NHTSA Safety Recalls
BMW M3 Recalls by Year
NHTSA's files hold 17 recall campaigns for the BMW M3, across 13 model years from 2001 to 2021. The 2009 has the most (5); the fewest among years with a recall is 2017 (2).
- Model years
- 13
- Recall campaigns
- 17
- Most recalls
- 2009
- Owner complaints
- 385
2001–2021, with a recall
5 recalls
all model years, NHTSA
Owners have filed 385 complaints with NHTSA about the BMW M3 across 20 model years; the most, 82, concern the 2008.
Owners marked a crash on 15 of the BMW M3 complaints (4%) and a fire on 6.
Across all BMW M3 model years, owners name the power train most often (at least 111 complaints), then the air bags (88).
NHTSA received the most complaints about the BMW M3 in 2009: 56, across all model years.
The component recalled most often on the BMW M3 is air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module, in 16 model-year listings.
The newest BMW M3 recall, 24V288000, was reported on April 24, 2024 and concerns the air bags: side/window.
NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2018 BMW M3, model year owners have filed complaints about.
BMW M3 years to avoid
Too few BMW M3 model years have a complete complaint window to rank them: 4 of the 5 needed.
The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method
Recalls and complaints by model year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | First years | vs median year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | — | not ranked |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | — | not ranked |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2018 | 0 | 9 | 2 | not ranked |
| 2017 | 2 | 3 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2016 | 3 | 5 | 5 | not ranked |
| 2015 | 3 | 4 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2013 | 2 | 13 | 4 | not ranked |
| 2012 | 3 | 6 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2011 | 4 | 31 | 8 | not ranked |
| 2010 | 4 | 15 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2009 | 5 | 45 | 29 | not ranked |
| 2008 | 5 | 82 | 42 | not ranked |
| 2006 | 5 | 14 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2005 | 3 | 12 | 1 | not ranked |
| 2004 | 0 | 31 | 0 | not ranked |
| 2003 | 0 | 54 | 14 | not ranked |
| 2002 | 0 | 40 | 17 | not ranked |
| 2001 | 4 | 14 | 8 | not ranked |
First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.BMW M3 years without a link have no recall page on this site.
What gets recalled most on the BMW M3
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE16
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING5
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS5
- POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT4
- AIR BAGS3
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE3
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS3
- POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY2
- AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
- SEAT BELTS1
BMW M3 model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.
Every BMW M3 recall campaign (17)
| Campaign | Component | Years | Risk named | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V288000April 24, 2024 | air bags: side/window | 2015 | crash and injury | 5,761 |
| 21V554000July 21, 2021 | seat belts | 2021 | crash and injury | 21,537 |
| 21V298000April 28, 2021 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2021 | injury | 12 |
| 21V062000February 10, 2021 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2021 | crash | 893 |
| 20V017000January 15, 2020 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2006, 2008–2013 | injury and death | 59,965 |
| 20V018000January 15, 2020 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2001, 2005–2006 | injury and deathdo not drive | 292,948 |
| 19V472000June 19, 2019 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2008–2012 | crash | 16,641 |
| 18V713000October 11, 2018 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2016–2017 | crash | 2,661 |
| 14V428000June 11, 2018 | air bags | 2001, 2005–2006 | crash and injurydo not drive | 574,007 |
| 17V676000October 25, 2017 | electrical system: wiring | 2006, 2008–2011 | fire | 702,965 |
| 17V047000January 20, 2017 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2001 | crash, injury and deathdo not drive | 230,117 |
| 16V653000September 9, 2016 | structure: frame and members | 2015–2017 | crash | 196 |
| 16V071000February 5, 2016 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2008–2013 | crash, injury and death | 840,000 |
| 15V782000November 23, 2015 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2015–2016 | crash | 42 |
| 15V318000May 28, 2015 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2005–2006 | crash, injury and deathdo not drive | 419,235 |
| 08V595000November 14, 2008 | power train: clutch assembly | 2008–2009 | crash | 2,500 |
| 01V245000July 31, 2001 | parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable | 2001 | — | 2,438 |
Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the BMW M3. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.
Newest record on this page: August 24, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted