BMW M3 · model year

2002 BMW M3

48 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002BMWM3 carries 48 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 M3 is air bags with 6 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2002 M3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

48
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

48 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
POWER TRAIN4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SUSPENSION3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
TIRES1

Recalls (5)

15V31800028/05/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons,

17V04700020/01/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2002 BMW 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi, 323Ci, 325Ci, 330Ci, M3, 323iT, 325iT and 325xiT vehicles, 2001-2002 525i, 530i, 540i, M5, 525iT and 540iT vehicles, and 2001-2003 X5 3.0i, X5 4.4i, and X5 4.6is vehicles. These vehicles may hav

20V01800015/01/2020

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PS

14V42800011/06/2018

AIR BAGS

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-200

13V17200002/05/2013

AIR BAGS

BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causin

Recent Complaints

20231013AIR BAGS

See attached document for complaint

20220926FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BMW M 3 parked in the driveway and had been turned off for several hours I was wax the car when I noticed a puff of smoke coming out of the air condition vent so I sat in the driver seat to investigate out of habit I close the door I planed to open the windows and the convertible top to take a look the car went into antitheft mode and locked me inside the smoke became thick quickly I tried to break the window with my elbow with no luck I was getting ready to try to kick the window if I could reach it with my foot I’m on most 70 years old so it was tough even moving I couldn’t get out ..my wife and daughter Who were in the backyard and saw what was happening they broke the window so that I could climb out of the car I sprayed the air conditioning vent with water which is also dangerous but I had to put it out I then disconnected the battery as quickly as I could I have called an insurance adjuster and had mechanics look at it apparently the LCM or the light control module for s

20210219AIR BAGS

IN NOVEMBER, 2020, I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM BMW THAT THE PREVIOUS FIX TO MY AIRBAG WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX, AND I NEEDED TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR A PERMANENT FIX. IN JANUARY, 2021, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. I AM GETTING READY TO START DRIVING MY CARS ON A REGULAR BASIS AGAIN, SO I TOOK THE CAR IN THIS WEEK FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. THEY SPENT 2 HOURS, TO ALLEGEDLY REPLACE A MODULE. AS I WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THEY SAID THAT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL, AND I NEEDED TO PAY $200 TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. 3 HOURS LATER, THEY SAID IT WAS AN AIRBAG MODULE (PRESUMABLE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THEY ALLEGEDLY JUST REPLACED), AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. NOW, THE FIRST REPAIR FOR THE AIRBAG WAS ROUGHLY TWO YEARS AGO, NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE MODULE THAT IS FAILING IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. I THINK THEY EITHER DIDN'T DO THE AIRBAG MODULE WHEN IT WAS IN FOR THE REPAIR OR THE FACT THEY INSTALLED A "TEMPORARY FIX" TWO YEARS AGO IS LEADING TO T

Mileage: 149,000

20200715ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE DOOR CENTRAL LOCK CONTROL MODULE FAILS ON ALL OF THE E46 BMW MODELS WHERE THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER CAN BECOME TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE DOOR LOCKS CANNOT BE UNLOCKED IN ANY WAY BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY GM5 CENTRAL LOCKING MODULE

20180823STRUCTURE:BODY

UPON INSPECTION, VEHICLE'S REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS SHOW CRACKING AND OTHER SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL FATIGUE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNDERGONE COMPLETE REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED AND BMW SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE WAS NOT ESCALATED TO A RECALL, POSSIBLY LEAVING THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

Mileage: 190,000

20180823SUSPENSION

UPON INSPECTION, VEHICLE'S REAR SUBFRAME MOUNTING POINTS SHOW CRACKING AND OTHER SIGNS OF STRUCTURAL FATIGUE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNDERGONE COMPLETE REAR SUBFRAME FAILURE. VEHICLE'S SUBFRAME NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED AND BMW SETTLED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE WAS NOT ESCALATED TO A RECALL, POSSIBLY LEAVING THOUSANDS OF UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

Mileage: 190,000

20170819UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CAR. CAR WAS PARKED, DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AFTER PUSHING REMOTE OR CONSOLE BUTTON OR WHEN PULLING DOOR HANDLE INSIDE WHICH NORMALLY UNLOCKS IT. THIS COULD BE A DEATH TRAP IN CASE OF FIRE! I HEAR THERE ARE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE GM5 MODULE.

Mileage: 95,000

20161125AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON.......

Mileage: 135,000

20150302AIR BAGS

THIS CAR IS SUBJECT TO THE AIRBAG RECALL.I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THIS IN SEPTEMBER 2014. SINCE THEN, BMW HAS REPEATEDLY PUT OFF THE TARGET DATE FOR THIS REPAIR. BACK IN OCTOBER 2014, AN ARTICLE IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES STATED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE FIRST 25% OF THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY 2015. IF BMW WAS AWARE OF THIS IN OCTOBER 2014, WHY DIDN'T THEY MAKE ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS WITH ANOTHER VENDOR AND BACKCHARGE TAKATA? *TR

Mileage: 170,000

20150108AIR BAGS

BMW SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE TAKATA PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. I CONTACTED MY DEALER IN LATE OCTOBER. THE DEALER HAS NOT RESPONDED AND BMW USA SAYS IT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN PARTS MAY BE AVAILABLE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MIAMI, FL NEW FROM A BMW DEALER AND WAS LOCATED IN THE FLORIDA KEYS FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS. I NOW LIVE ON THE WATER IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE HUMIDITY IS TYPICALLY 99% OVERNIGHT AND MY DECK DOES NOT DRY ALL DAY DUE TO HIGH HUMIDITY. SUMMERTIME TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE UPPER 80S TO LOW 90S WITH SEVERAL DAYS EACH SUMMER ABOVE 100 F. WHILE I UNDERSTAND PARTS SHORTAGES, I AM ALSO UNABLE TO DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER IN MY CAR IN WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SAFE MANNER. IF A MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX AS RECALL IN A REASONABLE TIME THEY SHOULD MAKE OTHER PROVISIONS FOR VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

20140617ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT IN BMW'S SMG PUMP UNIT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT ME MAKING THAT DECISION. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING LANES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SMG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON. THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED AS IT CHOSE TO SHIFT BACK TO 4TH GEAR AS I WAS GOING 65MPH. I TRIED SHIFTING BACK UP TO GEAR SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER BUT WITH NO LUCK AS THE VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL. THE CARS BEHIND ME CAME VERY RAPIDLY AND TWO ALMOST HIT ME AS A RESULT OF THIS PUMP FAILURE. BY THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH IN A 65+ TRAFFIC ZONE. I FINALLY ROLLED MY CAR DOWN THE SHOULDER TO SAFETY. I REPLACED THE SMG RELAY WITH A SPARE NEW ONE I ALWAYS CARRIED IN THE CAR. I WAITED 10 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AS I KNEW THIS WAS THE INFAMOUS SMG PUMP ISSUE. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITH NO

Mileage: 70,045

20140617ENGINE

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT IN BMW'S SMG PUMP UNIT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT ME MAKING THAT DECISION. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING LANES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SMG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON. THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED AS IT CHOSE TO SHIFT BACK TO 4TH GEAR AS I WAS GOING 65MPH. I TRIED SHIFTING BACK UP TO GEAR SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER BUT WITH NO LUCK AS THE VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL. THE CARS BEHIND ME CAME VERY RAPIDLY AND TWO ALMOST HIT ME AS A RESULT OF THIS PUMP FAILURE. BY THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH IN A 65+ TRAFFIC ZONE. I FINALLY ROLLED MY CAR DOWN THE SHOULDER TO SAFETY. I REPLACED THE SMG RELAY WITH A SPARE NEW ONE I ALWAYS CARRIED IN THE CAR. I WAITED 10 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AS I KNEW THIS WAS THE INFAMOUS SMG PUMP ISSUE. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITH NO

Mileage: 70,045

20140617POWER TRAIN

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT IN BMW'S SMG PUMP UNIT. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT ME MAKING THAT DECISION. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING LANES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE SMG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON. THE CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED AS IT CHOSE TO SHIFT BACK TO 4TH GEAR AS I WAS GOING 65MPH. I TRIED SHIFTING BACK UP TO GEAR SAFELY GET TO THE SHOULDER BUT WITH NO LUCK AS THE VEHICLE WENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL. THE CARS BEHIND ME CAME VERY RAPIDLY AND TWO ALMOST HIT ME AS A RESULT OF THIS PUMP FAILURE. BY THIS TIME I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH IN A 65+ TRAFFIC ZONE. I FINALLY ROLLED MY CAR DOWN THE SHOULDER TO SAFETY. I REPLACED THE SMG RELAY WITH A SPARE NEW ONE I ALWAYS CARRIED IN THE CAR. I WAITED 10 MINUTES FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL OFF AS I KNEW THIS WAS THE INFAMOUS SMG PUMP ISSUE. THE CAR STARTED BACK UP WITH NO

Mileage: 70,045

20121009STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE BMW DEALER FOR A INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE SUBFRAME/TRUNK FLOOR WAS CRACKING AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT MY CAR ON A VEHICLE LIFT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND ADVISED ME IT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. LOOKING INTO THIS ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON SAFTEY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20121009SUSPENSION

I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE BMW DEALER FOR A INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE SUBFRAME/TRUNK FLOOR WAS CRACKING AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT MY CAR ON A VEHICLE LIFT FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND ADVISED ME IT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE. LOOKING INTO THIS ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON SAFTEY PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20120810POWER TRAIN

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS SINCE THE DAY AFTER WE PURCHASED THE CAR: ?DRIVING IN 4TH GEAR (ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 40 MINS OF DRIVING) WILL SUDDENLY FEEL AS IF CLUTCH IS ENGAGED SO I CANNOT ACCELERATE, YELLOW TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THEN I HAVE TO COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE CAR TO RE-ENGAGE BACK INTO 1ST GEAR. NOTICED IF I WAIT LONG ENOUGH, ONCE THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ALSO TURNS OFF THEN I CAN RESTART BACK IN FIRST GEAR. ALL THIS WHILE DRIVING IN AUTO MODE. ?SAME ISSUE AS ABOVE BUT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LOWER GEARS WHILE ACCELERATING OR WHEN CRUISING AT HIGHER GEARS, FOR EXAMPLE, 6TH GEAR AND MANUALLY SHIFTING INTO 5TH, WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON, CAR WILL NOT BE IN GEAR, WILL HAVE TO COAST TO A STOP AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART WITH 1ST GEAR AGAIN. ?SAME ISSUE AS ABOVE, BUT HAS HAPPENED WHILE PARKED AT A RED LIGHT, INDICATOR SHOWS 1ST GEAR, BUT WHEN I TRY TO GO, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND I?M NOT IN GEAR, RE

Mileage: 77,500

20120321ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE EXHAUST CAM HUB TABS BREAK OFF ON THE 2000-2008 BMW M3 MODELS. IF CAUGHT WHEN ONLY ONE TAB BREAKS IT CAN BE REPLACED. IF BOTH TABS BREAK COMPLETELY OFF THE ENGINE WILL SEIZE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. BMW NA WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *JS

20111227POWER TRAIN

TROUBLE WITH SMG TRANSMISSION. CAR WILL NOT STAY IN GEAR AND BUCKS HARD TRYING TO ENGAGE. *TR

Mileage: 66,000

20111014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A BMW M3 WHICH HAS AN SMG TRANSMISSION. I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR LOSES POWER TO CHANGE THE GEARS AND MY CAR STARTED TO JERK WHILE ON THE ROAD NEARLY CRASHING INTO ANOTHER CAR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SMG PUMPS FOR BMW M3 HAVE ALWAYS A HIGH FAILURE DESIGN FLAW. THE COST TO FIX THAT IS ALSO UNBEARABLE WHICH NEARS THE $5,000 MARK. THERE HAS BEEN FORUMS GOING AROUND THAT THIS IS INDEED A DESIGN FLAW FOR BMW. I ALMOST NEARLY GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT, BUT THANKFULLY I WAS OK. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS I FEEL AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE BMW COMUNITTEE THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Mileage: 123,456

20110916EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LAMPS WOULD SPORADICALLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V438000 SAME EXACT PROBLEMS. UPDATED 10/19/2011 *LN

Mileage: 86,000

Compare 2002BMWM3 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 BMW M3 have?
The 2002 BMW M3 has 48 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 BMW M3?
Yes, the 2002 BMW M3 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW M3?
The most-complained component for the 2002 BMW M3 is AIR BAGS with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2002 BMW M3 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.