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2003 BMW M3 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Jul 30, 20032,500 milesVA

I HAVE A 2003 BMW M3. JUST THIS WEEK A COVER (PART#51717892955) ON THE UNDER CARRIAGE BROKE. BMW MADE IT OUT OF PLASTIC (WHY?). THE SERVICE MANAGERS SAY A ROCK OR BUMP COULD CAUSE THIS PART TO BREAK IN TWO PARTS. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. WHEN THE PART BROKE IT WENT IN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND ANOTHER CAR RAN OVER IT. I'M UNSURE IF ANY DAMAGE OCCURED TO THE VEHICLE. I CALLED THE BMW SERVICE MANAGER AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HE SEES 3 OR 4 BMW M3S A WEEK WITH THIS BROKEN COVER. THIS PART BEING BROKEN WILL NOT AFFECT THE CARS DRIVABILITY. SHOULDN'T BMW HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PART IF CAUSES THIS MUCH PROBLEM?

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 15, 200325 milesGA

BMW M3 2003 WITH SMG TRANSMISSION SURGES BADLY IN FIRST GEAR OCCASIONALLY WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE. THIS IS QUITE DISCONCERTING WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AND THE AUTO WON'T ACCELLERATE PROPERLY.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 9, 20035,000 milesCA

MY CAR WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE RESULTING IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR BEING INDENTED 11" FROM IT'S NORMAL POSITION. THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR WAS ABOUT 2 INCHES FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. BMW INVESTIGATED THE CAR AND SAID THAT THE ANGLE ON IMPACT WAS FROM BACK TO FRONT WHICH DID NOT TRIGGER THE AIR BAG. THE BODY SHOP, THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR ALL SAID THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Dec 10, 2002CA

WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE OWNER BEGAN TO MERGE FOR AN EXIT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED NOT RESPOND TO THE CLUTCH OR SHIFTING OF THE GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN SECOND GEAR FROM THAT POINT UNTIL DRIVEN HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CLUTCH WORE OUT AND OVER-HEATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2003 BMW M3 → · Every M3 year → · How the figures are calculated →