AI Damage2002 BMW M Roadster: common problems
Owners of the 2002 BMW M Roadster filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 40% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 40% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 20% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 bmw m roadster. While driving approximately 35 mph, a squeaky noise was heard from outside of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the sub frame exhibited several cracks and was slightly separated. The defect became progressively worse over time.
Rear differential simply dropped while driving. It and the subframe have torn up rear sheet metal under the trunk. I have a repair in progress.
2002 bmw m roadster trunk crossmember (supports the rear differential) separating from the rest of the car. Spot welds pulled out. Danger of the whole crossmember separating from the chassis. Corrected by an independent in toledo, oh.
The rear-subframe is separating from the trunk in my car. As a result, the differential mount has cracked and there is the risk of the differential totally separating from the car.
Speedometer on new vehicle reads excessivly high (7 mph at 65 mph). There was nospecific incident. I would like to know if there are any standards regarding this, as manufacturer says this is an acceptable error. Date below is entered for reference only.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the M Roadster has 11 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW M Roadster?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, structure, equipment. Total complaints: 5.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 BMW M Roadster?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2002 BMW M Roadster from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2002 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.