Problems · by component

2003 BMW M3 air bags problems

37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 BMW M3 cite air bags, 26% of all 141 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 4 recalls on this component.

Complaints
37
26% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2003 BMW M3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2025Air bagsODI 11681428
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 13V172000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO BMW OF PLEASANT GROVE (2111 W GROVE PKWY, PLEASANT GROVE, UT 84062, (801) 443-2000) WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONSUMER STATED HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT BMW OF PLEASANT GROVE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2019Air bagsODI 11252476
“TAKATA RECALL. NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET TO MY 2003 BMW M3, BUT READING ABOUT THE TAKATA RECALL AND WHAT THE AIRBAGS ARE CAPABLE IS SCARING ME TO DEATH. MY 5 YEAR NEPHEW LOVES RIDING AROUND TOWN IN HIS UNCLE'S "RACE CAR". EVEN THOUGH I RARELY GO FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW BY THE LOOK ON HIS FACE AS THE AIR WASHES ACROSS HIS FACE. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT AND HAVE ONLY PUT 5K MILES ON IT IN THIS 4 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. THE FACT THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD GO WRONG DESPITE MY METICULOUS CARE TAKEN OF THE CAR IS REALLY CAUSING ME PANIC. SHOULD I QUIT DRIVING THE CAR AND LEAVE IT IN THE GARAGE ASAP UNTIL THINGS GET FIGURED OUT? PLEASE INFORM ME ON WHAT I SHOULD DO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2017Air bagsODI 11018813
“TAKATA RECALL - THIS IS A 2003 CAR I USED TO LEASE. BMW STILL HAS ME AS THE LESSEE OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS TURNED IN TO BMW IN 2006. SOMEONE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT GET THIS RECALL BECAUSE OF POOR RECORD KEEPING. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENCE. I HAVE OTHER LEASED BMW'S THAT STILL HAD ME AS THE LESSEE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2016Air bagsODI 10926411
“TAKATA RECALL. AFTER WAITING 9 MONTHS FOR REPLACEMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG. IT HAS NOW BEEN NEARLY 15 MONTHS AND NO REMEDY IN SIGHT . RECEIVED A " FINAL REMEDY AVAILABLE " LETTER DATED SEPT. 2016 ASKING THAT I CALL DEALER FOR REPAIR. CALLED LOCAL DEALER OCTOBER 10/16 AND WAS TOLD NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.I HAVE NOT HAD FULL USE OF MY VEHICLE FOR NEARLY 2 YEARS AND SEE NO REMEDY COMING ANYTIME SOON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 10, 2016Air bagsODI 10915072
“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 SAFECAR.GOV NOTIFIED ME THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. WHEN I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER "NATIONAL RECALL CALL CENTER" (800-831-1117), AS RECOMMENDED BY REP HERE AT SAFECAR, THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T FOR MY VIN. WHEN I INFORMED THEM I HAD INQUIRED HERE WITH THIS AGENCY AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, THE NATIONAL CENTER SAID THEY'D CALL ME BACK IN 48 HOURS. THEY NEVER DID. DOES ANYONE TAKE THESE SAFETY RECALLS SERIOUSLY? THE MANUFACTURER CERTAINLY ISN'T.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2016Air bagsODI 10909807

Showing 6 of 37 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

4 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 16, 2020NHTSA 20V018000

Air bags

Park It: do not driveRemedy pending

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure that could cause the air bag inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Air bagsReported Jun 11, 2018NHTSA 14V428000

Air bags: inflator module

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that the 5-series and X5 vehicles are only included if they are equipped with the optional sports steering wheel. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Air bagsReported May 28, 2015NHTSA 15V318000

Air bags

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.

Air bagsReported May 2, 2013NHTSA 13V172000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2003 M3 problem areas