KnownCarProblemsBMW M3 Problems by Year
Owners have filed 385 complaints with NHTSA about the BMW M3 since the 2000 model year. The years with the most are 2008, 2003, 2009. The most common problem overall: transmission.
Counts are not adjusted for sales: popular years collect more complaints, and recent years have had less time to.
BMW M3 problems by model year
| Year | Complaints | Top problem | Recalls | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 M3 | 31 | Engine | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 M3 | 45 | Transmission | 5 | 1 |
| 2008 M3 | 82 | Transmission | 5 | 4 |
| 2004 M3 | 31 | Air bags | 3 | 0 |
| 2003 M3 | 54 | Air bags | 5 | 3 |
| 2002 M3 | 40 | Engine | 5 | 2 |
27 recalls in total across these years. Years with fewer than 25 complaints have no separate page.
Questions about the BMW M3
- What years of the BMW M3 have the most problems?
- By owner complaints to NHTSA: 2008 (82), 2003 (54), 2009 (45).
- What is the most common problem with the BMW M3?
- Across all model years, owners complain most about the transmission (93), engine (63), air bags (54).
- Which BMW M3 years have the fewest complaints?
- Among model years at least four years old: 2022 (1), 2017 (3), 2021 (3). Fewer complaints can also mean fewer cars sold, so compare with sales before you decide.