NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls and 378 owner complaints for the 2014 BMW 3 Series. Most complaints involve engine (103) and electrical system (73). The EPA rates it 23–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014 4 Series Coupe (428i, 428i xDrive, 435i, 435i xDrive), 3 Series Sedan (320i, 320i xDrive, 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335i xDrive), and 2014-2015 2 Series Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i, M235i xDrive) vehicles. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i, 2015-2016 428xi vehicles. An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump may be exposed to water and short circuit.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each 3 Series model year we’ve synced.
| 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 |
“The engine drivetrain malfunctioned and there is a message. My safety and safety of others was put at risk when I was driving the car it was shaking kicking moving on its own not braking I couldn’t control the car. I felt as if the car was about to hit someone on the road and the engine was going to blow up or transmission. I was afraid it was very scary! There is an engine misfire No When I bought it, it was a tire sign and shaking but the salesman said it was just the tires after two weeks the engine sign was on and a drivetrain malfunction message came up and the car was shaking kicking moving on its own about to hit some people on the road and I couldn’t control it and the engine or transmission was about to blow up it was making loud noises!”
“The contact owned a 2014 BMW 328I. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled after overheating the previous day. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the valvetronic system needed to be replaced; while the vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting repairs, the contact was notified that the vehicle had sustained thermal damage over the weekend, caught fire, and burned completely, leaving only the frame. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire. A police and fire department report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was later notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The failure mileage approximately 100,000.”
“High-pressure fuel pump went out leaving wife stranded while struggling to get to the side of road. Bmw knows about the fuel pressure failure never contacted us about it. They have a 25 year safety recall the car is a 2014 but it was built in 2013 but sold as a 2014 so they’re wiggling out of the recall fix I don’t even have 100,000 miles on the car”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 328d Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 31 | 43 | 36 | $2,600 | 285 |
| 320i Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 | 35 | 28 | $2,850 | 324 |
| 320i Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 | 35 | 27 | $2,950 | 326 |
| 328i Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 | 34 | 27 | $2,950 | 327 |
| 328i Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 33 | 26 | $3,050 | 341 |
| 335i Auto (S8), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 25 | $3,200 | 353 |
| 335i Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | $3,450 | 381 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
12 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 378 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (103), electrical system (73), fuel/propulsion system (72). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2014 BMW 3 Series at 23–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2014 BMW 3 Series 5 out of 5 stars overall.