2002 BMW M3

Documented records held locally from official US and Canadian sources. Each record shows its official identifier so it can be confirmed at the source; nothing here is a score or a prediction.

Vehicle coverage

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Coverage held for this vehicle

  • OFFICIAL ACTION 5 US Recalls
  • MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION 22 Manufacturer Bulletins
  • INVESTIGATION 2 Investigations
  • CONSUMER REPORT 40 Consumer Complaints
  • CANADIAN RECALL 0 Canada Recalls

These are counts of distinct official records held locally. They are not combined into any score, and a record count is not a failure rate. A zero means no record is held here, not that none exists.

US Recalls

NHTSA Recall US

  • 20V018000 2020-01-15

    Recall 20V018000

    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 PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used…

    Recorded model years: 2002

  • 14V428000 2018-06-11

    Recall 14V428000

    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; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address…

    Recorded model years: 2002

  • 17V047000 2017-01-20

    Recall 17V047000

    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 have had a driver-side air bag module installed as replacement equipment such…

    Recorded model years: 2002

Showing 3 of 5 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 25 records exist for the BMW M3 where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Campaign applicability can depend on build date, equipment and market, and a remedy may already have been completed. Confirm any campaign against the official record using the VIN.

Manufacturer Bulletins

NHTSA Manufacturer Communication US

  • 10244237 2023-10-13

    B340714

    Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop. CAUSE Material-

    Recorded model years: 2002

  • 10225126 2022-09-01

    B662419

    Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.

    Recorded model years: 2002

  • 10194296 2021-04-01

    B340414

    Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused by high thermal stresses during rapid heating and cooling of the brake discs. Braking from high speed with cold brake components (less than 212 degrees F) increases the likelihood of cracks to form.

    Recorded model years: 2002

Showing 3 of 22 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 458 records exist for the BMW M3 where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

A manufacturer communication is service guidance issued to dealers. It is not a safety recall, and its existence does not mean this vehicle has the described condition.

Investigations

NHTSA Investigation US

  • PE09036 2009-08-07

    REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

    ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT…

    Recorded model years: 2002

  • DP09002 2009-04-08

    REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

    IN MARCH 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. MARK PETERS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF REAR LAMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES.AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS SENT TO BMW IN APRIL 2009, AND ODI RECEIVED BMW'S RESPONSE IN JUNE 2009.THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CONTAINS LIGHTING FOR THE BRAKE LAMPS, TAIL LAMPS, AND…

    Recorded model years: 2002

A further 6 records exist for the BMW M3 where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

An investigation records that a regulator reviewed a suspected defect. It is not itself a finding of defect and not a recall.

Canada Recalls

Transport Canada Recall CA

No matching records were found in the currently integrated dataset. This does not mean none exist for this vehicle — always check the official source using the VIN.

See all model years Go to the BMW M3 page

Canadian campaigns are recorded separately from US campaigns and do not imply one another.

Consumer Complaints

NHTSA Complaint US

40 complaint records in the dataset for this vehicle and year.

Outcomes stated in those reports

  • reports mentioning a crash 2
  • reports mentioning a fire 1
  • reported injuries 1

Outcomes as stated by the person who filed the report. They are not verified, not adjudicated, and carry no exposure denominator, so they cannot be turned into a rate.

By system

  • Engine13 (27.1%)
  • Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)8 (16.7%)Official recall records for this system: 3, covering model years 2008–2017.
  • Air bags (restraint system)7 (14.6%)Official recall records for this system: 9, covering model years 1997–2015.
  • Body & structure5 (10.4%)Official recall records for this system: 1, covering model years 2015–2017.
  • Electrical system4 (8.3%)Official recall records for this system: 3, covering model years 2006–2023.
  • Suspension4 (8.3%)
  • Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)2 (4.2%)Official recall records for this system: 1, covering model years 2003.
  • Equipment & accessories1 (2.1%)

Other / uncategorized: 1 classifications (2.1%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

A single report can name several systems, so these figures overlap and must not be added together — their sum is larger than the report total above.

A further 442 complaint records exist for this vehicle where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

These are owner-submitted allegations, not confirmed defects. Counts are record counts in the dataset. No exposure denominator exists, so no failure rate or reliability score can be derived from them.

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