BMW 3 Series problems, recalls & safety data
Complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins and federal investigations for every BMW 3 Series model year, from official NHTSA data.
814
NHTSA complaints
8
recall campaigns
854
service bulletins (TSBs)
10
defect investigations
Model years
Best & worst years →| Year | Complaints | Recalls | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 BMW 3 Series | 21 | 0 | 42 |
| 2012 BMW 3 Series | 7 | 3 | — |
| 2010 BMW 3 Series | 30 | 2 | 119 |
| 2009 BMW 3 Series | 53 | 1 | 89 |
| 2008 BMW 3 Series | 68 | 2 | 92 |
| 2007 BMW 3 Series | 115 | 1 | 91 |
| 2006 BMW 3 Series | 202 | 3 | 78 |
| 2005 BMW 3 Series | 25 | 0 | 71 |
| 2004 BMW 3 Series | 77 | 0 | 60 |
| 2003 BMW 3 Series | 73 | 0 | 59 |
| 2002 BMW 3 Series | 26 | 0 | 54 |
| 2001 BMW 3 Series | 36 | 1 | 50 |
| 2000 BMW 3 Series | 88 | 1 | 49 |
| 1999 BMW 3 Series | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1998 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1997 BMW 3 Series | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1995 BMW 3 Series | 3 | 0 | — |
Common problems
Symptoms owners describe
Federal investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · opened Feb 24, 2015 · open
- Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · opened Jun 11, 2014 · closed Mar 2, 2015
- Loss of power assist brakingPE13030 · opened Sep 6, 2013 · closed Oct 25, 2013