2002 BMW M3 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 10%of 40 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 41,522miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electrical system of the 2002 BMW M3, 10% of the 40 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,522 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10598930, filed 2014-06, 70,045 miles“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11486395, filed 2022-09“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, filed 2020-07Related service bulletins
- 10149558Oct 1, 2018For the above-referenced vehicles with passenger?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata…
- 10149557Oct 1, 2018For the above-referenced vehicles with driver?s side airbag modules, BMW of North America, LLC (?BMW NA?) will provide a Customer Support Program as outlined in the Takata…
- 10032574Oct 1, 2009Bmw: voluntary emissions recall 08e-a03; m3 s54-dme reprogramming for catalyst conversion diagnosis. The dme programming, as originally installed, may cause the obd diagnostic to…
- 10012783Feb 1, 2006Bremi ignition coil replacement on s54 engine. This service bulletin supersedes si120803 dated may 2004.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 11% |
| 2013 | 2 | 15% |
| 2011 | 7 | 23% |
| 2010 | 1 | 7% |
| 2009 | 6 | 13% |
| 2008 | 9 | 11% |
| 2004 | 1 | 3% |
| 2003 | 4 | 7% |
| 2002 | 4 | 10% |
| 1998 | 2 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2002 BMW M3
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 BMW M3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology