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2002 BMW 330CI Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2002 BMW 330CI, and owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
46
owner complaints to NHTSA
3 / 4
complaints citing a crash / fire

3 safety recalls for the 2002 BMW 330CI

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive

    NHTSA 20V018000 Reported 292,948 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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…

    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.

  2. Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive

    NHTSA 15V318000 Reported 419,235 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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…

    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…

  3. Air bags Do not drive

    NHTSA 13V172000 Reported 43,204 vehicles potentially affected BMW of North America, LLC

    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…

    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,…

46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 BMW 330CI have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 89,861 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 10 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“My car had been sitting across the street from my house for about 3 weeks after i had gotten it back from the body shop. It had been hit on the drivers side by a drunk driver when parked in front of m”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 3, 2024 · Electrical system

“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,”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 2, 2022 · Air bags

Compare BMW 330CI model years

Recall and complaint counts for every BMW 330CI model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 BMW 330CI31
2001 BMW 330CI582
2002 BMW 330CI346
2003 BMW 330CI318
2004 BMW 330CI277
2005 BMW 330CI233
2006 BMW 330CI234

Checking a specific 2002 BMW 330CI

How do I know if my 2002 BMW 330CI has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2002 BMW 330CI; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 13V172000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other BMW models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.