10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
35,129 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.

2008 BMW M3 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2008 BMW M3 Owner Comments

problem #7

Jun 242024

M3

  • miles

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

During a regular fuel stop at a gas station, I noticed the central lock button nor the physical door hinge fail to operate to open the door for me to exit. The fuse for the central power door lock/unlock button blew out, completely disabling the interior door hinge mechanism. I got trapped inside but thankfully the power was still on and the rear doors remained unlocked. So, I lowered the driverside window and crawl outside. Then open the unlocked reer door to enter the vehicle from the back seat. Then located the fuse box, searched on the internet to itenfy the effected fuse, replaced damaged one to another fuse (dedicated to another function), temporarily replaced with the same ampage fuse. For my vehicle, there is no visible solution to enter the physical key to open the door from the outside that are typically found under the exterior door handle. If it wasn't for a combination of luck that the other door remained unlocked, had power to lower the window, have some knowledge of vehicle electrical system (fuse), and tolerable weather condition, I would've been stuck inside my car for indifinite time, or break the window to get to exit. I would testify that this is a serious safety concern the manufacturer should investigate and provide permanent resolution.

- Irvine, CA, USA

problem #6

Sep 032019

M3 8-cyl

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 BMW M3. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in reverse on a hill. The emergency brake was not applied properly and the vehicle rolled down the hill and crashed into another vehicle. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's vehicle sustained damages to the hood, bumper, and fender. The vehicle was towed by aaa to automaster BMW (3328 shelburne rd, #3, shelburne, vt 05482, (802) 985-1850) where it was diagnosed that the electrical system needed to be replaced. The electrical system was replaced; however, the body damage was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 19V472000 (electrical system) as a potential cause of the failure, but he had not received a recall notice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and assisted with the repair cost. The vehicle was currently at an independent mechanic to have the body damage repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Monson, MA, USA

problem #5

Nov 012018

M3

  • 56,000 miles
NHTSA recall number: 17V676 this recall was issued over a year ago and still have yet to be contacted by BMW to resolve the recall or provide any recourse. What is the typical response time?

- Arlington Heights, IL, USA

problem #4

Aug 042016

M3

  • miles

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

My BMW have headlights insulation flaking off, this is really scary because I'm afraid to get my car getting fire.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #3

May 182016

M3

  • 41,706 miles
Vehicle mileage: 41,706 after receiving an oil change, I picked my car up at my local independent mechanic shop. When turning the car on I noticed a misfire with the engine. I turned the car off and asked the shop to take a look. They identified a misfire in cylinder #2. after 30 seconds of the car being turned off, smoke started pouring out of cylinder #2. after 90 seconds of aggressively smoking, the fire put itself out. Iit was found that the coil pack for cylinder #2 caught fire and fried an upstream dme control unit as well. Repairs were started the next day to replace all 8 coil packs and the dme control unit. Fortunately I was not driving and my family was not in the car. I immediately contacted BMW through their online system. After 3 days I called their help number. I then waited 2 days for contact from them. Finally I received a phone call back, by this time the car was repaired by my mechanic. BMW denied my request for reimbursement, stating the car was not at a BMW dealership when it caught fire. After escalating the concern within BMW to their investigation team, I was requested to submit photos of the burnt coil pack, and repair receipts. After 5 weeks of waiting, they contacted me and denied my claim again. When I asked for the investigation report, they stated that no investigation was conducted and that no report would be provided. I have since found another M3 owner with the same failure on the same model vehicle with the same mileage. The coil pack was original to the car, and has not been touched since it was built by BMW. This part is not listed for replacement in BMW's maintenance schedule. I no longer feel safe with my family in the car. BMW refuses to reimburse me for the damages, nor do they claim that this is a BMW part concern. If it's not a part problem, then what caused it to catch fire?

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #2

Mar 272015

M3 8-cyl

  • 58,200 miles
Passenger restraint fault light came on...similar problems in other years and recalls for '06 model year but not this year.

- Papillion, NE, USA

problem #1

Apr 182008

(reported on)

M3 8-cyl

  • miles
BMW M3 experiencing sos failure. Consumer states that the sos failure warning and radio did not work. She states that it was unintelligible when she pressed the sos button. Dealer stated that it would be ok. The consumer was told the problem was caused by his non BMW cell phone which was not compatible with the tcu, which caused it to locked up and shut down different functions in the vehicle.

- Rockville, MD, USA

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