Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 2006 BMW M3 with NHTSA between 2010 and 2021.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 14 of 16 worst.
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.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 22
Against the median year of the BMW M3. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 24
14% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2006 BMW M3
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
964.3%
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Tires
214.3%
Median failure at 93,400 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
214.3%
Median failure at 66,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
17.1%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
228.6%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
114.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
114.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
342.9%
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.
Jan 2010peak 1May 2021
NHTSA investigations into the 2006 BMW M3
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
1
investigation is
still open.
EA15001Opened 24 Feb 2015Still openAIR BAGS
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field fai...
PE14016Opened 11 Jun 2014Closed 2 Mar 2015AIR BAGS
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field fai...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 65,000 milesChicago, IL
TIRES
FIRESTONE FIREHAWK INDY 500 TIRE FAILED ON SIDEWALL
NHTSA complaint #11415304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesNaples, FL
POWER TRAIN
THE SMG TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY COMES OUT OF GEAR IN ANY SITUATION AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND/OR ON A HIGHWAY AND LOOSE ALL POWER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES STATING THE SAME ISSUE WITH MANY OWNERS FOR THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION WITH A POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE HEAT SENSOR ON THE HYDRAULIC PUMP. BMW REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND FORCING OWNERS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $3000 TO $4000 FOR A PUMP REPLACEMENT WITHOUT A GUARANTEE OF FIXING THE ISSUE. I AM STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE CAR AND CANNOT SELL IT THIS WAY.
NHTSA complaint #11084684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 131,000 milesPotomac, MD
AIR BAGS
YESTERDAY (01/06/17) - WHILE DRIVING IN MOTION, 2 SIDE AIRBAGS SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED, THROWING LOOSE PLASTIC MATERIAL INTO THE CABIN AND INTO MY FACE. CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF ENGINE FOR SMOKE TO DISAPPEAR. I AM GOING TO TAKE MY CAR TO BMW DEALER TOMORROW MORNING FOR EVALUATION
NHTSA complaint #11060996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 121,801 milesMechanicsville, VA
TIRES
THIS LETTER IS IN REFERENCE TO TWO MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S 3+ 255/35ZR19 96Y TIRES WHICH BOTH FAILED WITHIN 1,130 MILES OF EACH OTHER FROM IDENTICAL FAILURES. THESE TWO FAILURES WERE ON THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. THESE TWO TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ON THE SAME DAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016, BY A DEALER. THE CAR HAD 104,775 MILES ON IT AT THE END OF THIS SERVICE. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, WHILE DRIVING TO OHIO FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE (ONE OF THE ABOVE PILOT SPORT TIRES) AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT 121,801 MILES. THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL COMPLETELY. ON DECEMBER 8, 2017, AT 122,934 MILES THE OTHER MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRE FROM THE ABOVE SET ALSO FAILED. WHILE IN THE PARKING LOT I HEARD THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE VENTING AIR AND IT QUICKLY WENT FLAT. THE INTERIOR SIDEWALL HARD A LARGE CRACK CIRCLING ALMOST HALF THE TIRE. THESE TWO FAILURES OCCURRED ONLY 1,130 MILES APART IN THE SAME PART OF THE TIRE. THESE TWO TIRES HAD 17,026 AND 18,159 MILES RESPECTIVELY, FAR UNDER THE WARRANTED LIFE AND THE TYPICAL LIFE. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY MICHELIN IN A CASE I OPENED BASED ON AN EVALUATION OF THE TIRE BY A MICHELIN AUTHORIZED DEALER. MICHELIN HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIRST FAILURE BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAVE THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11056768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Billings, MT
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER (ADVANCED VALENCIA BMW, 23435 VALENCIA BOULEVARD, VALENCIA, CA 91355) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #11035873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,488 milesRancho Santa Margarita, CA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: YOUR SITE IMPROPERLY SHOWS NO RECALLS WHEN VIN USED, AND CONFUSES 2006 M3 (E46) WITH THE 2006 3 SERIES SUCCESSOR (E90?), EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICE RCRIT-14V428-8638 SHOWS "MODEL YEAR 2000-2006 BMW 3 SERIES (E46) - INCL-M"
NHTSA complaint #11000038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesYork, PA
AIR BAGS
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-30MPH ON LOCAL STREET IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION. DRIVER-SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. NO PRIOR INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WERE ON. NEVER HAD ANY AIRBAG LIGHTS ON IN THE HISTORY OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AS PART OF RECALL IN 2014. AWAITING DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG ALSO AS PART OF RECALL IN 2015.
NHTSA complaint #10920125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Davenport, IA
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10903053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Reston, VA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA IN JULY 2015 ABOUT A DRIVE-SIDE AIRBAG RECALL FOR MY 2006 BMW M3. (THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL.) WE ARE NOW 9 MONTHS SINCE I RECEIVED THAT NOTICE AND I HAVE HAD NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM BMW. WHEN I CALL MY LOCAL DEALER THEY CAN ONLY SAY THAT BMW IS TELLING THEM PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE "SOMETIME THIS YEAR". WHEN I ASK WHAT I CAN DO IN THE MEANTIME (NOT DRIVE THE CAR? WHAT?) I AM TOLD TO NOT WORRY TOO MUCH BECAUSE THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN AN INCIDENT IN A BMW. I KNOW THAT A LOT OF AIRBAGS HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT 9+ MONTHS SEEMS LIKE A LUDICROUSLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME TO HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10864122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Springs, CA
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10794710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington Beach, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10745803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
AIR BAGS
THIS CAR HAS AIRBAG RECALL AND DESPITE 2-3 PHONE CALLS TO BMW DEALERSHIP IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. ALL I AM TOLD IS THAT I AM "ON A LIST". THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY CAN FIX IT. I RECEIVED INITIAL LETTER ABOUT RECALL IN SEPT 2014, TOLD TO CALL IN NOVEMBER. CALLED IN NOV AND DEC WITH SAME RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #10682260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED EVERYTHING RUN SMOOTH EXCEPT ONE DAY IT STARTS SOUNDING LIKE A TRACTOR. VANOS BOLTS COME LOOSE. BMW NEEDS TO RECALL THE VANOS OF THE E46 M3 ASAP HAPPENED TO 50 PERCENT OF PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE THIS CAR AND I KNOW ABOUT 100.
NHTSA complaint #10416810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesPomona, NY
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW M3 WITH AN SMG TRANSMISSION. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN EITHER FIRST OR SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. UPON ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD AT A VERY SLOW PACE. HE STATED THAT IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, HE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN RE-ACCELERATE BEFORE IT WOULD PICK UP POWER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FAILURE. REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE CLUTCH DISC AND THE SLAVE CYLINDER. THE OUTPUT CYLINDER CLUTCH, THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT AND THE ACTUATOR WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE CLUTCH AND SALVE CYLINDER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 02/22/10
NHTSA complaint #10301889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.