Worst years for a BMW 3 Series
Owners have filed 1,149 complaints about the BMW 3 Series with NHTSA across model years 1986 to 2013. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.
Every BMW 3 Series year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | C | 34 | 4 | 0 | 2,755 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2012 | A | 11 | 0 | 0 | 38,634 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2011 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 2010 | B | 43 | 1 | 2 | 61,500 | Airbags |
| 2009 | C | 74 | 5 | 3 | 70,000 | Airbags |
| 2008 | C | 93 | 0 | 8 | 55,000 | Electrical System |
| 2007 | D | 190 | 11 | 8 | 70,420 | Airbags |
| 2006 | D | 288 | 13 | 1 | 67,280 | Airbags |
| 2005 | C | 29 | 3 | 3 | 75,000 | Airbags |
| 2004 | C | 93 | 1 | 4 | 80,000 | Lights |
| 2003 | B | 67 | 1 | 0 | 96,000 | Airbags |
| 2002 | B | 40 | 2 | 0 | 92,000 | Electrical System |
| 2001 | A | 49 | 1 | 0 | 116,700 | Airbags |
| 2000 | C | 111 | 4 | 3 | 99,250 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1999 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | 105,330 | Airbags |
| 1998 | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1997 | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | 61,200 | Engine & Cooling |
| 1996 | — | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1995 | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | Brakes |
| 1994 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Suspension |
| 1986 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Body & Structure |
What breaks on a BMW 3 Series
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Exactly what failed on a BMW 3 Series
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every BMW 3 Series, by the month it reached NHTSA.
BMW 3 Series problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the BMW 3 Series
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.