BMW M3 — YEARS TO AVOID
Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.
Avoid: 2008 · Best bets: 2011, 2004, 2002, 2009
COMPLAINT HISTORY
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 19 |
| 1998 | 14 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 40 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 31 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 82 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 31 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
EVERY YEAR, RANKED
| Year | Ranking | Complaints | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Not enough data | 2 | Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2023 | Not enough data | 1 | Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2022 | Not enough data | 1 | Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2021 | Not enough data | 3 | Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2018 | Not enough data | 8 | Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2017 | Not enough data | 3 | Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2016 | Not enough data | 5 | Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2015 | Not enough data | 4 | Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2014 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2013 | Not enough data | 13 | Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2012 | Not enough data | 6 | Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2011 | Recommended | 31 | This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2010 | Not enough data | 15 | Only 15 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2009 | Recommended | 45 | This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year. |
| 2008 | Avoid | 82 | This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year. |
| 2007 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2006 | Not enough data | 14 | Only 14 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2005 | Not enough data | 12 | Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2004 | Recommended | 31 | This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2003 | Caution | 54 | This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year. |
| 2002 | Recommended | 40 | This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year. |
| 2001 | Not enough data | 14 | Only 14 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 2000 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1999 | Not enough data | 11 | Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1998 | Not enough data | 14 | Only 14 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1997 | Not enough data | 19 | Only 19 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1996 | Not enough data | 1 | Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1995 | Not enough data | 12 | Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1994 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1993 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1992 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1991 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1990 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1989 | Not enough data | 0 | Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |
| 1988 | Not enough data | 2 | Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. |