2003 BMW 3 SERIES — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
95
Owner Complaints
0
Recalls
10
Service Bulletins
2
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES
The 2003 BMW 3 SERIES has received a total of 95 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 10 technical service bulletins have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (20 complaints), Exterior Lighting (19 complaints), and Electrical System (11 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES
There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES. No Active Recalls
Owner Complaints for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES
95 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 13V172000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO BMW OF PLEASANT GROVE (2111 W GROVE PKWY, PLEASANT GROVE, UT 84062, (801) 443-2000) WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONSUMER STATED HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT BMW OF PLEASANT GROVE. *JB
BRAKE LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES GETS STUCK ON ONCE THE PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS PRODUCES NO ERROR CODES. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE SENSOR SWITCH. I CHANGED THIS AND IT DID NOTHING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE CAR IS BRAKING AS THE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON AND WILL BURN OUT THE BULBS AND MELT THE HOUSING IF CONSTANTLY ON. THIS CAN BE REPRODUCED EITHER WHILE PARKED OR IN MOTION.
2003 BMW 325I LOW FUEL STALL
TRANSMISSION WILL DROP OUT OF GEAR AND SHUT CAR DOWN, WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION DURING NORMAL USE. VEHICLE WILL ONLY WORK WHEN COLD, MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF BADLY DESIGNED SMG TEMP SENSOR AND NEGLIGENTLY DESIGNED COMPUTER LOGIC THAT SHIFTS TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL AND SHUTS CAR DOWN.
Safety Rating for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 10 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SIB-32-03-14 — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
BMW: IN CHECK CONTROL MESSAGE OR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, A FAILURE WITH POWER ASSISTED STEERING IS ILLUMINATED, DUE TO SOFTWARE RELATED ISSUES. *PE
SIB-65-14-14 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BMW: SOME AIRBAGS, DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER, ARE IMPROPERLY DEPLOYING DUE TO A POSSIBLE INFLATOR NOT PRODUCED TO SPECIFICATIONS. MODEL 2001-2006 E46 (3 SERIES). *PE UPDATED 9/4/14. *PE
SIB-61-01-11 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW: VARIOUS FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING INCLUDING: INSTRUMENTS, DOOR LOCKS, WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. THERE MAY ALSO BE WARNING LIGHTS ON. K-CAN WIRING IN THE VEHICLE SHORTED. *RM UPDATED 10/5/11. *PE
SIB-61-01-11 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
BMW: VARIOUS FUNCTIONS IN THE VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING INCLUDING: INSTRUMENTS, DOOR LOCKS, WIPERS, AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. THERE MAY ALSO BE WARNING LIGHTS ON. K-CAN WIRING IN THE VEHICLE SHORTED. *RM UPDATED 10/5/11. *PE
SIB-72-28-06 — SEAT BELTS
BMW: THE END OF THE SEATBELT ASSISTANT BREAKS/FALLS OFF WHEN RETRACTING. THE RETAINING TAB IS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH. E92. *RM
SIB-63-02-08 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
BMW VEHICLE: REAR BULB FAILURE. THE BULB OUT WARNING SHOWS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DIAGNOSIS SHOWS A FAULT FOR THE REAR LAMP. THE BULB OUT CAN BE DISPLAYED FOR 2 POSSIBLE CAUSES: POOR FIT BETWEEN THE BULB AND BULB HOLDER; BULB FAILURE CAUSED BY VIBRATION. *PE
SIB-16-02-09 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT...
SIB-12-07-06 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BMW: SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP ILLUMINATED-FC 23F4 MAP THERMOSTAT. IN SOME VEHICLES HAVE INSUFFICIENT HEAT. E90, E91 (3 SERIES), E60, E61 (5 SERIES) 3/06 AND E83 (X3 SERIES) 9/08. *PE
SI-B64-05-09 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
BMW: WATER LEAKS INTO EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE FOOTWELL DURING FAST CORNERING. INSUFFICIENT SEALING AT THE POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND THE CONDENSATION DRAIN HOSE. *PE
SI-B-61-16-08 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BMW:VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES WHICH OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING: A/C STOPPED WORKING; FUEL GAUGE DISPLAY IS IMPLAUSIBLE (SHOWS EMPTY); REAR WINDOWS ONE TOUCH FUNCTION IS INOPERATIVE; WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING WITH BEING SWITCHED ON; AND VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2003 BMW 3 SERIES.
Other Model Years of the BMW 3 SERIES
- 1998 BMW 3 SERIES — 4 complaints
- 1999 BMW 3 SERIES — 6 complaints
- 2000 BMW 3 SERIES — 111 complaints
- 2001 BMW 3 SERIES — 49 complaints
- 2002 BMW 3 SERIES — 40 complaints
- 2003 BMW 3 SERIES (current)
- 2004 BMW 3 SERIES — 93 complaints
- 2005 BMW 3 SERIES — 29 complaints
- 2006 BMW 3 SERIES — 288 complaints
- 2007 BMW 3 SERIES — 190 complaints
- 2008 BMW 3 SERIES — 93 complaints