Battle Ground, WA
Crash
AIR BAGS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #761726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FaultScore report
1997 BMW M3 problems
Owners have filed 28 complaints about the 1997 BMW M3 with NHTSA between 1997 and 2005. The largest single group is the windows, mirrors & wipers. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 16 worst.
D
FaultScore 64/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the BMW M3.
How this is worked outThe numbers
28
Complaints
4
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
What kind of bad
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
- Complaint volume — 43
- Against the median year of the BMW M3. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
- Severity — 100
- 21.4% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
- Early failure — not reported
- Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
How 1997 compares with every other BMW M3
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 1997 BMW M3
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
4
14.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
4
14.3%
Equipment & Accessories
3
10.7%
Airbags
3
10.7%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
3
10.7%
Suspension
2
7.1%
Brakes
2
7.1%
Steering
2
7.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Other & Unspecified
1
3.6%
Wheels
1
3.6%
Fuel & Propulsion
1
3.6%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
1
3.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain
1
3.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1997
peak 11
Oct 2005
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cerritos, CA
Crash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A RIGHT FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #899680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
Crash
1 injured
STEERING
TIRES FAILED TWICE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES WERE WORN THROUGH TO THE METAL BEFORE STOPPING. ANOTHER CASE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, FELT SOFTNESS IN STEERING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WITHIN 5 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED.
NHTSA complaint #539861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
Crash
1 injured
TIRES
TIRES FAILED TWICE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES WERE WORN THROUGH TO THE METAL BEFORE STOPPING. ANOTHER CASE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, FELT SOFTNESS IN STEERING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WITHIN 5 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED.
NHTSA complaint #539861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Woburn, MA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
DT: WHEN PULLING INTO A STOP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL SLOW DOWN IN THE SPEED THAT THEY WORK. THEY WILL SLOW DOWN TO THE DELAY, INTERMEDIATE SETTING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2004. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER,THEY SAID THAT IT IS THE WAY THEY ARE DESIGNED. THERE ARE OTHER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODELS THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW. THE CONTACT STATES THAT IT IMPAIRS THE VISIBILITY OF THE DRIVER.
NHTSA complaint #10139474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Battle Ground, WA
Crash
AIR BAGS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #761726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cerritos, CA
Crash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A RIGHT FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #899680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RED Bank, NJ
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
REAR SHOCK MOUNT TOWER TORE FROM BODY OF CAR, BOLTS AND ALL. NO MODIFICATION DONE TO SUSPENSION, NORMAL DRIVING, NO ADVANCE NOTICE. NO TRACK DRIVING. BMW MAKES A REPLACEMENT KIT TO REMEDY THIS WEAK BODY AREA. BMW MESSAGE BOARDS HAVE MANY SIMILAR M3'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. AT HIGH SPEED WOULD PROVE FATAL.
NHTSA complaint #754494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Raleigh, NC
WHEELS
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN TRAVELING 10MPH CONSUMERS HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR. UPON INSPECTION OF VEHICLE CONSUMER FOUND TIRE WAS BENT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND FOUND THAT WHEEL MOUNT TORE AWAY FROM FRAME. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #892802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hacienda Heights, CA
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND HAD TO RESET 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #748050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Francisco, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LATENT DEFECT IN BODY CAUSING WHEEL MOUNTS TO TEAR AWAY FROM CAR.
NHTSA complaint #746851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antoni, TX
TIRES
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND 3 TIMES, THIS BLOWOUT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRONT BUMPER, THIS TIRE WAS 5 HOURS OLD, THE SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WHICH HAD A BUBBLE AND BLEWOUT WHILE TURNING A CORNER, THIS TIRE WAS 6 MONTHS OLD (BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE730, 245/40ZR17BW). NLM
NHTSA complaint #560947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, RI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL HOSE CLAMPS FITTINGS AND COMPONENTS FAILING - MANUFACTURER ISSUED A 95-97 MODEL RECALL IN JAPAN BUT NOT IN THE US.
NHTSA complaint #745272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAL WHEN THE CONSUMER IS ATTEMPTING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD IT SLIDES A FEW FEET BEFORE COMING TO A FULL STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPLAINT WAS RESOLVED AND THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
THE SHIFTING GEAR CRACKED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FLOOR PANEL CRACKED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THE SPEAKERS FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE SERPENTINE BELTS ARE CRACKED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
THE POWER STEERING HOSES TO THE PUMP AND RACK FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
THE BRAKE FLUID WAS DIRTY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Antoni, TX
TIRES:BEAD
CONSUMERS PURCHASED A NEW SET OF BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES (25540R17, DOT EJ0XJEA030), SEVERAL HOURS LATER ONE OF THE NEW TIRES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT DUE TO A TORN BEAD WHICH CAUSED THE THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL, SPIN THREE TIMES AND SLIDE OFF INTO THE MEDIAN, NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED, DEALER REFUSED CONSUMERS REQUEST FOR COMPENSATION (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
NHTSA complaint #556461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, NH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC WENT AROUND VEHICLE, AND AT THAT POINT THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN . VEHICLE LUNCHED OUT OF CONTROL. PUT IT INTO PARK, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, RESTARTED AND STILL THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN. CONTACTED THE DEALER, FOUND THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE PART.
NHTSA complaint #853215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHILE DRIVIN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AND GRAY SMOKE TO ENTER INTO VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTS FOGGING UP THE WINDOWS WHICH MAY AFFECT VISIBILITY, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. HAPPENED 6 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED HOSES/SEALS AND ETC. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #846337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL, A MIST COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS AND A LOUD NOISE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #548014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palos Verd, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CRANKCASE REVOLUTION SENSOR FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #608017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chester, NJ
TIRES
TIRE BLEWOUT PREMATURELY. (DOTF38AA17117, MANUFACTURER- MICHELIN, TIRE NAME- MXX3, TIRE SIZE- 225/45ZR17)
NHTSA complaint #541126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
Crash
1 injured
STEERING
TIRES FAILED TWICE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRES WERE WORN THROUGH TO THE METAL BEFORE STOPPING. ANOTHER CASE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION, FELT SOFTNESS IN STEERING AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WITHIN 5 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED.
NHTSA complaint #539861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.