2001 BMW 3 Series vs 2003 BMW 3 Series
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 BMW 3 Series | 2003 BMW 3 Series |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 36 | 73 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 50 | 59 |
| Investigations | 2 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 118,100 mi | 78,609 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 3 Series | BMW 3 Series |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 23 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 6 | 12 |
| Power Train | 3 | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 | 4 |
| Structure | 2 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2 |
| Tires | 2 | 3 |
2001 BMW 3 Series
2003 BMW 3 Series
Compare all BMW 3 Series vs BMW 3 Series years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.