Across the 14 model years we’ve synced, NHTSA lists 102 recall campaigns and 3,572 owner complaints for the BMW 3 Series. The 2011 model year has the most complaints (861).
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | NCAP overall | MPG comb. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 5 of 5 | 27 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 44 | 1 | 5 of 5 | 27 | |
| 2020 | 10 | 110 | 4 | Not rated | 27 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 196 | 6 | 5 of 5 | 27 | |
| 2014 | 12 | 378 | 31 | 5 of 5 | 27 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 344 | 33 | 5 of 5 | 26 | |
| 2012 | 9 | 172 | 7 | 5 of 5 | 22 | |
| 2011 | 13 | 861 | 31 | Not rated | 22 | |
| 2001 | 8 | 457 | 17 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 2000 | 7 | 647 | 22 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 1999 | 7 | 241 | 22 | Not rated | 21 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 56 | 11 | Not rated | 21 | |
| 1997 | 5 | 6 | 0 | Not rated | 23 | |
| 1996 | 5 | 45 | 6 | Not rated | 22 |
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 45 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1998 | 56 |
| 1999 | 241 |
| 2000 | 647 |
| 2001 | 457 |
| 2011 | 861 |
| 2012 | 172 |
| 2013 | 344 |
| 2014 | 378 |
| 2015 | 196 |
| 2020 | 110 |
| 2021 | 44 |
| 2022 | 15 |
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2022 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, 2022 430i Coupe, 2021-2022 430i, M440i Convertible, and 2020-2022 228i xDrive Gran Coupe vehicles. The receiver audio module control unit software may fail to properly generate audible seat belt warnings to the driver to fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."