2003 BMW 3 SeriesProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 73 owner complaints about the 2003 BMW 3 Series, most often about the exterior lighting. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 30, 2019. Updated daily.
Where the 2003 BMW 3 Series has problems
73 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 23 | 0 |
| Air bags | 21 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 1 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 |
| Power train | 4 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 14 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2003 BMW 3 Series recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
2003 vs. every other 3 Series year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the 3 Series median. How we score
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2003 BMW 3 Series safety ratings
2003 BMW 3 Series 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 BMW 3 Series, and the recalls they led to.
- REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONNo recall
- Rear Lamp IlluminationLed to recall 11V-438
- REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONLed to recall 11V-438
What 3 Series owners report
Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
BRAKE LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES GETS STUCK ON ONCE THE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS PRODUCES NO ERROR CODES. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE SENSOR SWITCH. I CHANGED THIS AND IT DID NOTHING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE CAR IS BRAKING AS THE LIGHT IS…
THE ZKW XENON HEADLIGHTS HAVE A FLAW IN THE PLASTIC PROJECTOR HOUSING. THE HOUSING GETS TOO HOT AND MELTS AND THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS SEVERELY RESTRICTED. THIS HAPPENS TO 100% OF THE HEADLIGHTS MADE BY THIS MANUFACTURER AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE HEADLIGHTS MELTS AND THE LIGHT…
THERE IS LIMITED LIGHT OUTPUT FROM THE XENON/HID HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES DUE TO "MELTED" PROJECTOR BOWLS FROM BMW. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT PREVENTS END USERS FROM BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AND OBJECTS AHEAD OF THEM. *TR
Own a 2003 3 Series?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.