There are 3 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2002 BMW 3 Seriesin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT STATED WAS IN REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER MOVED FROM REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,500.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW E36. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AND WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED TO 750. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 89,950 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, MADE A LEFT TURN, DROVE A FEW YARDS, STOPPED AGAIN, PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AT AN ESTIMATE SPEED OF 45 MPH. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE FROM A TWO LANE BUSY STREET. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT. ALL FOUR TIRES BLEW OUT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FACTORY ENGINEER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY FOUND NO CAUSE FOR THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. *JB.......*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026