2003 BMW 3 Series

US Recalls

NHTSA Recall US

• 20V018000 2020-01-15

  Recall 20V018000

  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…

  Recorded model years: 2003

• 14V428000 2018-06-11

  Recall 14V428000

  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…

  Recorded model years: 2003

• 15V318000 2015-05-28

  Recall 15V318000

  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…

  Recorded model years: 2003

Showing 3 of 8 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 93 records exist for the BMW 3 Series where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Campaign applicability can depend on build date, equipment and market, and a remedy may already have been completed. Confirm any campaign against the official record using the VIN.

Manufacturer Bulletins

NHTSA Manufacturer Communication US

• 10249437 2024-01-16

  B510819

  The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

  Recorded model years: 2003

• 10225126 2022-09-01

  B662419

  Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may not start when placing the key against the steering column.

  Recorded model years: 2003

• 10225115 2022-09-01

  B610120

  Customer is unable to power up or charge accessories through a plug adapter inserted in the front 12-volt power socket plug. Alternatively, it will only operate when constant downward hand pressure is maintained.

  Recorded model years: 2003

Showing 3 of 85 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 1,699 records exist for the BMW 3 Series where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

A manufacturer communication is service guidance issued to dealers. It is not a safety recall, and its existence does not mean this vehicle has the described condition.

Investigations

NHTSA Investigation US

• EA09019 2009-12-18

  Rear Lamp Illumination

  In a letter submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) dated August25, 2011, BMWindicated that it will conduct a voluntary recall campaign to remedy the subject vehicles.The issue involves the rear lamps in the vehicles body panel.Through normal vehicle use over time, the rear lamps ground wiring and associated 8-pin connector can experience an increase of the resistance at…

  Recorded model years: 2003

• PE09036 2009-08-07

  REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

  ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS STATING THAT THEIR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS NOT PROPERLY ILLUMINATING.THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSISTS OF A TURN SIGNAL LAMP, A TAIL LAMP AND A BRAKE LAMP.THE COMPLAINANTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE ISSUE IS WITH AN 8 PIN CONNECTOR AND ASSOCIATED GROUND WIRING.THESE COMPONENTS ARE ALLEGEDLY OVERHEATING AND MELTING DUE TO EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT…

  Recorded model years: 2003

• DP09002 2009-04-08

  REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION

  IN MARCH 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) RECEIVED A PETITION FROM MR. MARK PETERS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF REAR LAMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR 2002-2005 BMW 3-SERIES VEHICLES.AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS SENT TO BMW IN APRIL 2009, AND ODI RECEIVED BMW'S RESPONSE IN JUNE 2009.THE TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY CONTAINS LIGHTING FOR THE BRAKE LAMPS, TAIL LAMPS, AND…

  Recorded model years: 2003

A further 15 records exist for the BMW 3 Series where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

An investigation records that a regulator reviewed a suspected defect. It is not itself a finding of defect and not a recall.

Canada Recalls

Transport Canada Recall CA

• 2020009 2020-01-15

  Transport Canada recall 2020009

  Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles that had an airbag inflator replaced as a part of an earlier recall campaign. This recall provides a final repair. Long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, may eventually degrade the propellant contained in the passenger-front airbag. This could cause the airbag to deploy with more force…

  Recorded model years: 2003

• 2015230 2015-05-27

  Transport Canada recall 2015230

  Multiple source assertions are recorded for this identifier. Consult the official record for configuration-specific detail.

  Recorded model years: 2003

• 2014299 2014-07-16

  Transport Canada recall 2014299

  On certain vehicles, the passenger (frontal) airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. Increased pressure may cause the inflator to rupture, which could allow fragments to be propelled toward vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of injury. This could also damage the airbag module, which could prevent proper deployment during a crash where deployment is warranted, increasing the…

  Recorded model years: 2003

Showing 3 of 6 records held. The full set is available from the official source named above.

A further 91 records exist for the BMW 3 Series where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

Canadian campaigns are recorded separately from US campaigns and do not imply one another.

Consumer Complaints

NHTSA Complaint US

461 complaint records in the dataset for this vehicle and year.

Outcomes stated in those reports

• reports mentioning a crash 15
• reports mentioning a fire 20
• reported injuries 24
• reported fatalities 2

Outcomes as stated by the person who filed the report. They are not verified, not adjudicated, and carry no exposure denominator, so they cannot be turned into a rate.

By system

• Air bags (restraint system)154 (26.5%)Official recall records for this system: 52, covering model years 1999–2020.
• Lights117 (20.1%)Official recall records for this system: 13, covering model years 1995–2021.
• Electrical system83 (14.3%)Official recall records for this system: 32, covering model years 2000–2025.
• Engine39 (6.7%)Official recall records for this system: 34, covering model years 1995–2024.
• Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)28 (4.8%)Official recall records for this system: 16, covering model years 2008–2023.
• Doors, latches & locks25 (4.3%)
• Fuel system21 (3.6%)Official recall records for this system: 7, covering model years 2013–2018.
• Tires & wheels21 (3.6%)Official recall records for this system: 2, covering model years 2001–2008.

Other / uncategorized: 7 classifications (1.2%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

A single report can name several systems, so these figures overlap and must not be added together — their sum is larger than the report total above.

A further 9,235 complaint records exist for this vehicle where the source stated no model year. They are not counted above and appear on no year page.

These are owner-submitted allegations, not confirmed defects. Counts are record counts in the dataset. No exposure denominator exists, so no failure rate or reliability score can be derived from them.