERICA TO RELIEVE ME FROM THIS VEHICLE! *TR

Power Train

ODI #10188139

Incident: April 7, 2007 · Filed: April 17, 2007

AFTER 100,000+ MILES OF NORMAL OPERATION THE 2002, BMW X5 4.4 BEGAN EXHIBITING UNUSUAL TRANSMISSION OPERATION. AT RANDOM TIMES, DURING START UP, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO REV VERY HIGH, THEN ENGAGE IN 1ST, CAUSING AN ABRUPT LURCH FORWARD. ALSO, IT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS DISENGAGEMENT SOMETIMES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING INTO PASSING GEAR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV, AND A LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION, AND THEN AN ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT, RESULTING IN A MAJOR LURCH FORWARD. THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE, AS YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN THE TRANSMISSION WILL ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR PERFORMING PASSING MANEUVERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM THERE IS CONSIDERABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ,AND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED NOW FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. IT IS RELATED TO ZF SUPPLIED TRANSMISSIONS ON BMW AND JAGUAR VEHICLES, AND IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CONTROLLING SOFTWARE THE BMW DEALER SUGGESTED I REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $7,600 , AND HAS NOT INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS OR ADMIT ANY COMMON PROBLEM EXISTED. REPORTS ON THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT SOMETIMES A SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL CURE THIS PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES NOT, AS IT OCCURRED IN BOTH OLD AND NEW VEHICLES. AS AN EXPERT IN THIS FIELD, I AM STILL CONDUCTING MY OWN ANALYSIS, BUT AM COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS A BMW AND ZF PROBLEM THAT NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AS A CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. *AK

Suspension; Structure

ODI #10174024

Incident: November 20, 2006 · Filed: November 21, 2006

I WAS HEARING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR TOOK IT INTO BMW, AND THEY SAID THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS CRACKING. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO! ALSO THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING ARE BAD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR OR IN REVERSE! *NM

Seat Belts

ODI #10162683

Incident: July 16, 2006 · Filed: July 17, 2006

THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS INSERTED INTO DOESN'T HOLD THE BUCKLE ANY LONGER. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS NO LONGER USABLE. THE PART IS TO BE REPLACED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALER (NOT UNDER WARRANTY), WHO WILL HAVE THE OLD PART. *JB

Other BMW E36 model years

Check your 2002 BMW E36 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW E36 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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