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BMW M3Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 444 NHTSA owner complaints across 35 model years, no BMW M3 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2002, 2004, 2009 and 2011. The M3 has 26 safety recalls on record.

BMW M3
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2003, 2008Best years'02 '04 '09 '11Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints444Top: Power trainSafety recalls261988–2025 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

BMW M3 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the M3 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'21'22'23'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2025Too new–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2023Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2022Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2021Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls2018Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls2017Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls2016Not rated–/1005 complaints · 3 recalls2015Not rated–/1004 complaints · 3 recalls2014Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2013Not rated–/10013 complaints · 2 recalls2012Not rated–/1006 complaints · 3 recalls2011Solid59/10031 complaints · 4 recalls2010Not rated–/10015 complaints · 4 recalls2009Solid50/10045 complaints · 5 recalls2008Caution32/10082 complaints · 5 recalls2007Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2006Not rated–/10014 complaints · 5 recalls2005Not rated–/10012 complaints · 3 recalls2004Solid58/10031 complaints · 3 recalls2003Caution41/10054 complaints · 5 recalls2002Solid50/10040 complaints · 5 recalls2001Not rated–/10014 complaints · 4 recalls2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/10011 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/10014 complaints · 1 recall1997Not rated–/10019 complaints · 2 recalls1996Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1995Not rated–/10012 complaints · 4 recalls1994Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1993Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common BMW M3 problems

All model years combined: 444 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train1165
Air bags10015
Engine623
Electrical system386
Engine and engine cooling321
Structure242
Visibility233
Suspension210
Tires143
17 other systems9814
26 recalls

BMW M3 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

36%Air bags: side/window24V-288 · 2014–2015 · Apr 24, 2024 · 5,761 vehicles98%Body control module: software23V-118 · 2023 · Feb 23, 2023 · 120 vehicles96%Seat belts21V-554 · 2021 · Jul 21, 2021 · 21,537 vehicles100%Front: buckle assembly21V-298 · 2021 · Apr 28, 2021 · 12 vehicles97%Service brakes, hydraulic21V-062 · 2021 · Feb 10, 2021 · 893 vehicles42%Passenger side: inflator module20V-018 · 2000–2006 · Jan 15, 2020 · 292,948 vehiclesDo not drive77%Driver side: inflator module20V-017 · 2006–2013 · Jan 15, 2020 · 59,965 vehicles54%Electrical system19V-472 · 2008–2012 · Jun 19, 2019 · 16,641 vehicles93%Driveline: driveshaft18V-713 · 2016–2017 · Oct 11, 2018 · 2,661 vehicles29%Air bags14V-428 · 2001–2006 · Jun 11, 2018 · 574,007 vehiclesDo not drive50%Electrical system: wiring17V-676 · 2006–2011 · Oct 25, 2017 · 702,965 vehicles24%Driver side: inflator module17V-047 · 2000–2002 · Jan 20, 2017 · 230,117 vehiclesDo not drive

Showing the 12 newest of 26 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the M3

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2007–2013 · still open
    Open
  2. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2004–2006 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  3. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2004–2006 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
  4. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONPE09036 · 2002–2005 · closed Dec 22, 2009
    Led to recall 11V-438
  5. REAR LAMP ILLUMINATIONDP09002 · 2002–2005 · closed Aug 6, 2009
    No recall
  6. INADVERTANT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTRQ99018 · 1999 · still open
    Led to recall 99V-063
  7. AIR BAG WIRING FAILUREEA95013 · 1991–1993 · closed Jul 15, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-110