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Air bagsPart report

2002 BMW 330I Air bags Problems

Complaints
13about this part
Share
29%of 45 total for the year
Median mileage
143,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 BMW 330I, 29% of the 45 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 143,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Possible takata inflators - my husband and I were traveling down I-40 westbound in midwest city, oklahoma at approximately 65 MPH when the driver side, side airbag and overhead airbag deployed without provocation. Plastic and debris flew in our faces/bodies, white powder filled the car, and I swerved across two lanes of traffic almost hitting another car in the process because my eyes were watering and I could not see very well, not to mention was in a daze because I had no idea what had just happened. My husband and I have both sustained injuries and the car is not driveable. …”

NHTSA complaint #10819463, filed 2016-01, 177,000 miles

“It's been 15 months since being notified about the recall and I still have not been notified that the part is available for the repair. I'm concerned because my car is one of the oldest in the recall date range and it is the driver air bag, which is the one position always occupied in the vehicle and by me. There is already 140,000 miles on this vehicle and it's my daily driver so I believe it is at risk. Humidity is high in the kansas city area where this car has been for it's life. …”

NHTSA complaint #10898524, filed 2016-08

“Takata recall - I have called all the Bmw centers in my local area and none have been able to replace the drivers side airbag. They have no clue when and act as if it is not a real safety issue.”

NHTSA complaint #10899482, filed 2016-08

“We received a recall notice for our car and followed the directions in the letter. The dealer's service dept. Told us to bring the car in at 9:30 am last saturday. When we got there, the service manager advised us that a policy change occurred the night before and instead, they wanted us to leave the car after the inspection so they could order the VIN specific part which would mean leaving our car dismantled at the dealer for a few days . We didn't have another car available. I asked for a loaner vehicle; they said they couldn't help. …”

NHTSA complaint #10535639, filed 2013-08

“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2002 Bmw 330I. 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”

NHTSA complaint #10896662, filed 2016-08

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2025117%
2024117%
2021414%
202059%
2019410%
201712%
200613361%
2005518%
20042018%
20032431%
20021329%
20013530%

Other parts of the 2002 BMW 330I

Exterior lighting
10 complaints
Electrical system
7 complaints
Equipment
4 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
4 complaints
Tires
3 complaints
Engine cooling
2 complaints
Seats
2 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Electronic stability control
1 complaints
Engine
1 complaints
Fuel system
1 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2002 BMW 330I

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology