NHTSA lists 2 complaints for the 2002 BMW E46, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-07.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as BMW E46.
At a glance
Complaints
2
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
0
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
Unavailable
Investigations
3
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
14
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
50.0%
VISIBILITY
1
50.0%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
VISIBILITY
REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Recalls
0 recalls.
Investigations
3 investigations; 0 open.
EA09019
Opened: 2009-12-18. Closed: 2011-09-28.
Rear Lamp Illumination
In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electri
ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT RUNS
IN MARCH 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. MARK PETERS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF REAR LAMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES.AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS SENT TO BMW IN APRIL 2009, AND ODI RECEIVED BMW'S RESPONSE IN JUNE 2009.THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CONTAINS LIGHTING FOR THE BRAKE LAMPS, TAIL LAMPS, AND TURN SIGNALS.A TECHNICA
Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
14 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
EQUIPMENT
3
POWER TRAIN
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
10245363
Date: 2023-11-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
When using the Key Reader to retrieve information from the customerA A A A?A A A A A A A A s key, the data is not updated or current.
10200242
Date: 2021-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Moisture is visible on the inside of one or both headlights
10037025
Date: 2010-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM
10033130
Date: 2009-12-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS
10032574
Date: 2009-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
BMW: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL 08E-A03; M3 S54-DME REPROGRAMMING FOR CATALYST CONVERSION DIAGNOSIS. THE DME PROGRAMMING, AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, MAY CAUSE THE OBD DIAGNOSTIC TO ERRONEOUSLY EVALUATE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. *PE
10002148
Date: 2006-10-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
HARSH 3-2 AND 2-1 DOWNSHIFTS (WITH CLUNK NOISE) WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TT UPDATED. *KB
10002149
Date: 2003-06-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
HARSH 3-2, 2-1 DOWNSHIFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. PRODUCED 10/02 UP TO 04/03. *TT
10002303
Date: 2003-03-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
IHKA BLOWS TOO HOT AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 32 DEGREES F. *TT
10001005
Date: 2003-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
REPROGRAMMING DME. *TT
10000486
Date: 2002-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
SMG TRANSMISSION; CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE. *TT
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.