2002 BMW 330CI: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 46 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (54% of complaints); the 2000 and 2003 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Air bags deployed after collision, vehicle has been released from Falcon Towing 15600 S Main St, Gardena, CA 90248 to Automobile Club for inspection. Injuries sustained from airbag deploying include, but are not limited to, lacerations, abrasions, bruising as a broken rib and collapsed lung.”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2022
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 330ci. The contact stated that the driver's side tail light went out. The contact noticed that the brown wire connected to the tail light had melted. The dealer (bmw of fairfax, 8427 lee hwy, fairfax, va 22031) stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11v438000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was also made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 242,266.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Oct 2018
“Takata recall. Bmw of fairfax, virginia replaced only one of two bags recalled, even though the appointment and work order said to replace both air bags. They then said the job has been completed. However, the passenger side airbag had not been replaced. Were it not for my subsequent careful review of the invoice and follow up questioning with the dealer, I never would have known I still had a defective air bag. I sent detailed email questions to the service manager and have not had a response.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“Received initial contact from bmw in september 2014. "remedy not yet available". Campaign 14v 428 and 15v 318. When will these recalls be resolved?”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 bmw 330ci. 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“Takata recall was notified earlier this year of a recall via letter. Contacted bmw numerous times about this but no further updates. No dealer has the parts available. Just ignoring customers requests for the repair. No explanation or plan from bmw although they were supposed to have an answer by sept 1, 2015. Car has not had failure yet.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2015
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 bmw 330ci. The contact received a recall notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the parts or remedy for the recall were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was invalid. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 06/15/16*lj *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw 330ci. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2015
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 bmw 330ci. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v318000 (air bags); however, the part to do the recall 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. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2015
“Takata recall. It has been 14 months since the initial notification of the recall. No communication from bmw. Only response to questions is it is pending soon. Is there justification for length of time to resolve repair to a "dangerous problem"?”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
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.
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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2002 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact 330CI by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 BMW 330CI reliable?
NHTSA has 46 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 BMW 330CI. The most complained-about area is air bags (54% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 BMW 330CI problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 88,000 miles or less.
Does the 2002 BMW 330CI have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.