2002 BMW M3

40 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Oct 13, 2023Failure Jun 17, 2023Adelanto, CAAir bags

   See attached document for complaint

   NHTSA complaint 11549807
2. Filed Sep 26, 2022Failure Aug 24, 2022Baltimore, MDElectrical systemFire

   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 some reason caught fire I was lucky I had someone there to help me someone else might not be as lucky I did breathing a bit of the smoke and I’ve had cough but I don’t feel it’s severe I will have it looked out eventually would just like the car to be evaluated by BMW engineers to see if they can figure out why it caught on fire Before I pay money to have it repaired I’m not sure I can drive it again

   NHTSA complaint 11486395
3. Filed Feb 19, 2021Failure Feb 15, 2021149,000 milesLong Beach, CAAir 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 THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE TODAY. ANYWAY, I DON'T SEE HOW THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. OH, THEY WANT $2,000 TO FIX IT.

   NHTSA complaint 11397063
4. Filed Jul 15, 2020Failure Jul 9, 2020Middletown, NYElectrical 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

   NHTSA complaint 11339459
5. Filed Aug 23, 2018Failure Aug 1, 2018190,000 milesLewisville, TXBody, Suspension

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 11121830
6. Filed Aug 19, 2017Failure May 4, 201795,000 milesLongmont, COUnknown 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.

   NHTSA complaint 11016342
7. Filed Nov 25, 2016Failure Nov 7, 2016135,000 milesBirmingham, ALAir bags

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

   NHTSA complaint 10927889
8. Filed Mar 2, 2015Failure Sep 30, 2014170,000 milesCumming, GAAir 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

   NHTSA complaint 10691544
9. Filed Jan 8, 2015Failure Sep 15, 201480,000 milesNovato, CAAir 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

   NHTSA complaint 10671005
10. Filed Jun 17, 2014Failure May 1, 201470,045 milesLOS Angeles, CAElectrical system, Engine, Power 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 LIGHT AND DROVE ME ALMOST THE ENTIRE ROUTE BACK HOME. JUST ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME, SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME LEAVING ME COMPLETELY STUCK IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME WERE KIND ENOUGH TO HELP PUSH MY CAR OUT OF THE WAY. I CALLED A FRIEND AND WE PUSHED THE CAR ALL THE WAY BACK TO MY GARAGE. NOW THIS IS JUST THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. IT HAPPENS IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE CAR JUST WHEN I TRY TO MOVE IT NEVER BREAKING 15MPH. BMWNA IGNORES OUR COMPLAINTS AS THEIR DEALERSHIPS MAKE MONEY HAND OVER FIST WITH THIS $4000 REPAIR. MY COMPLAINT IS NOT WITH THE REPAIR AMOUNT. US M3 OWNERS ARE AWARE OF THE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR COSTS FOR OUR HIGHLY SPECIALIZED VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THIS PUMP MALFUNCTION IS A VERY REAL DANGER TO ALL DRIVERS. WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO VEHICLES WITH ANYWHERE FROM 15K TO 120K MILES ON THEM. BMW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10598930
11. Filed Oct 9, 2012Failure Dec 30, 2011115,000 milesAnchorage, AKUnderbody shields, Suspension

    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

    NHTSA complaint 10479377
12. Filed Aug 10, 2012Failure Jun 26, 201277,500 milesMurphy, TXPower 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, REQUIRES A STOP/RESTART OF ENGINE AGAIN ? SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TRIES. THIS HAPPENS ON BOTH EVEN, DECLINED AND INCLINED ROAD SURFACES. ?THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WE HAVE BEEN LEFT DEAD IN THE ROAD ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE CAR WHILE THERE'S ON-COMING TRAFFIC AROUND US! *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10470150
13. Filed Mar 21, 2012Failure Oct 3, 2011Thousand Oaks, CAEngine 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

    NHTSA complaint 10452496
14. Filed Dec 27, 2011Failure Jul 1, 201166,000 milesBedford Hills, NYPower train

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

    NHTSA complaint 10441289
15. Filed Oct 14, 2011Failure Oct 13, 2011123,456 milesEL Monte, CAEngine 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

    NHTSA complaint 10430221
16. Filed Sep 16, 2011Failure Jun 1, 200986,000 milesPhiladelphia, PAExterior 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

    NHTSA complaint 10425786
17. Filed Jun 18, 2011Failure Apr 25, 200913,000 milesNorth Bergen, NJElectrical system

    BMW 2002 M3, REMOTE KEY DOES NOT WORK, BROKEN GENERAL MODULE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10407375
18. Filed May 15, 2011Failure Sep 20, 201084,204 milesWenham, MASuspension

    INSPECTION AT DEALER, BMW OF PEABODY, 221 ANDOVER STREET, PEABODY MA 01960, FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS QUITE NORMAL FOR BMW 3 SERIES. I BELIEVE THAT BROKEN REAR SPRINGS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO PERSONS.

    NHTSA complaint 10401828
19. Filed Mar 1, 2011Failure Feb 24, 201182,585 milesAustin, TXRearview mirrors/devices

    THE REAR MIRROR IN MY VEHICLE IS A SELF-DIMMING ONE. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, I CAME OUT TO A SIGNIFICANT DISCOLORATION IN THE GLASS, ALMOST LIKE THERE WAS WATER INSIDE OF THE MIRROR. I FIGURED IT WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT, BUT DID NOT THINK IT WOULD DETERIORATE SO FAST. THE NEXT EVENING, I PARKED IN THE GARAGE AGAIN. I CAME OUT THE NEXT MORNING AND THE DISCOLORATION HAD WORSENED. I NOTICED SPLATTER ALL OVER THE AREA UNDERNEATH THE MIRROR. IT APPEARS THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT AND DRIPPED ALL OVER MY SHIFTER, TRIM, WINDOW BUTTONS, AND CUPHOLDERS. ANY PART THAT WAS PLASTIC HAD BURN MARKS FROM THE SPLATTER OF THE CORROSIVE LIQUID. I WAS VERY UNEASY CLEANING UP THE REMAINING LIQUID AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY CORROSIVE. I SPOKE WITH BMWNA AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS ISSUE IS BEYOND A DAMAGED PART; IT IS A SAFETY AND HEALTH HAZARD. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10386028
20. Filed Jul 21, 2010Failure Jun 24, 201064,000 milesVancouver, WAEngine

    I OWN A 2002 BMW M3. THERE ARE SIX CAMSHAFT BOLTS BEHIND A PLATE COVER. BMW SPECED BOLTS THAT WERE TOO SOFT UNTIL 2004 WHEN THEY CHANGED BOLT SPEC TO A HARDENED STEEL WITH LOCTITE. PRIOR TO THIS THE BOLTS HAD NO LOCTITE. THE ISSUE IS STARTING TO SURFACE ALL OVER THE WEB. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE BOLTS DO NOT STAY SCREWED IN. THEY BACK OUT AND STOP AGAINST THE PLATE COVER. EVENTUALLY THEY SHEAR OFF AND IF THIS HAPPENS IT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO YOUR ENGINE. IN MY CASE I WAS GOING 15MPH SO THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY $10,000. THE CAR HAMMERED TO A STOP. BMW IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE SUGGESTING OUT OF WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE 60K ON THE CAR WHEN THE ISSUE OCCURRED FIRST. A P0011 CAMSHAFT TIMING FAULT COMES UP. A BMW SERVICE CENTER CLEARED THE FAULT AND REPLACED SOME COILS AND SPARKPLUGS ($663) AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THREE DAYS LATER THE BOLTS SHEARED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY "HAD NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE". THEY ALSO SAID BMW HAD ISSUED NO BULLETINS TO ADDRESS THE BOLTS. EVERY INDEPENDENT BMW FACILITY I INTERVIEWED IN PORTLAND WAS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND ALREADY DOING ENGINE REBUILDS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. I THINK THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON BMW'S PART FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE ISSUE AND DEALING WITH IT. I ALSO THINK THE DEALER IS GUILTY OF CLEARING THE FAULT WITHOUT CHECKING FURTHER. THE BID ON MY WORK IS $10,000 (TWO VALVE HEADS AND A VANOS SYSTEM PLUS 50 HOURS OF LABOR). THIS IS AN ESTIMATE UNTIL THEY PULL THE ENGINE APART MORE. ONLINE YOU CAN SEE ON YOU TUBE MY ISSUE BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO. ON ALL THE FORUMS THERE ARE THREADS TO SEE THE ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE THIS BY A GOOGLE SEARCH OF "BMW CAMSHAFT BOLT SHEARING" HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=R6RDVBHSCFG BOTTOM LINE IS IF THE BOLTS ARE NOT REPLACED EVENTUALLY THEY WILL SHEAR OFF AND CAUSE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. THE FASTER THE SPEED OF THE CAR THE WORSE THE DAMAGE. THE PROBLEM IS APPEARING IT SEEMS AFTER 30K AND FOR MANY INCLUDING ME BETWEEN 60-90K. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10344604