Table 1 shows one common seat belt related problems of the 2002 BMW 330.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Seat Belt problems |
The drivers seat belt does not retract. I have researched this issue and it is a chronic issue among BMW owners. If I do not manually push the seat belt back, it will remain loose enough that I can lean forward to touch the steering wheel. I have contacted BMW and their own response is to replace the entire belt unit, which is quite expensive. This is a serious safety issue. It will also at times get stuck in the drivers door when closing which could damage the belt even more.
The airbag light started to illuminate in early April of 2012. According to a local mechanic, he said the issue was related to a firing mechanism in the driver's side seat belt which has failed. The mechanic reset the airbag light, but it came back on about a month later. The mechanic stated the driver's side seatbelt latch needed to be replaced and it would cost $500. Until this issue is resolved, the airbag will not deploy. Vehicle only has 100k miles on it.