2003 BMW 3 Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 3 Series years
- Far more complaints than other years 5th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 BMW 3 Series. That ranks 5th out of 20 3 Series model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is exterior lighting (23 complaints, 32%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 3 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 73owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 BMW 3 Series problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 32% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 29% | 78,803 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 16% | 105,152 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 7% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 5% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 5% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 5% | 125,634 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 3% | 39,109 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 9,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 140,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 BMW 3 Series recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 BMW 3 Series.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Rear Lamp Illumination (EA09019) — opened Dec 18, 2009, closed Sep 28, 2011, led to recall 11V438000.
- Rear lamp illumination (PE09036) — opened Aug 7, 2009, closed Dec 22, 2009, led to recall 11V438000.
- Rear lamp illumination (DP09002) — opened Apr 8, 2009, closed Aug 6, 2009.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3 SERIES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND 13V172000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO BMW OF PLEASANT GROVE…
Brake lights on both sides gets stuck on once the pedal is pressed. This produces no error codes. I was told it could be the brake pedal pressure sensor switch. I changed this and it did nothing. This is very dangerous to other drivers because they are not sure if the car is braking as the light is…
2003 bmw 325i low fuel stall
Transmission will drop out of gear and shut car down, while vehicle in motion during normal use. Vehicle will only work when cold, manufacturer is aware of badly designed smg temp sensor and negligently designed computer logic that shifts transmission to neutral and shuts car down.
The zkw xenon headlights have a flaw in the plastic projector housing. The housing gets too hot and melts and the light output is severely restricted. This happens to 100% of the headlights made by this manufacturer and is a safety issue. The reflective coating on the headlights melts and the light…
Other BMW 3 Series years
← 2002 3 Series · 2004 3 Series →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 3 Series | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 3 Series | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 3 Series | 7 | 3 |
| 2011 3 Series | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 3 Series | 30 | 2 |
| 2009 3 Series | 53 | 1 |
| 2008 3 Series | 68 | 2 |
| 2007 3 Series | 115 | 1 |
| 2006 3 Series | 202 | 3 |
| 2005 3 Series | 25 | 0 |
| 2004 3 Series | 77 | 0 |
| 2003 | 73 | 0 |
| 2002 3 Series | 26 | 0 |
| 2001 3 Series | 36 | 1 |
| 2000 3 Series | 88 | 1 |
| 1999 3 Series | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 3 Series | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 3 Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 3 Series | 3 | 0 |
See all BMW 3 Series problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.
Similar BMW models
Embed this 2003 BMW 3 Series badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW 3 Series?
Owners most often report exterior lighting, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, exterior lighting, accounts for 23 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 BMW 3 Series?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 BMW 3 Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 3 Series model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.