ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, INCOMPATIBLE ELECTRONIC AIR BAG SYSTEM PROCESSORS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Safety risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT MAY NOT OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM PROCESSORS. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, A VAPOR LOCK IN THE FUEL PUMP COULD OCCUR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MINUTES.
Safety risk
IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE ELECTRICAL LINE POWERING THE FUEL PUMP IN ORDER TO PREVENT AN OCCURRENCE OF VAPOR LOCK. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 11, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18" TIRES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE MOUNTING PROCESS TO THE RIM.
Safety risk
CONSEQUENTLY, A LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, OR A TIRE FAILURE, COULD OCCUR. DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL UNSEAT THE TIRE FROM ITS RIM, INSPECT FOR ANY DAMAGE, AND THEN RESEAT THE TIRE TO ITS RIM. IF INSPECTION REVEALS THAT A FRONT TIRE HAS INCURRED DAMAGE DURING THE MOUNTING PROCESS, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CONNECTION OF THE SAFETY BELT BUCKLE TO THE STEEL ROPE OF THE TENSIONER DOES NOT MEET BMW SPECIFICATIONS. IN SEVERE FRONTAL CRASHES, THIS CONNECTION CAN DETACH.
Safety risk
IF THE CONNECTION DETACHES, THE PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SAFETY BELT IS LIKELY TO BE IMPAIRED, AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER COULD OCCUR THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE MITIGATED.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT TENSIONER AND BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THESE PARTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Steering
328
43,000 mi
Air bags
27
50,000 mi
Electrical system
13
65,250 mi
Steering: electric power assist system
10
10,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
6
7,370 mi
Vehicle speed control
6
5,396 mi
Engine and engine cooling
5
48,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
4
3,000 mi
Unknown or other
4
71,565 mi
Air bags: frontal
3
70,000 mi
Equipment
3
35,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
3
30,000 mi
Seat belts
3
35,000 mi
Steering: column
3
9,800 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
3
10,000 mi
Structure: body
3
61,252 mi
Suspension
3
41,021 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights
2
100 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
2
41,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
2
20 mi
Power train: manual transmission
2
4,800 mi
Structure: body: door
2
30,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
2
—
Visibility
2
43,730 mi
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
1
100,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module
1
—
Electrical system: wiring
1
18,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
66,300 mi
Engine
1
52,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
1
52,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
1
16,000 mi
Power train
1
109,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
1
—
Power train: driveline
1
2,300 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor
1
—
Service brakes
1
66,300 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
4,800 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
1
—
Steering: hydraulic power assist: pump
1
56,230 mi
Structure
1
43,730 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut
1
—
Suspension: front: springs: leaf spring assembly: hanger,bracket
1
—
Tires
1
54,000 mi
Tires: sidewall
1
34,000 mi
Traction control system
1
10,000 mi
The 2002 model has 77 times as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.