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2017 BMW M3 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2017 BMW M3 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 2safety recalls
- 3owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 13%fail the UK MOT
3 complaints, against an average of 6 for the other 6 BMW M3 model years.
Every BMW M3 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2017 BMW M3?
The components named most often in the 3 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2017 BMW M3 been recalled?
2 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2016-2017 BMW M3 Sedans, 2016-2017 BMW M4 and M4 GTS Coupes and 2017 BMW M4 Convertible vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the flange may fail resulting in a loss of propulsion.
Risk: A loss of vehicle propulsion can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify vehicle owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Structure: Frame And Members BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 BMW M2 Coupe vehicles, 2015-2017 M3 Sedan vehicles and 2015-2016 M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible vehicles. During servicing of the rear differential for a prior service action, the rear sub-frame bolts may have been reused instead of being replaced. Reuse of the existing bolts may cause the bolts to loosen.
Risk: Loose rear sub-frame bolts may adversely affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear sub-frame bolts with new bolts, free of charge. The recall began on November 3, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Is the 2017 BMW M3 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSATakata Driver and/or Passenger Airbag Recall (Global VINs)
Risk: Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Fix: Vehicles will have the affected airbags checked and if necessary replaced.
UK DVSAA possible degradation of the propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which…A possible degradation of the propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
Risk: A possible degradation of airbag propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
Fix: On affected vehicles the drivers airbag module will be replaced.
UK DVSAThe cfk drive shaft 3 hole flange with a pushing piece is not produced with sufficient long term durability
Risk: The flange of the propshaft may become detached.
Fix: Replace the propshaft with a alternative construction.
UK DVSAPlug in contact cable may malfunction
Risk: It is possible that the connection between the B+ cable and the Power Distribution Box can become damaged by wear and heat which is caused by high current flow and high contact resistance. Normally this will result in a non-start situation after parking the vehicle. However it is possible that this could in extreme cases occur whilst the vehicle is in motion. The driver should be made aware of the issue by flickering of the instrument cluster (dash) or an engine mis-fire; but if the driver does not then the engine could cut-out without warning.
Fix: Recall all affected vehicles with petrol engines and replace the cable/connection with a more robust item.
EU Safety GateThe bolts of the rear-axle support may potentially not have been replaced in the course of the replacement of the rear-axle differential.The bolts might loosen over time. This could result in impaired driving performance.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2017 BMW M3 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2017, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2017 BMW M3 owners report?
3 of the 3 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
My car was leaking fuel. This has been reported in numerous vehicles of the same make and model. There is an active warranty extension for this issue, I have attached the bulletin from BMW. My car is not covered for some reason although earlier years of my exact same car are covered. My car was was manufactured a few months after the latest covered date in the attached bulletin. This is a huge safety concern. There was always fuel dripping from my car. This resulted in puddles of fuel if my car was parked for longer than 30 mins. The slightest spark or someones cigarette could have lit up my…
The contact owns a 2017 BMW M3. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle failed to operate as designed, without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driveshaft was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V713000 (Power Train). The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
VEHICLE IS A 2017 BMW M3 WITH 6352 MILES. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THE VEHICLE HAD STARTED AND HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY THE DAY PRIOR. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WOULD NOT START.IT WAS CLEAR THERE WAS NO POWER GETTING TO THE ELECTRONICS EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLATBED TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED THE ROOT CAUSE AND FOUND THE PRIMARY BATTERY CABLE CONNECTOR TO THE ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION BOX HAD FAILED WHERE THERE WAS NO LONGER ELECTRICAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE CABLE END AND…
2017 BMW M3: questions owners ask
Is the 2017 BMW M3 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 BMW M3; the most common categories were electrical system (1, 33.3%), fuel system (1, 33.3%), gasoline (1, 33.3%). There are 2 safety recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 BMW M3?
Across 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are electrical system (33.3% of complaints), fuel system (33.3% of complaints), gasoline (33.3% of complaints), power train (33.3% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2017 BMW M3 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2017 BMW M3; the most recent (campaign 18V713000, 2018-10-11) concerns Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own M3
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2017 only.