1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,466 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 BMW M3 suspension problems

suspension problem

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2003 BMW M3 Owner Comments

problem #4

Oct 012018

M3

  • 180,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Rear subframe support is separating from the body where it mounts to. Cracks around the subframe bolts can be seen. Pinchweld around rear fender is seperating.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #3

Sep 162017

M3

  • 1 miles
Rear subframe structural damage per class action lawsuit bacca V. BMW of North America, llc, case no. [xxx]. I brought my vehicle for maintenace repairs and inspection at a private repair shop and notified me that there is evidence of rear subframe damage during their inspection. BMW did not notify me of this very typical issue of their BMW 3 series models 1999-2006. This is not a typical issue in automotive manufacturing and should be continued to be address by BMW North America due to the compromise of safety to the owners and the public of these vehicles. I have attached a pdf of the class action lawsuit letter regarding the structural issues of the automobile. This obviously was not addressed by BMW properly and should be continued to be addressed as the issues are still relevant up to now. This still raises a safety issue since these models are still being sold today. I've also attached a current photo of my vehicle that shows the evidence of structural damage under the rear subframe of the vehicle. I would greatly appreciate you help in getting this issue resolved with BMW of North America as so prevent further damage and prevent any major accident from happening. Thank you! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Torrance, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 242012

M3 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 96,861 miles
I currently own a 2003 BMW M3 coupe, manual transmission. The car has never been raced or taken to the track and has seen mostly city driving. All suspension components are stock or oem replacement parts. Upon inspection of the car, a trained technician found hairline fractures starting from the spot welds on the rear suspension subframe mounting points rendering the vehicle stationary until expensive reinforcing plates can be welded into the trunk. If a car company makes street-legal race cars and markets them to the public in that way it seems like a design flaw such as this would be repaired by the company. Again, this car was never raced or tracked and is experiencing the start of a catastrophic structural failure because it was driven on normal roads.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 142011

M3

  • 85,000 miles
I brought my vehicle to the dealer for a routine oil change. During their vehicle inspection, they discovered the rear coil springs had broken where they seat at the bottom. The service manager told me this is a common problem, because water gets into this area and there are no drain holes, causing the springs to rust and break. This is clearly a design error, leading to broken springs and a potentially unsafe driving situation.

- Barrington, RI, USA

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