2003 BMW M3 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
68
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
2
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 BMW M3
The 2003 BMW M3 has received a total of 68 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS. 2 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 (14 complaints), Power Train (5 complaints), and Power Trainmanual Transmission (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 BMW M3
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 BMW M3, potentially affecting up to 1,342,494 vehicles.
Recall 20V018000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 292,948 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2005 323iT, 325iT, 325xiT, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 330i and 330xi and 2000-2006 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, M3 Coupe, 323Cic, 325Cic, 330Cic, and M3 Convertible vehicles equipped with non-desiccated frontal Takata PSAN inflators and PSPI passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used...
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's front air bag, free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
View full details →Recall 15V318000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 419,235 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans, and 325xi and 325i Sportswagons, 2002-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, and M3 Convertibles and 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupes, 2002-2003 M5, 540i, 525i Sedan, and 530i Sedans, and 540i and 525i Sportswagons, and 2003 X5 3.0i and 4.4i Sports Activity Vehicles. Please note that...
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the vehicle has been remedied. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began Aug 2016. Owners may contact BMW...
View full details →Recall 14V428000 — AIR BAGS
| 574,007 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2000 323i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sports Wagons; 2000 328i sedans and coupes; 2001-2005 325i sedans, coupes, convertibles, and Sport Wagons; 2001-2005 325xi sedans and Sports Wagons; 2006 325i coupes and convertibles; 2001-2006 330i sedans, coupes, and convertibles; 2001-2005 330xi sedans; and 2001-2006 M3 coupes and convertibles to address...
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners in September 2014....
View full details →Recall 13V172000 — AIR BAGS
| 43,204 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. BMW intends to issue initial notifications to owners informing them of the safety defect in June 2013. Once replacement parts are available, estimated for July, BMW will...
View full details →Recall 03V160000 — VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
| 13,100 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE MIGHT NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.
Consequence: OCCUPANTS COULD BE PINCHED BY A WINDOW THAT IS BEING CLOSED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE WINDOW LIFTING ANTI-PINCHING DEVICE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 27, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 BMW M3
68 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BMW M3. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2003 BMW M3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V018000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND LOST POWER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED AND A PART ON THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW M3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED TO WORK. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND LOST POWER. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED AND A PART ON THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
MSG PUMP FAILURE
Safety Rating for the 2003 BMW M3
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 BMW M3 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 BMW M3
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 2 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 BMW M3. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SI-B12-22-08 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
BMW: AS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, THE DME PROGRAMMING MAY CAUSE THE OBD DIAGNOSTIC TO ERRONEOUSLY EVALUATE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. MODEL E46 (M3) COUPE AND CONVERTIBLES. *PE
610703 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE ACTION TO INSTALL PARKING AID WIRE WHEN THE PASSENGER'S EXTERIOR MIRROR WILL NOT TILT DOWN WHEN REVERSE GEAR IS SELECTED. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 BMW M3
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW M3
- 1998 BMW M3 — 18 complaints
- 1999 BMW M3 — 13 complaints
- 2000 BMW M3 — 0 complaints
- 2001 BMW M3 — 20 complaints
- 2002 BMW M3 — 48 complaints
- 2003 BMW M3 (current)
- 2004 BMW M3 — 36 complaints
- 2005 BMW M3 — 12 complaints
- 2006 BMW M3 — 14 complaints
- 2007 BMW M3 — 0 complaints
- 2008 BMW M3 — 102 complaints