KnownCarProblems2003 BMW 3 Series Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 3 Series, most often about the lights (32% of complaints, typically around 80,000 miles). It is 5th of 14 3 Series model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2003 BMW 3 Series problems
Lights
23 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 80,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signal.
The contact owns a 2003 BMW 3series. The contact stated that the rear tail light warning indicator illuminated on the instrumental panel. After checking the rear of the vehicle, the tail light appeared to be operating as designed. The warning light would illuminate on an intermittent basis. The vehicle was not…
The BMW e46 (3 Series BMW) that was made from 1999 to 2006. In some cases during these years they used a lighting manufacturer "zkw" for their xenon headlights. Unfortunately these lights have a common failure issue commonly referred to as a "burnt reflector" on the internet and on BMW forums. This is a non-consumer…
Air bags
21 complaints · 29%Half of these problems showed up before 79,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 3-series. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, indicating that the front passenger side air bag was not functioning. The contact noticed NHTSA campaign I.d. Number 08v384000 (air bags:frontal) and took the vehicle to an authorized dealer.…
Takata inflators. Manufacturer has not pursued the existing recall in even a remotely timely manner. I was notified by letter dated july 2015 of the recall. That was over 14 months ago! I called my local BMW service center who informed me the required parts were still not available. The representative here at…
Electrical
12 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 105,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
Doors fail to unlock, either using the keyfob, the inside button or manually by pulling the door handle. This is a very dangerous situation as occupants are trapped inside. No method of opening the door work. This appears to be intermittent and eventually the doors unlock mechanism starts working again. The gm5 module…
The projector bowls on the zkw headlights were burnt out due to a design flaw. I see lot of complaints online with the same issue. Driving in night is really difficult and dangerous.
Engine
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: engine.
Erratic idle. . . When stopped at a stop light, car in neutral, the rpms rev in spikes from 500 to 1500, up and down, up and down. The car never resets to a constant idle. Car has been in shop 8 - 9 times over 18 days total. No solution. Tech told me BMW know of problem but has no plans to find a fix.
The cooling fan broke loose spontaneously and flew through the air cutting through the hood of the car and ripping through the entire engine compartment. Moments prior the hood had been open with people standing around looking at the hoses. Had the fan broke loose at this time, I would have seriously injured or killed…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: body.
Passenger side door and both rear doors failed to open. All three doors remained locked and could not be open from inside by using the mechanical handles. Neither the remote key nor the regular key was able to unlock the doors.
The passenger side door lock will not work. The door stays locked and when it first occured the passenger had to crawl out the window. Neither the electronic key lock nor the pushbutton lock control on the console will open the door lock on the passenger side. All other locks work fine, including the trunk. The manual…
Transmission
4 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
While driving 2003 325xi on county hiway slowed down to make right turn to about 15-20 MPH. Halfway through the turn loud noise emitted from transmission area (previous failure of trans. Comp. Module @ 1500 miles-replaced by dealer) and vehicle locke up, hard enough for myself and my wife to move forward against the…
I was the previous owner of a BMW 325i that I have been told needs a new transmission. Age - 2003, miles 60,000. It's unacceptable that a car with so low miles, has been maintained and driven gently has experienced this problem. After searching on the web, I find that this is a recurring problem with BMW's. Why has…
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 6%Traveling south on 75,driver door bag deployed for no reason. Applied brakes and ran off side off road to keep from having a car rear end me and then right tire blew out due to drop off. Car shut down by itself. Air bags did not completely deploy. Over head strap hit head and neck area causing soreness and headache.…
Doors and locks
4 complaints · 6%Passenger side door and both rear doors failed to open. All three doors remained locked and could not be open from inside by using the mechanical handles. Neither the remote key nor the regular key was able to unlock the doors.
The passenger side door lock will not work. The door stays locked and when it first occured the passenger had to crawl out the window. Neither the electronic key lock nor the pushbutton lock control on the console will open the door lock on the passenger side. All other locks work fine, including the trunk. The manual…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 BMW 3 Series recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
In a letter submitted to the office of defects investigation (odi) dated august25, 2011, bmwindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.the issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at the electrical contact points.this can lead to intermittent or permanent loss of the rear lamp functions which include tail, brake, and turn signal operation.the recall consists of modifying the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel by adding a secondary ground connection in parallel to the existing primary gr
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
Odi has received complaints from consumers stating that their tail light assembly is not properly illuminating.the tail light assembly consists of a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp and a brake lamp.the complainants have indicated that the issue is with an 8 pin connector and associated ground wiring.these components are allegedly overheating and melting due to excessive electrical current that runs through the system.bmw issued a technical service bulletin (tsb) sib-630306 on february 2007 to address the condition by adding supplementary ground wiring to the tail lamp assembly.odi is upgrading to an ea to further investigate the issue.
Rear lamp illumination
Summary
In march 2009, the office of defects investigation (odi) received a petition from mr. Mark peters requesting an investigation of rear lamp failure in model year 2002-2005 bmw 3-series vehicles.an information request letter was sent to bmw in april 2009, and odi received bmw's response in june 2009.the tail lamp assembly contains lighting for the brake lamps, tail lamps, and turn signals.a technical service bulletin (tsb) was issued by bmw in january of 2007 instructing service technicians to examine an 8 pin electrical connector for heat-related damage and to incorporate additional ground wiring to the connector.complainants have alleged that significant thermal damage to the connector and a
Questions about the 2003 BMW 3 Series
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 3 Series?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (23 complaints, typically around 80,000 miles); air bags (21 complaints, typically around 79,000 miles); electrical (12 complaints, typically around 105,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 BMW 3 Series have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 BMW 3 Series. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the BMW 3 Series?
- It is 5th of 14 3 Series model years by number of complaints, with 73 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.