By model year
The 2008 model year drew the most complaints, 82
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Model line
BMW M3
Every BMW M3 model year on file, 1988 to 2026. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.
Owner complaints, all model years44440 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years371988 to 2026
Recall campaigns26Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins1,671Summed across model years
Components
Powertrain leads the BMW M3 complaint record
Owner complaints across all model years, by component.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years
The record for each BMW M3 model year
Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.
| Year | Body | Complaints | Severity index | Peer index | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2025 | Sedan | 2 | 0.0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 2024 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 2023 | Sedan | 1 | 100.0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 2022 | Sedan | 1 | 0.0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| 2021 | Sedan | 3 | 0.0 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 64 |
| 2018 | Sedan | 9 | 11.1 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 55 |
| 2017 | Sedan | 3 | 0.0 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 162 |
| 2016 | Sedan | 5 | 0.0 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 190 |
| 2015 | Sedan | 4 | 0.0 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 205 |
| 2014 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | Coupe | 13 | 15.4 | 163 | 2 | 1 | 104 |
| 2012 | Coupe | 6 | 0.0 | 120 | 3 | 1 | 111 |
| 2011 | Coupe | 31 | 3.2 | 388 | 4 | 1 | 110 |
| 2010 | Coupe | 15 | 6.7 | 188 | 4 | 1 | 132 |
| 2009 | Coupe | 45 | 2.2 | 2,250 | 5 | 1 | 127 |
| 2008 | Coupe | 82 | 9.8 | 456 | 5 | 1 | 127 |
| 2007 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2006 | Coupe | 14 | 0.0 | 165 | 5 | 2 | 13 |
| 2005 | Hatchback | 12 | 0.0 | 30 | 3 | 4 | 26 |
| 2004 | Coupe | 31 | 6.5 | 124 | 3 | 4 | 25 |
| 2003 | Coupe | 54 | 9.3 | 470 | 5 | 2 | 24 |
| 2002 | Coupe | 40 | 10.0 | 250 | 5 | 2 | 22 |
| 2001 | Coupe | 14 | 7.1 | 104 | 4 | 0 | 23 |
| 2000 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 1999 | Convertible | 11 | 36.4 | 92 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 1998 | Sedan | 14 | 14.3 | 58 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 1997 | Not decoded | 19 | 15.8 | 1,900 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 1996 | Coupe | 1 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 1995 | Coupe | 12 | 33.3 | 133 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1994 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1993 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | Not decoded | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | Coupe | 2 | 0.0 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls
Recent campaigns covering the BMW M3
- 24V-288 Apr 24, 2024
Head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture
Airbags · 5,761 vehicles - 23V-118 Feb 23, 2023
During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (ECU) may have been installed with incorrect programming, which can cause the…
Electrical system · 120 vehicles - 21V-554 Jul 21, 2021
Passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts
Seat belts · 22k vehicles - 21V-298 Apr 28, 2021
Bolt securing the seat belt assembly to the frame was not tightened to specification
Seat belts · 12 vehicles - 21V-062 Feb 10, 2021
Rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly…
Brakes · 893 vehicles - 20V-018 Jan 15, 2020
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and…
Airbags · 293k vehicles - 20V-017 Jan 15, 2020
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and…
Airbags · 60k vehicles - 19V-472 Jun 19, 2019
Connection of the positive battery cable at the fuse box terminal may degrade, resulting in an intermittent loss of electrical power
Electrical system · 17k vehicles - 18V-713 Oct 11, 2018
Connection between the driveshaft and the flange may fail resulting in a loss of propulsion
Powertrain · 2,661 vehicles - 14V-428 Jun 11, 2018
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and…
Airbags · 574k vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.