Research · 24 model years
BMW M3Every model year, 1996–2025
Across the 24 model years we’ve synced, NHTSA lists 65 recall campaigns and 886 owner complaints for the BMW M3. The 2006 model year has the most complaints (216).
BMW M3 years compared
Recalls, complaints, NCAP overall and EPA combined MPG per year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | NCAP overall | MPG comb. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Not rated | 19 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Not rated | 19 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Not rated | 19 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | Not rated | 19 | |
| 2018 | 0 | 9 | 0 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 2017 | 2 | 3 | 0 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 | 0 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 4 | 0 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 13 | 2 | Not rated | 16 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 6 | 0 | Not rated | 16 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 41 | 0 | Not rated | 16 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 15 | 1 | Not rated | 16 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 45 | 1 | Not rated | 16 | |
| 2008 | 5 | 82 | 4 | Not rated | 16 | |
| 2006 | 5 | 216 | 6 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 37 | 1 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 2004 | 3 | 112 | 1 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 141 | 8 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 90 | 4 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 2001 | 4 | 14 | 1 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 11 | 3 | Not rated | 20 | |
| 1998 | 1 | 14 | 2 | Not rated | 21 | |
| 1997 | 2 | 19 | 3 | Not rated | 21 | |
| 1996 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Not rated | 21 |
- 20250 recalls · 2 complaints · 19 mpg
- 20231 recall · 2 complaints · 19 mpg
- 20220 recalls · 1 complaints · 19 mpg
- 20213 recalls · 3 complaints · 19 mpg
- 20180 recalls · 9 complaints · 20 mpg
- 20172 recalls · 3 complaints · 20 mpg
- 20163 recalls · 5 complaints · 20 mpg
- 20153 recalls · 4 complaints · 20 mpg
- 20132 recalls · 13 complaints · 16 mpg
- 20123 recalls · 6 complaints · 16 mpg
- 20114 recalls · 41 complaints · 16 mpg
- 20104 recalls · 15 complaints · 16 mpg
- 20095 recalls · 45 complaints · 16 mpg
- 20085 recalls · 82 complaints · 16 mpg
- 20065 recalls · 216 complaints · 17 mpg
- 20053 recalls · 37 complaints · 17 mpg
- 20043 recalls · 112 complaints · 17 mpg
- 20035 recalls · 141 complaints · 17 mpg
- 20025 recalls · 90 complaints · 17 mpg
- 20014 recalls · 14 complaints · 17 mpg
- 19991 recall · 11 complaints · 20 mpg
- 19981 recall · 14 complaints · 21 mpg
- 19972 recalls · 19 complaints · 21 mpg
- 19961 recall · 1 complaints · 21 mpg
Data from NHTSA recalls, complaints & NCAP; EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026
NHTSA complaints per model year
Newer years have had less time on the road
View as table
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 19 |
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 90 |
| 2003 | 141 |
| 2004 | 112 |
| 2005 | 37 |
| 2006 | 216 |
| 2008 | 82 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 41 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026