Problem Lookup › BMW › M3
BMW M3 Problems, Recalls and Owner Complaints by Model Year
Across 7 model years, NHTSA lists 16 recalls and 43 owner complaints for the BMW M3. Newest model year first. Data as of October 25, 2026.
BMW M3 by model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 BMW M3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2018 BMW M3 | 0 | 9 | |
| 2017 BMW M3 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2016 BMW M3 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2015 BMW M3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2013 BMW M3 | 2 | 13 | |
| 2012 BMW M3 | 3 | 6 |
Model years with no recall and fewer than three complaints are not listed. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. All BMW models.
BMW M3: questions owners ask
Which BMW M3 year has the most problems?
By owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the BMW M3 model years with the most are the 2013 (13), 2018 (9) and 2012 (6). Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are naturally lower; compare years of a similar age.
Which BMW M3 years have the fewest complaints?
Leaving out the newest model years (too new to compare), the fewest owner complaints were filed for the 2017 (3), 2021 (3) and 2015 (4), out of 7 model years from 2012 to 2021. A low count can also mean that year sold fewer cars.
How many recalls does the BMW M3 have?
NHTSA lists recalls for 6 BMW M3 model years, 16 in total when counted per model year (one recall often covers several years). The years with the most are the 2012 (3), 2015 (3) and 2016 (3). Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How often does the BMW M3 fail its MOT?
In 2023 UK MOT tests, the BMW M3's first-time failure rate ranged from 9.9% for cars first registered in 2018 to 13.9% for 2015, across 9 registration years with at least 100 tests. Older cars fail more often. The most common failure areas were tyres, lights and electrics, suspension. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.